You’ve probably noticed a lot of reflection on this site lately. Looking back through my dreadlock journey photos and reading several dready forums, I feel like my dreadlock knowledge and opinions have undergone their own journeys, too.

I’m now officially against the use of wax on dreadlocks, and next I’d like to have another think about Lock Peppa. First, it’s worth pointing out that all you really need to grow dreadlocks, the bare essentials, are hair and the means with which to keep it clean. Literally. Anything else either speeds up the process, is not necessary or is actually harmful to your dreads. Dread Head HQ’s Lock Peppa almost falls into a bit of a grey area I think.

Ok, these are the ingredients:

Zinc oxide, silicone dioxide, methyl salicylate, rosin, bentonite, wintergreen mint

…and here’s what they say about it on the DHHQ website:

“Whether you’re starting new dreads or helping new growth knot up, you will be shocked at how quickly and easily you can turn innocent straight hair into nappy dread-breeding-masses of knottyness.

Lock Peppa makes creating knots easy. Ever wish twisting and palmrolling didn’t take so long. Wouldn’t it be great if you could sprinkle some magic dust on your hair and it would just knot up easily when you started rubbing it? It would be like the dread product of all dread products right? Well it’s called Lock Peppa and it works like nobody’s business!

Forming new knots plays a large role in making and maintaining dreads. It doesn’t matter if you’re backcombing your brand new dreads, helping some stubborn new growth lock up or dreadballing the only 4 loose hairs on your fully mature dreads, being able to create knots in straight hair is crucial. The faster the better.

The Lock Peppa helps you make new knots almost immediately right where you need them.

- Knots form immeasurably faster with much less work.
- Applies easily to just the hair you’re working with.
- Non-Sticky, chemical free formula gets the job done without sticking to clothes, steering wheels, keyboards or anything else you might come in contact with while you’re chillin’ out and twistin’ your dreads”

Hmm.

Well, I used Lock Peppa as you know, and it did seem to do what it was supposed to. It creates a massive boost in the friction between hairs, a sort of dry stickiness. It speeds up and improves the perceived efficacy of all those back-combing, root-rubbing, tip-rubbing, dread-balling actions.

However, it’s a fine white powder that you’re tipping over your nice clean dreads, which you will then have to wash out of your dreads. Any product you apply to newly backcombed, fragile dreadlocks significantly reduces the delicacy with which you are then able to wash said precious dreadies. On the whole, any small benefits provided by products such as Lock Peppa just get washed out again. I think the fix is short-term and, like dread wax, is more about perceived progress, creating dreads that look more mature than they are.

One concession I would make is that if you really do have the world’s most shiny sleek slippery hair that shows not the remotest interest in knotting, it might be worth giving the Lock Peppa a try when you backcomb. But do try the product-avoidance route first.

So what’s the alternative? Something which has been tried, tested and universally accepted as an excellent dread-tightener and accelerator of knot development is salt-water. You can’t get much easier and cheaper than sticking some sea salt in some water - short of just going for a swim in the sea

You’ll need to experiment a little to find how you personally prefer to use it. Some say to apply and leave it on for a couple of hours before you wash your hair, whilst others choose to leave it for a day. Some would apply it to damp hair after washing and leave it there. Either way, the results are unquestionable: it tightens up locks a treat. One note of caution is that you should mind not to drench your scalp in it, especially if you’re not washing it out soonish, because it could irritate the skin a little.

Remember, dreadlocks are a natural state for hair to be in. Anything you choose to add is just work you’re creating for yourself, so keep it to a minimum