How Often Should You Sponge Your Hair for Dreads?

Your hair can completely change the way you look and adding a bit of flair to it is how you want to stand out. There are so many hair types like straight hair, wavy hair, and curly hair, and for each type, the hairstyles are also different. For example, some hairstyles are designed to do only for straight hair while some may be designed for only curly hair. Dreadlocks are a unique and easy hairstyle that looks perfect on curly hair. Dreadlocks can be styled in many ways and sponging the dreads is one of them. The sponging method will help the dreads to be manageable and clean.

So, how often should you sponge your hair for dreads? Sponging is a great way to start your journey into locks and manage your dreadlocks. In general, it is recommended to sponger the dreads at least once a week. This will obviously vary from person to person. So let’s find out exactly how often you should be sponging and see why it is necessary to do so!

Sponge Dreadlocks

The sponge method is an easy way for deadheads. This is a great way to get started on the journey into locks. This is a new way in which no products are used to make your dreads. You only need a couple of sponges and rubber bands to match your hair color but sadly this does not work for all hair types.

The female’s hair is generally thinner and more flexible than the men’s. Their’s can be shaped easily and the dreading method works better on them. Though it is an easy process, you should know that not everyone can do the dreads successfully. The success rate may vary depending on the thickness of your hair, the curl patterns of your natural hair, and so on.

How Often Should You Sponge Your Hair for Dreads?

Dreadlocks are a very popular hairstyle. It is very important to keep them clean. The sponge method can help you keep them clean regularly. The frequency of sponge hair for dreads depends. Some people may like sponge hair very often while once a week may be enough for others. It is up to your hair type, lifestyle, or personal choice to decide how often you are going to sponge the hair for dreads.

A busy person may not have enough time to maintain their hair. As a result, they use the sponge method once a week. Sponging regularly will keep your dreads organized and looking their best. The frequency of sponging may vary from person to person and it depends on factors like the types of dreads, lifestyle, or the scalp’s natural oil production.

In general, you should sponge at least once a week. But if your dreads get dirty, you may need to sponge them frequently. Use gentle soap while sponging to avoid damage to the dreads. Avoid using products containing harsh chemicals as they can damage your dreads. Don’t scrub or put pressure on your dreads because it can also cause damage to the natural hair. By following these tips, you can maintain your dreads and keep them clean and healthy.

5 Factors that Determine the Frequency of Sponging Hair for Dreads

The frequency of sponging your dreadlocks depends on many factors. The significant factors that determine the frequency are as follows:

1. Type of Dreadlock

If you have natural hair or traditional dreadlocks, you should sponge them every few days. This will keep them fresh and prevent them from becoming oily. On the other hand, if you have tighter or synthetic dreads, you can sponge them once a week to keep them clean.

2. Your Lifestyle

Your lifestyle also determines the frequency to sponge your hair for dreads. If you have an active lifestyle, you need to sponge your natural hair more frequently. If you use a lot of heat styling with a hair dryer, then you might need to sponge more regularly to help moisturize your hair. if you also use hair clips, then you might need to sponge your hair on a weekly basis to ensure hair breakage and hair thinning is minimized.

3. Scalp’s Natural Oil Production

The frequency of sponge hair also depends on the oil production of the scalp. If your scalp is oilier, you may need to sponge dreadlocks frequently to keep it clean. If you use regular hair gel, it might be the cause of increased oil production as there are build-ups on the scalp with regular hair gel on dreadlocks.

4. Hair condition

The condition of your hair will matter a lot when it comes to your dreadlocks. Hair thinning can be a result of not using a dread sponge enough and can lead to coarse hair or dry hair as well.

5. Hair type

Whether you have curls, wavy hair, or coarse hair can determine how much sponging time you need. Well-defined curls with curl definition will require reduced styling time and need curl sponges to get the desired effect on your dreadlocks. Loose curls or irregular curl patterns will require more time with the sponge to ensure that the dreadlock style remains frizz-free and uniform.

Step-By-Step Guide to Make Dreadlocks Sponge

Maintaining dreadlocks may be a bit tricky and difficult. If you are looking for an easier way to take care of the dreads, you can try using the sponge method. Here is the step-by-step method to make the dreadlocks sponge:

1. Make sure your natural hair is healthy and clean. If it is oily, you may need more shampoo from the beginning. If it is not freshly washed, use a water bottle to spray it on.
2. Separate your hair into smaller sections. The thicker the hair, the larger the section.
3. Wet each section of your hair with a sponge.
4. Apply dreadlock gel or wax to each section of the hair.
5. Use a wide-tooth comb to comb the wax or gel through the dreadlocks.
6. Starting from the roots to the ends, wrap each section of hair around a sponge.
7. Use a rubber band to tie and secure the sponge.
8. Repeat all these steps until all your hair is in sponge dreadlocks.
9. Dry your hair completely.
10. Remove the sponge dreadlocks and style as desired.

7 Tips to Follow During Sponge Dreads Method

Though sponge dreads are an easy process, you may not get your desired results for small mistakes. Follow these steps during the sponge dreads method to get effective results:

1. Start with clean and healthy hair. This technique allows your hair to lock gradually.
2. Before starting, wash your hair with a shampoo that is specially designed for dreadlocks.
3. Sponge deeply without lifting it up to avoid frizz and ruining your dread flow.
4. Don’t use dreads sponge on dry hair. Because it is difficult to achieve dreads with wet or extremely dry hair.
5. Avoid putting extra pressure on new locks has a chance to loosen which will cause you to have very messy dreads.
6. After sponging your hair, use moisturizer to keep them healthy and hydrated.
7. Finish off with hold spray to keep looking fresh for the entire day.

Pros and Cons of Sponge Dreads

Sponge dreads can bring so many benefits to your hair but there are also some problems associated with it. The pros and cons of sponge dreads are given below:

Pros

• Sponging hair for your dreads can reduce styling time.
• It works on different hair types but work best on type 3 and type 4.
• It may result in a more natural and textured appearance.
• This method require less maintenance compared to the other dreadlock methods.
• It is very easy to use.
• Relatively inexpensive.

Cons

• A rough and poor sponge can cause breakage.
• This method may not work on longer dreads.
• If you put pressure during the process, using a sponge can also lead to breakage.
• The dreads may shrink when they mature. So, it may not work well for extremely curly or straight hair.

How to Maintain Sponge Dreads?

Locks are a low-maintenance hairstyle. But, they will still require regular care and attention. When you sponge your hair, you need to maintain the health and appearance of the dreads.

• Just like the other hairstyles, your locks can also become oily or dirty which may lead to scalp problems. So, when taking care of your locks, remember to keep them clean and healthy. Use gentle shampoo to wash your locks regularly.
• You also need to use wax or gel to maintain the moisture of your dreads. Dry locks are more likely to break and can look dull.
• Use a lock serum, oil, or moisturizer to keep your locks healthy and shiny.
• Protect your locks from the sun because too much sun exposure can damage the locks.
• Use a scarf or hat to cover the dreads when you are going outside. Do not forget to apply sunscreen with a SPF of at least 30.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Dreadlocks are a very unique and popular hairstyle. Dreads are an easy way to maintain the hair and style your hair. Maintaining the dreads is very important to keep them healthy. There are so many ways to maintain the dreads and keep them clean. Sponging is one of the easiest and simplest ways to improve your dreadlocks. Sponges are used in this method to create new hairstyles and keep them clean. This is also a great way to add length and volume to your hair. This is a low-maintenance process to create a variety of hairstyles. The frequency of sponging your hair depends on factors like the types of dreads, lifestyle, or the scalp’s natural oil production. In general, it is recommended to sponge your hair at least once a week. Follow all the tips and tricks to maintain the sponge dreads and get healthy hair.

Key Points