Ditch the Winter Itch: 3 Holistic Solutions for Your Dry Dreadlocks and Scalp
- Sarah Blue
- Oct 8
- 7 min read
As Earth's orbit ushers us into cooler temperatures and less yard work, my attention is shifting toward comfier pants, a return to the kitchen, and choosing the season’s indoor endeavors. While I could easily go off-topic about all the projects I'm in the middle of (from resin work to frequency healing to dreadlock wraps!), but this—my first ever blog post—has a specific goal in mind: to help you, my fellow dreaded community friends, get through this darker season as comfortably as possible. I want to share three simple, holistic dreadlock maintenance tips to keep your scalp and locs comfortable all winter long and avoid the dreaded winter itchies from settling in.
Obviously, we aren't all going to experience the same winter. Here in Northern Colorado, I'm in Zone 5—far from the harshest of climates, but a hell of a change from where I grew up in coastal Santa Cruz, CA. When I made the move to a mile above sea-level back in August of 2006, I learned quickly that my approach to hair and skin care needed a total overhaul. If you've never been to Colorado, I will tell you this: the air is DRY. I'd never had a bloody nose in my life until I moved here, and that surprise on the morning of my third day at 5200' taught me just how parched this climate is. This lack of moisture, coupled with blasting indoor heat, is precisely why our locs and scalp suffer the most—it's a direct route to dryness and itchiness if we aren't proactive.
I've worn my hair in locs since January of 2017—that's nearly nine years as I write this—and I will tell you, the first few of them were far from comfortable. As redundant as it is to say/read/repeat it, it is called a "dreadlock journey" for a reason! But over the years, I've discovered three specific things that have made the biggest differences for me. I'm going to share these crucial pillars of comfort with you, so you don't have to live in unnecessary discomfort like many do, or so you can finally break free from it if that’s where you’re currently sitting. Here we go.
#1. Employ a Humidifier: The Easiest Way to Shift Your
Climate
If you live in a dry climate, employing a quality humidifier is the single easiest way to make a dramatic shift in your daily comfort level. Adding that missing humidity into your home quickly rehydrates parched skin, making your scalp (and entire body) much nicer to live in. The added moisture also softens the hair, making your actual dreadlocks less itchy when you wear them down and they brush against your shoulders, arms, and back.
We know it works because the difference is felt by everyone—even your pets. I noticed my dog's fur is softer and her little hide is less itchy! To get the most benefit, set up your humidifier wherever you hang out most and keep it running whenever you are home. I progressed from having a few smaller models spaced around the house to investing in two large-capacity beasts—one upstairs, one down—and I highly recommend this ease of filling and cleaning, along with the increased humidity output.
When shopping, make sure you check the square footage coverage for the model you’re considering, and always opt for one that claims to be easy to clean. Weekly cleaning is absolutely necessary to avoid it spitting unwanted bacteria and spores into your precious safe space. Finally, to combat the thin layer of white dust from mineral content in tap water, you can choose to fill your humidifiers with distilled water, or simply add a charcoal tablet to the tank—I find them relatively cheap on Amazon, and they help immensely.
#2. Give Your Scalp Weekly Treatment: Introducing TONIK
I absolutely do not mean this to be a shameless plug, but this single product is the reason I even started the retail side of Riverbend Dreadlocks back when I first opened the studio. This product is a game-changer, whether you have dreadlocks or not.
The product is TONIK, a 23-ingredient masterpiece from CULT+KING. It was their flagship product and quickly gained a cult following—and for good reason. It contains zero water (like most C+K products), so you’re paying for actual product, not just watered-down junk with sulfates added to blow it up. I was able to enjoy wearing my locs in a way I’d never experienced until I found TONIK, and that discovery naturally moved me forward with discovering the rest of the C+K product line.
The Science of Relief
TONIK is a potent botanical spray specifically developed to dramatically improve and maintain scalp health. Its impressive list of ingredients will raise even the most discerning eyebrows:
Deep Cleaning & Exfoliation: It contains Salicylic Acid (an oil-soluble beta-hydroxy acid) which acts as a natural scalp exfoliant. This acid penetrates pores to loosen and deep clean dirt, toxins, and DHT (dihydrotestosterone, a contributor to thinning hair), encouraging clean, healthy follicles and speeding up cell turnover.
Rejuvenation: A synergistic blend of 23 natural, organic botanicals and essential oils (including Saw Palmetto and Green Tea) soaks into the scalp and hair follicles for a refreshed, healthy-looking, and deeply moisturized feel. It tingles when you spray it on your scalp, and you'll feel relief in no time.
Delivery System: CULT+KING uses their signature Natural Preservative System—a Certified Organic Blueberry Tincture prepared with certified organic cane sugar alcohol. This hydro-alcohol mixture is a perfect, paraben and formaldehyde-free delivery system for the rejuvenating ingredients.
Application & Ethics
I recommend using TONIK after each shampoo. Shake well, spray TONIK onto your scalp between locs, and massage it into your scalp with your fingertips. If you wash once a week like I do, the 4oz bottle lasts a few months (unless your roomies learn of your sorcery, and that it's great for everyone - locked, loose, bald - we all deserve a comfy scalp).
It’s important to note that CULT+KING is not a dreadlock-specific product line, and while all the products I offer at Riverbend are dreadlock-safe, there are some C+K products I don't recommend due to residue risks (stay tuned for that blog post!).
More reasons to love CULT+KING: They truly embody "Planet Before Profit." Their superior products are vegan, Quats-free, gender-free, conglomerate-free, and gluten-free. They are doing rad things to support our planet and its inhabitants, and are amazing to work with.
You can find TONIK and read more about ingredients and benefits HERE
Find more products, such as dreadlock-safe shampoos and tightening jelly, HERE
#3. Give Dreadlocks Itch the Slip: Why Satin is Non-Negotiable
After putting in all the effort of regularly filling and cleaning your new humidifier, and lovingly treating your scalp with botanical wizardry, we want to make sure all that hard work stays where it belongs—and that means covering your locs when you sleep.
Wearing a satin or silk covering is important for three massive reasons:
Reason 1: Protect the Moisture You Just Applied
When we sleep on a standard pillowcase (often cotton or a blend), that absorbent fabric acts like a sponge, soaking up all the moisture in our locs and scalp. This includes the natural sebum your scalp has worked so hard to produce, along with any moisturizing products you've applied. Wearing a satin covering ensures that the moisture stays put, doing its job, providing protection, itch relief, and softening your locs from the inside out. Or outside in. Er…. both. Yeah:)
Reason 2: End the Vicious Cycle of Breakage
If your hair is already dry and unprotected, sleeping on those non-slippery sheets will cause friction, leading to breakage and fuzzier locs. All those little broken hairs sticking out make your locs even more itchy! It's a vicious cycle that will not remedy itself. The slippery nature of satin means that your locs won't be snagging on the fabric fibers. Instead, they are safely and comfortably cradled in their own little humectant sleeping bag, ensuring you wake up to locs that look better, feel better, and generally behave better.
Reason 3: Lint is the Enemy
The final great reason to wear a head covering is that it drastically reduces the amount of lint and fuzzies you'll be finding and picking out of your locs. Depending on what type of sheets and blankets you love, and especially if you share your bed with furry friends, unwanted fibers are a universal issue. Wearing a satin covering at night is the best way to drastically reduce those frustrating cling-ons.
V. Conclusion: The Power of Proactive Care
You've successfully conquered the primary threats of the colder season! By implementing these three simple, holistic solutions—employing a humidifier to fight dry air, nourishing your scalp with potent botanicals like TONIK, and giving the itchies the slip with a satin covering at night—you are actively protecting your dreadlocks from winter damage and discomfort.
It's important to know that a little itch is normal and to be expected, but if your locs get so miserable that you actually consider taking them out, it doesn't have to be that way. This isn't just maintenance; it's a commitment to a comfortable, beautiful loc journey.
While dreadlocks are not no-maintenance, proper preventative care like this will bring you ever closer to living the low-maintenance vision you had when you decided to lock up your hair. With a bit of consistent effort, and yes, the right products, you can experience your locs in a whole new, positive way.
Final Note on Care: While you are now equipped with key tools to battle winter dryness, remember that proper maintenance is multi-faceted. Additional steps, including utilizing a residue-free shampoo and choosing the correct moisturizing oils for your hair type, are essential. These are deep topics that require their own space, so stay tuned for upcoming posts dedicated entirely to them!
Ready to Secure Your Comfort?
1. Book Your Winter Maintenance
Ready to invest in your loc health this season? Please note that all appointments are now accepted on a project-by-project basis. To begin the process, submit a Service Inquiry Form on our website, and I will be in touch to discuss if your maintenance project is a good fit.
2. Shop Your Winter Essentials
Discover dreadlock safe shampoo, tightening gel, dry shampoo, and more from CULT+KING Here
*Visuals: Some blog imagery created digitally by generative AI to reflect the mood of the post.
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