Keeping dreads healthy takes work. Shampoo, a tightening product, a comb that actually grips, a fistful of elastics. Buy it all separately and you end up with half-empty bottles in a drawer and no idea what you’re missing.
A kit fixes that. Below are the five I keep recommending when people ask me where to start, with what I like and don’t like about each one. None of this is sponsored: these are the ones that come back up in messages from people whose locs I’ve seen in person.
Knatty Dread Dreadlocks Combo Kit
This is the minimalist pick of the lineup. Two products, no fluff: their Locs Shampoo and their Loc Cream. If you don’t want a box of tools you’ll never touch, this is the kit that respects your shelf space and your budget.
What’s inside
- Knatty Dread Locs Shampoo
- Knatty Dread Loc Cream
Pros
- Cheapest entry point of the five kits here
- Residue-free shampoo, which is the part that actually matters week to week
- The cream doubles as a moisturizer and a tightening aid
- Works for any hair type, not just one texture
Cons
- No comb, no elastics, no tools. If you’re starting from zero, you’ll need to source those separately.
Waxless Dread Kit (DreadHeadHQ)
This is the one I point people to when wax scares them off. No wax means no buildup risk. It also means more palm-rolling and crocheting to keep locs tight, so plan for the extra time.
What’s inside
- Pro Dread Shampoo (8 oz)
- Locking Accelerator (18 oz)
- Lock Peppa
- Dreading comb
- Lock Sculpta
- 250 hair elastics
Pros
- Zero wax buildup
- Comes with the updated Loose Hair Tool
- Reasonable price for what’s in the box
Cons
- More upkeep time than a wax-based kit
- Lock Sculpta has a learning curve
Vegan Epic Dread Kit (DreadHeadHQ)
The Vegan Epic is the big one. Everything DreadHeadHQ sells in one box, plus the instruction booklet and the Lock-Up-Dates DVD. If you’re starting from scratch and want one purchase that gets you from install through long-term care, this is what I’d buy.
What’s inside
- Pro Dread Wax (4 oz)
- Dread Butter (4 oz)
- Pro Dread Shampoo (8 oz)
- Lock Peppa
- Locking Accelerator (18 oz) + refill pack (another 18 oz)
- Dreading comb
- Loose Hair Tool (v2.0)
- Epic Lock Sculpta
- Lock Docta
- Head Honcho
- 250 hair elastics
- Lock-Up-Dates DVD
Pros
- One purchase covers install, maintenance, and removal
- The booklet is actually useful for beginners
- The “any hair will dread” guarantee holds up in my experience
Cons
- Expensive
- The elastics are too tight for fresh starter locs. Set those aside.
Maintenance Dread Kit (DreadHeadHQ)
This is the refill kit. You already have your tools and your wax. You just need to top up the things you actually use weekly. Cheaper than the Epic, no fluff.
What’s inside
- Locking Accelerator (18 oz) + refill pack
- Pro Dread Shampoo (8 oz)
- Lock Peppa
Pros
- Cheapest kit in the lineup
- Two accelerator bottles mean months of supply
- Works for starter locs too
Cons
- No wax, no comb, no tools. Assumes you already own them.
Ultra Dread Kit (DreadHeadHQ)
The Ultra Dread sits between the Maintenance kit and the Vegan Epic. You get the install tools (comb, elastics, accelerator) plus shampoo, wax, and the DVD. No butter, no Lock Docta, no Head Honcho.
What’s inside
- Pro Dread Wax (4 oz)
- Pro Dread Shampoo (8 oz)
- Locking Accelerator (18 oz)
- Dreading comb
- 250 hair elastics
- Lock Peppa
- Lock-Up-Dates DVD
Pros
- All the essentials, none of the extras
- Good middle-ground price
- The DVD walks you through install if it’s your first time
Cons
- Bottles can leak in shipping. DreadHeadHQ replaces them, but it’s annoying.
Which one I’d buy
If money isn’t the deciding factor, I’d buy the Vegan Epic. You won’t use every single tool, but you’ll stop reordering the same three things every two months for at least a year.
If budget matters more, the Maintenance Kit is the honest answer. Buy that, see what you actually run out of, and fill the gaps from there.
A few more things worth reading once your kit arrives:
