Silica is a well-known home remedy that allows its users to roughen up the texture of the cuticle layer on the hair and to remove silicone. Silicone nowadays can be found in nearly all industrial hair products and is used to make hair silky smooth. However, any dreadhead will know that having soft and silky hair is not exactly what we aim for when making and maintaining locks because it stops the felting process. And this is where the silica comes into play: It can both be used to remove all silicone particles from your hair or to pre-treat especially strong and healthy hair before making locks. All in all, silica is known as a perfect way to improve and accelerate felting when used with caution.

Use

Silica hair peelings are suitablefor external use on strong healthy hair in preparation for an appointment or as an accelerator for the felting process of pre-existing locks. It’s especially suitable for the removal of silicone from Indian or Asian hair extensions.

Caution!

The silica hair peeling should not be used on damaged hair or damaged dreadlocks. Our dreadextensions made from European hair do not need a silica treatment before being put in. If you are unsure about whether your hair can withstand the silica peeling, please take a test strand before applying it to your hair.

Directions

Add silica powder and water until a consistency comparable to sugar frosting or a plaster paste is reached. Once you have created the paste, there are several options for usage.

• You can prepare your hair for your appointment by roughening the cuticle layer of your hair, allowing a stronger grip and better knotting. Add the silica peeling paste to your hair and simply wait until you leave a trail of white fairy dust when walking around 😉
• The silica hair peeling can also be used to prepare your extensions. If you have bought regular hair extensions it should be noted that using those for locks is rather difficult. Most extensions are by nature a dark brown or black – however in order to accommodate customer needs, the sellers first bleach the hair and then dye it. Seeing as how the hair will be damaged by bleach the sellers then coat the hair in silicone to once again smoothen it out. That’s nice for regular extensions, but healthy and silky hair is not what we want when making dreadlocks. The silica peeling can scrape the silicone coating off and will leave behind the already damaged hair, now perfectly suited to be turned into locks.
• You can also use silica to prepare your roots for dreadmaintenance. Hair usually grows back healthy and is therefore not suited for our needs. By using silica, the soft hair will already be roughened and the cuticle layers will be damaged, therefore allowing better grip and knotting during the maintaining procedure. So if you feel like you might have an issue with regular dreadmaintenance because your root hair is too soft and healthy, the silica peeling is the perfect way to go. When applying the paste to your hair, please be careful with the amount you put on your skin: The silica is supposed to dry up your hair but you will probably not want to have the same effect on your skin. If you’re in doubt whether your skin can take it, try a small area first and see if you notice any kind of skin reaction (e.g. itchiness, dandruffs).
• A silica peeling is also perfectly suitable for regular dreadmaintenance and care. Silica will strengthen and tighten your locks, therefore improving the quality and look. We recommend that you use the peeling about four times a year or – completely depending on your hair type – monthly during the first couple of months after your appointment. After a certain time span (again completely depending on your hair), your locks will have reached optimum dryness and using the peeling after that point will only cause damage. When in doubt, be careful with using the peeling after a while – it can be used as an accelerator to reach your perfect locks but you can also get there without silica.

Maybe the most important part is to properly clean your hair after the treatment. Shampoo and wash it at least twice! However, in our personal experience you will still find a bit of silica powder in your hair the next day because silica is quite hard to get rid of at times. If you feel like you’re in over your head and have no way of ever having clean locks again, we invite you to take a look at our favourite recipe for a deep cleansing ritual.

Try it out and enjoy!