6 Homemade Moisturizer Recipes Your Locs Will Love (2024)

I never realized the importance of moisturizing my hair until I had dreadlocks.

When I had loose hair, I would wash it every day (sometimes every other) and it looked fine.

Once I transitioned to locs, I started washing it weekly, and as a result, my hair stopped receiving the hydration it was used to. During the first 10 months of my journey, I had dull hair and a severely dry scalp.

I quickly learned that the gift of gorgeous hair comes at a price, and the solution can be found in improving our loc care routine.

In the 6+ years that I’ve had locs, these have become my go-to recipes.

I can recommend them with confidence knowing that they are effective moisturizers that will enhance the appearance and texture of your dreads. Not only that, they smell incredible too! So it’s a triple win.

This post is all about moisturizer sprays for dreadlocks.

In this article, I’m going to give you my favorite moisturizer recipes so you can make your own at home.

Why do I need to moisturize my dreadlocks?

Hydration is vital to our overall well-being, including our hair. These are some reasons why you should incorporate a moisturizer into your hair care routine.

• Prevents dryness:Like any other hair type, dreadlocks can become dry and brittle. Moisturizing helps to retain moisture in your hair, preventing it from becoming excessively dry.

• Reduces breakage:Dry and brittle locs are more prone to breakage. On the other hand, moisturized locs are a lot more elastic and flexible.

• Promotes healthy hair growth:Well-moisturized hair and scalp create a healthier environment for hair growth.

• Prevents scalp issues:Moisturizing your scalp helps maintain a healthy balance and reduces the risk of scalp problems, like dandruff and itchiness.

Should I make my own loc spray? Or is it better to buy one?

There are a lot of commercial products for locs but believe it or not, they’re not all dreadlock-friendly.

I prefer to make my own products for the following reasons:

You have control over the ingredients.

I’ve always been a DIY type of gal, and a bit skeptical of the ingredients listed on most hair product labels.

I’m very careful about what I put in my hair, and the moment I got dreads, I became even more picky.

When I learned which ingredients you need to make a moisturizer, I laughed out loud. Do you want to know what they are? All you need is water and a blend of essential oils…that’s it. Well, the essential oils are optional.

Honestly, can it get any easier than that?!

I’m not trying to say that store-bought loc hair care products are the worst. The ones that contain natural ingredients are great. But no matter what, they all contain preservatives (as they should) because your products would otherwise spoil within a week or two of having received them.

In my case, however, I make small batches of what I need and it gives me peace of mind to know that I’m not putting harmful chemicals in my locs.

The recipes I list in this post will guarantee you end up with a lightweight product that is free from sticky ingredients, and hence you don’t have to worry about residue buildup.

As for the essential oils, I only buy from trusted brands and I make sure they are 100% pure. When I can, I opt for natural organic ingredients but organic is not always possible.

It’s cost-effective.

Another reason I make my spray is that it’s WAY cheaper.

Essential oils are expensive upfront, but they last a very long time. My essential oils last me several months (if not years) because I only use a few drops at a time.

I did a recent search for loc moisturizers and the cheapest one I found was $15, per bottle. Let’s say I went through one bottle every 10 days, which would mean I needed 36.5 bottles in a year. At $15 bucks a pop, I’d be spending $547.50 a year, without the added cost of shipping!

Let’s do some price comparisons, shall we?

On the flip side, water is very cheap, and essential oil prices vary but they’re honestly not that expensive when you do the math.

Let’s say you got a 4 oz bottle of your favorite essential oil, and it costs $50 (I’m exaggerating here cause they’re usually a lot cheaper than that but let’s just say it’s $50).

A 4 oz bottle contains roughly 1,920 drops. So if you put 20 drops per bottle, you’d have enough to make 92 bottles. One bottle every 10 days means you’d have more than 2.6 years’ worth of moisturizers! For a whopping $50 (that’s less than $20 a year– plus the cost of water)!

It’s great for all hair and skin types

We all have different hair and some products work exclusively better for one hair type than for another.

Let me give you a quick example- heavier oils like Jamaican black castor oil are great for coarse hair (4A, 4B, 4C) but way too heavy for someone like me with straight hair (1A, 1B, 1C). If I were to use castor oil, I would end up with product buildup because it doesn’t absorb the same in my hair. For thinner hair types, it’s better to use lightweight oil.

All to say, when you buy any dreadlock products, it’s not enough to look at the label and see if there are no unwanted ingredients (like these). You have to make sure that it’s going to work for your hair type as well.

On the other hand, water and essential oils are an excellent choice because they will not cause hair damage or product buildup. And yes, they’ll work on protective styles too!

Eight Easy Dreadlock Moisturizer Recipes

Ok, let’s get to it!

For all of these sprays, you will need a 10 oz spray bottle, distilled water, and a funnel if you want to make less of a mess.

I recommend you use 100% pure essential oils (NOT fragrance oils- there’s a difference!) and organic ingredients whenever possible.

Click on the name of the oils mentioned to see my preferred options on Amazon.

Download the recipes!

Please fill out the form to receive the download link in your inbox.

Each of these sprays provides a unique blend of moisture balancing and nutritious ingredients. Below, you’ll find the benefits of each.

By the way, I gave them really cheesy names, cause why not. Don’t judge, lol.

1. Into The Woods

• 10 oz distilled water
• 10 drops of Cedarwood Essential Oil
• 5 drops of Patchouli Essential Oil
• 5 drops of Clary Sage Essential Oil
• 5 drops of Sandalwood Essential Oil
• 5 drops of Frankincense Essential Oil
• 5 drops of Juniper Berry Essential Oil
• 3 drops of Lime Essential Oil

TO MAKE:

In your spray bottle, mix the water and all the essential oils. Shake well before each use. Spray it liberally throughout your locs and gently massage it into your scalp.

THE BENEFITS OF THIS SPRAY:

This spray smells amazing, especially if you’re not too into the fruity/ sweet scents.

This spray will help improve skin sensitivity and heal scalp conditions, such as inflammation, irritation, infection, and dandruff. It helps to reduce oiliness and improves blood circulation throughout the scalp, thereby promoting hair growth, stronger hair follicles, and the regeneration of hair in thinning or balding areas. It helps to repel bugs too.

2. Citrus Blast

• 10 oz distilled water
• 5 drops of Lemon Essential Oil
• 3 drops of Sweet Orange Essential Oil
• 3 drops of Bergamot Essential Oil
• 3 drops of Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

TO MAKE:

In your spray bottle, mix the water and all the essential oils. Shake well before each use. Spray it liberally throughout your locs and gently massage it into your scalp.

THE BENEFITS OF THIS SPRAY:

This spray reminds me of the tropics for some reason. It smells tangy and fresh.

This spray has antifungal, antiviral, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial, and antibacterial properties. It makes the hair shaft stronger, thereby producing stronger roots and preventing future breakage.

Ylang Ylang promotes sebum production, so blending it with lemon and sweet orange can help tame the oiliness. This spray helps to repel lice.

**KEEP IN MIND! This spray might lighten your hair if used before going out in the sun.

3. A Hint of Mint

• 10 oz distilled water
• 1 tablespoon of Rosemary leaves (fresh or dried)
• 15 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil
• 10 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil
• 5 drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil

TO MAKE:

If you don’t have rosemary, use distilled water and 15 drops of rosemary essential oil instead.

THE BENEFITS OF THIS SPRAY:

This spray will leave your scalp feeling tingly and refreshed.

This spray has soothing and healing properties. It’s ideal for those who have an irritated or infected scalp. It also has cleaning, disinfecting, and deodorizing properties that help to control the odor of your dreads, especially if you’ve experienced dread rot or mold in the past.

It improves scalp health, thereby producing stronger hair follicles and preventing hair loss, such as alopecia. It has insect-repelling properties, especially lice. It’s ideal for those who work closely with or have small school children at home.

If you have scalp sensitivity, I recommend you spot-test this spray before using it all over your scalp. The tingling sensation might be overwhelming for some, yet relieving for others.

4. Flower Power

• 10 oz distilled water
• 1 Chamomile tea bag (or 1 tablespoon dried flowers)
• 8 drops of Lavender Essential Oil
• 5 drops of Geranium Essential Oil
• 5 drops of Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

TO MAKE:

Alternatively, you can use rose water tea. Use the same procedure but substitute the chamomile for 1 tablespoon of dried rose flowers.

THE BENEFITS OF THIS SPRAY:

This spray is all around fruity. If you like sweet scents, this is the perfect spray for you!

This spray has soothing and healing properties, especially for those who have an itchy scalp. It helps to add shine to your hair while restoring softness and reducing the velcro/ dry-like feeling. It nourishes and strengthens the hair follicles, thereby promoting hair regeneration.

It helps restore the hair from any damage that was done due to harsh weather or previous chemical treatments. It helps to restore shine. This spray promotes scalp health by balancing the skin’s pH. The strong scent also helps control odors.

**KEEP IN MIND! This spray might lighten your hair if used before going out in the sun. Also, the chamomile and rose tea might leave a slight color stain behind. Be careful not to spray it on any fabric, such as clothing.

5. Manly Man

• 10 oz distilled water
• 10 drops of Cedarwood Essential Oil
• 5 drops of Bergamot Essential Oil
• 5 drops of Patchouli Essential Oil
• 2 drops of Cardamom Essential Oil
• 2 drops of Clove Essential Oil

TO MAKE:

In your spray bottle, mix the water and all the essential oils. Shake well before each use. Spray it liberally throughout your locs and gently massage it into your scalp.

THE BENEFITS OF THIS SPRAY:

This spray is all-around manly. The scents blend perfectly together.

This spray has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. It promotes blood circulation in the scalp, thereby producing stronger hair follicles, encouraging hair growth, and the regeneration of hair in thinning and balding areas.

This spray has insect-repelling properties as well, so it’s a great option for those who are going camping or traveling to places with a lot of bugs.

6. Spice It Up!

• 10 oz distilled water
• 12 drops of Sweet Orange Essential Oil
• 3 drops of Cardamom Essential Oil
• 3 drops of Clove Essential Oil
• 2 drops of Nutmeg Essential Oil

TO MAKE:

In your spray bottle, mix the water and all the essential oils. Shake well before each use. Spray it liberally throughout your locs and gently massage it into your scalp.

THE BENEFITS OF THIS SPRAY:

This spray smells like autumn. It reminds me of my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving. It’s no wonder that it’s one of my favorite sprays.

This spray has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antimicrobial properties. It also has disinfectant properties, which help to treat conditions of the scalp as well as control bad odors. This spray improves the circulation of blood throughout the scalp, thereby encouraging hair growth and hair follicle strength.

The essential oils in this spray are said to have pain-relieving properties, such as headaches.

7. Bug Be Gone

This is one of my new recipes! I’m so excited to share it with you. It prevents lice and other bugs!

This recipe is only found in the mini e-book. Download it for free below!

8. Midnight Mist

This is another one of my new recipes, probably my favorite to date! It’ll nourish your locs while promoting a soothing and restful sleep.

This recipe is also only found in the mini e-book which you’ll receive when you fill out the form below.

Download the 8 Dreadlock Moisturizer Spray Recipes!

Please fill out the form to receive the download in your inbox.

If there’s an error or the download doesn’t come through, send me a message at book@dreadlockulture.com and I will happily send it to you. 🙂

A few more tips!

• There’s a misconception that moisturizing your locs requires carrier oils, like olive oil, grapeseed oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, argan oil, avocado oil, etc.

  Carrier oils don’t moisturize, they LOCK IN moisture. In other words, any water-based solution (like all the sprays mentioned above) will moisturize your hair, and carrier oils will help retain that moisture.

  I don’t use carrier oils on my dreads because they’re more prone to become sticky and attract dirt or lint. I only use carrier oils on my scalp to retain moisture around the base of the hair follicle. To prevent build-up, I only use a pea-size of oil to cover my entire head.

  For a guide on which carrier oil will work best for your hair type, check out this post!

• When used properly, essential oils can work wonders on your scalp and skin. I encourage you to create your own moisturizing spray blend with your favorite oils or experiment with new ones. I wrote a guide with the best essential oils for dreadlocks, which you can read right here.

• If you’re experiencing an itchy scalp, you can add pure aloe vera to your spray and use it on your scalp. Here’s the recipe and step-by-step on how to extract aloe gel from the leaf. Vitamin E oil can be a great addition to boost skin health too.

• To keep your locs squeaky clean from the inside out, you should be doing dread detoxes once or twice a year. A deep cleanse involves soaking your hair in a mixture of water, apple cider vinegar, and baking soda.

  To minimize the smell of ACV, it’s a good idea to add strong-smelling essential oils. Some of the best oils for this are tea tree oil, lavender oil, peppermint oil, and rosemary oil.

  ACV works like a deep conditioning treatment, so while I think it’s an amazing asset for healthy locs, it should be used on mature locs only.

I hope this article was helpful to you!

Let me know in the comments if you try any of these sprays, and which recipe was your favorite!!

Do you have dry hair? Dull locs? Or both? Check out these 39 DIY all-natural recipes to revitalize your dreads!

This article was originally published on July 10, 2019. It has since been updated and improved.