Yes. People with dreadlocks do wash their hair. You should wash your hair, too! Try to keep from washing your hair for at least three weeks when you begin with your baby locks. The trick is to wash your hair as carefully as possible without removing the locks. Do not use conditioner. Use a shampoo that will easily wash completely out of your hair. After washing your hair, re-do the locks that unraveled. You can buy metal clips; they resemble tiny hair barrettes with hinges, to hold each lock in place. These silver clips are found in beauty supply stores, and they are commonly used to hold dreadlocks in place. Tighten all of the locks that have loosened at the root. After your first wash, you will probably end up re-locking most of the coils. Place the clips close to your scalp. They should hold the locks together near the roots. When your hair dries, you should remove the clips.
Continue this process after every shampoo, and your hair will eventually begin to hold together on its own. Locks tend to expand as they get older. As your hair grows, you can wet your hair and plait a group of about six locks together to help tighten the actual lock. If you let your locked hair dry completely, you will have a cool curly, crinkle look.
It takes months to create dreadlocks. The length of time depends on your hair’s texture. Do not tighten your locks more than once every two weeks. Over tightening can weaken your hair, causing your locks to break. Longer, thicker, dreadlocks may eventually thin out and break as they get heavier. This is a natural process and will not distract from your style as long as your hair is cared for properly. If you do not tighten your hair at least every couple of months, your locks may begin to join together. It will also be more difficult to separate them at the root for grooming.