How To Cope With Synthetic Dreads During Heatwaves Synthetic dreads can look so good tied up in a bun or pony tail, but how do they feel in the heat? At times, uncomfortable, depending on how hot or humid it is. What can you do about it? There are some things you can do besides stay in an air-conditioned room all day, which is not actually good for your dreads or synthetic ones anyway. Using a headband has got a few benefits. Firstly, it’ll protect your scalp from the sun. The skin on the scalp is very sensitive and can easily get burnt. One thing to keep in mind is that some fabrics can irritate your skin even more. Satin or polyester are thought to keep your skin cool. Secondly, if you’re applying sun screen, put it on your skin carefully so as not to irritate any sensitive spots the headband may miss. Thirdly, the base of the headband will keep your neck as cool as possible when the heat sets in.
Do you shampoo or condition, or use spray on your synthetic dreads? What you want is locked in moisture, but no loosening of knots, so rinsing and dry shampoo is best. Conditioner should be avoided as it contains ingredients that are designed to loosen knots. Using a home-made blend of oils, like olive or coconut oil, with a few drops of essential oil, can help it to be less itchy, as your scalp won’t be irritated by any ingredients. They’ll help seal the moisture into the knots without loosening them. Winter and summer bring different synthetic dread care concerns, but they needn’t be high maintenance. What you can do is invest in a few good products, and headbands for all occasions. Avoid petroleum or mineral based products in order to choose moisture locking oils as mentioned. In summer you would think it possible for your dreads to dry completely, but some summer days may not actually be hair drying days. Try not to brush it off, excuse the pun, and sleep on wet, or damp synthetic dreads. You might get that smell of mildew as a result. The type of synthetic dreads you choose can affect how comfortable you feel. Think of it as having seasonal dreads. You could find a range of summer colours, or just one to put in amongst your own dreadlocks, or the synthetic ones you already have. In summer, if you live somewhere hot and humid, investing in thinner dreads would probably make you feel more comfortable. If you love the ones you have, then accessorising can be what gets you to the comfort level for you.