NHP is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Rose water for locs is ALL THE TALK in these skreets lately (yes, I said “skreets”, stop acting bougie...)! Anyway...
The benefits of rose water when used on dreadlocks can’t be denied.
This fragrant lil’ loc-helper solution has gained major attention and popularity for its benefits to hair and even your skin while boasting a subtle, fresh, and pleasant scent. Sometimes used as a facial beauty product, rose water works great as a skin toning product because of its ability to moisturize.
Are you surprised at this “new” hair and skin treat?
You shouldn’t be, using rose water for locs in order to extract its ‘healing’ properties isn’t new at all: This is an ancient African beauty remedy.
African royalty bathed in rose water, and even today…
In fact, some of the best rose water sold online is imported from South Africa.
With rose water’s well-known uses on skin, it’s no surprise that loc’d men and women have started using it for their dreadlocks and hair needs as well.
Without a doubt, rose water has a wide array of positive benefits, including hair growth, maximum healing benefits and delicious smelling moisture.
We at NHP thought you’d love this guide that highlights many of the benefits of using rose water for your locs. We also cover how to properly use rose water for locs and how you can even make your own.
See what we have in store for you...
Join NHP-HIVE and get sent our info-packed, down-to-earth & sometimes funny NHP hair tutorials by email. SIGN UP HERE...
What does rose water do for locs? Whether you’re looking to promote hair growth or looking to provide your hair with essential nutrients, rose water benefits for folks with locs are far-reaching.
Rosewater for dreadlocks is great for those who are dealing with hard water in their homes, which includes a huge chunk of people living in America.
The water is horrible!
While hard water dries out dreadlocks, rose water adds moisture to locs while also giving more softness and luster to your overall look. Vitamin A, C, D, E, and B3 are all present in rose water, which naturally nourishes loc’d natural hairstyles and helps add that attractive sheen.
Some of the more specific benefits for dreadlocks include:
[RELATED ARTICLE: Black-owned satin-lined bonnet caps for locs...]
What does rose water and glycerin do to your hair? The answer is, a little bit of everything! Rose water and glycerin helps hair by controlling excess sebum production, fighting frizz, reducing split ends, and more.
The rose water and glycerin combination is a highly-effective mixture that will give you shiny, voluminous dreadlocks!
Whether you DIY your recipe or buy it online, rose water for locs combined with glycerin nourishes and strengthens the ends of your loc’d hair and saves it from getting brittle, dry, and frayed.
Glycerin serves as an anti-inflammatory and has moisturizing properties that help protect your scalp from dryness-related issues, nobody wants to deal with an itchy scalp every-dang-day!
[RELATED: Is Coconut Oil for Dreads Good or Reaaaally Bad?]
For you who learn better from seeing benefits listed instead of reading paragraphs, here you go! Enjoy the information and reap the benefits of rose water and glycerin for locs...
NHP SIDENOTE: As an alternative to rose water for locs, you can also use rose hydrosols, which are made by distillation. Rose hydrosol is free of chemicals and preservatives, a dope option for loc-wearers who want to opt for all-natural ingredients.
If you are the type of person who insists on high-quality, organic locs products, NHP recommends you check out Lion Locs' Advanced Rosewater Spray Treatment HERE.
Some loc wearers like to add essential oils to their DIY rose water for locs mixes to add a boost of extra nutrients, scents, and essences to their dreads.
A few popular variations are rose water mixed with peppermint oil, castor oil or coconut oil for dreads.
NHP HITLIST - BENEFITS OF PEPPERMINT & COCONUT OIL:
NHP SIDENOTE: Be cautious when adding peppermint oil to your rose water for locs solution because peppermint oil IS STRONG and has the potential to irritate your scalp if not diluted enough.
Lastly, one other great mixture is rose water and castor oil for hair, it’s even sold in bundles.
See the Heritage Store Rosewater & Glycerin and Black Castor Oil Bundle HERE.
The best rose water to use on your dreads is the clear, potent distilled water. This is the type that most locticians recommend. Your DIY rose water for locs will moisturize without leaving residue.
Place this mixture in a two-ounce spray bottle with ten drops of glycerin. You also have the option of adding peppermint oil, coconut oil, tea tree oil, or castor oil as well.
The best thing about using rose water for your locs is that you can make it right from the comfort of home. If you “ain't got time for all that”, you can also buy rose water for locs online. We recommend Lion Locs rose water for dreadlocks, NHP has verified that they are truly a Black-owned business and not faking the funk like some companies do.
So hey, grab some rose water from Lion Locs, or If you’re on a budget, just DIY your own rosewater for locs at home!
[RELATED ARTICLE: Why Are Folks Dipping Faux Locs In Hot Water?]
Make sure your rose petals are off the stem of the plant. The easiest way is to simply pull the rose bulb from the stem, this will make the petals fall off. Thoroughly wash and rinse the petals to get rid of any unnatural chemicals or hidden insects.
Step 2:
Put your rose petals into a saucepan with water. Be careful about how much water you use for steeping your rose petals, you don’t want the solution to become over-diluted. At this point in the process you have the option of adding glycerin or alcohol. These two ingredients work as preservatives for the solution so that it lasts longer.
Step 3:
After your rose water mixture is created, cover the saucepan and put it on light heat. You ONLY want to warm the water, you don’t want the rose water mixture to simmer or boil. Keep the mixture on low heat for 15-20 minutes. At this point, you should see your rose water darkening and taking on the color of the rose petals.
Step 4:
Pour your rose water for locs solution into a spray bottle or mason jar. Be sure to use a strainer when you pour your rose water mixture so that the rose petals pieces don’t end up in your container.
You can now use the solution immediately or refrigerate and store it until you’re ready to use it. This rose water for locs mixture should last about a week without signs of spoiling.
Hey sis, heyyy! I'm Melissa Lee, co-founder of both NHP & BlackHairOMG.
I wrote a 9-paged eBook for our subscribers only: JOIN 19,500+ Black Women in THE "NHP-HIVE" & GET YOUR GUIDE Titled:
"15 Exotic Hair Growth Remedies From Around The Globe!" Girrrl, get IN on this!
Of course, fresh rose petals are ideal for making rose water for locs but if you only have access to dried rose petals, you can still make a great rose water for locs solution.
You simply put the rose petals in a mason jar and pour hot (but not boiling) water over them. Cover the container and leave it for a couple hours until it cools.
You can speed up the cooling process by putting the container in the fridge as well. Once cooled, you can strain the DIY rose water for locs solution and transfer it to another container. And POW!
You’ll have your own DIY rose water for locs from dried petals. It’s better than nothing!
There are tons of really smart questions that folks with dreadlocks want to know about rose water for locs. Let us quickly answer some of the most common concerns:
ANSWER: Yes, rose water does work as a detangling agent when used in spray solutions.
The moisturizing effects of the rose water for locs go hand in hand with the conditioning effects it has as it helps you smooth out tangles and avoid unnecessary hair breakage. Rose water is a great solution to add to your natural hair care routine.
Use rose water spray for hair detangling after shampooing your dreadlocks as usual. You can tame your mane by spraying rose water for locs into it before going out.
The answer is yes! Especially the rosewater shampoo option that doesn't add chemicals that can damage locs. Look for products that keep it natural.
TGIN makes a luxurious Rose Water Sulfate-Free Hydrating Shampoo for hair that will bless your dreadlocks. On top of that, like Lion Locs, TGIN is an NHP-verified Black-owned business.
Whether you’re looking for rose water shampoos, rose water sprays, oils, or anything else, NHP will point you to the best rose water for locs products to help with all your dreadlock needs.
Let us point you to the rose water products that are organic, vegan and residue-free.
Some of the best rose water products for dreadlocks are:
This list of products are great for those that are new to the loc journey, loc’d life veterans and even natural hair folks who don’t have dreads.
Check out the rose water product offerings above to see how rose water for locs can refresh your hair and scalp while helping you look good at the same-dang-time!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Melissa Lee
Melissa Lee is a Contributing Editor to NHP and a former owner of the BlackhairOMG website. She formed 4C Trichology Growth Services, LLC., a US based hair care consultation service. She has also contributed as a writer and consultant for various hair and beauty websites. Melissa can be followed on Twitter here.