Concealing lint on locs.

Q: We recently went on a beach holiday and I allowed my locs to go free. I swam, played in the sand and did not cover them at night. I also used the white hotel towels to dry my hair. Now they are full of lint, in spite of several ACV and bicarbonate rinses. What can I do?
A: It sounds like you already are aware of the proper care of locs in order to minimize lint. Sleeping with a smooth scarf or pillowcase, using only black towels, cotton lesos or old t-shirts to dry them, and rinsing thoroughly after exposure to dust, salt water, chlorine or sand. In spite of our best efforts lint can sometimes get deeply embedded in our locs. I tried clarifying rinses in my hair, and even pulled out the big guns — bentonite clay hair masks. These help, but they do not eliminate lint. Your most viable option is to dye your hair. You can have your professional colorist dye it any colour you want, but generally dark shades are more practical to conceal lint. If you would rather dye your hair at home, choose a low-ammonia box colour from your supermarket or beauty shop. Do a strand test to ensure you are not allergic to ammonia or PPD, a common, toxic chemical in over the counter hair dyes. Follow the directions to mix with water, leave on for a few minutes, and rinse thoroughly. Deep condition, rinse and style. Avoid using sulphate shampoos or clarifying shampoos for a few weeks after colouring your hair as these can cause the colour to fade prematurely.
