How to Comb Out Dredlocks

Dreadlocks are great, but sometimes it's time to move on.

Dreadlocks are essentially matted coils of hair. They can be traced back to the Rastafarians of Jamaica, and have grown in popularity today. But after you've worn them for a while, it may be time to go return to your roots. Despite what you may have heard, you don't have to cut off your hair to remove dreadlocks. But the process is tedious -- it can take from four hours to two days.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Conditioning shampoo
• Conditioner
• Comb -- unbreakable, preferably rat-tail
• Hair clips
• Hair shears
• Clean spray bottle
• Movies, audiobooks, etc. for distraction (optional)

1. Cut at least the last half inch from the ends -- this is the oldest part of your hair, and likely to be the most securely locked part.

2. Shampoo your hair, blotting with a towel to remove excess water. Use a generous amount of shampoo on the hair, from end to root.

3. Pick the locks apart using the comb -- a pin will help you pick apart very tight locks. Work on one dread at a time, combing through the hair as the lock comes apart. As hair dries, moisten with water from a spray bottle and apply more conditioner as needed. This is essentially a massive detangling of the hair.

4. Place unlocked hair in clips to keep it out of the way while you unlock the remainder. Once all hair is unlocked, wash and condition hair as normal, and style using gentle techniques and tools.

Tips & Warnings

• If your dreads are quite short, your best option may be to cut off the dreads completely -- hair grows a half inch per month.

• Be patient! This can take anywhere from one to five days, depending upon the length and age of the dreads.

• Your hair will seem much thinner and shorter -- treat your newly unlocked hair gently.

• Ask a good friend to assist with hair in the back.

• Dread removal kits are generally not necessary, but consider one if you've used substances like beeswax to lock the hair. Regular shampoo and conditioner should be sufficient.

• Don't pull hard on hair; you will simply wind up putting more stress on your hair than is healthy.

References

• "How to Comb Out Dreadlocks"
• "The History of Dreadlocks"

Resources

• My Dreadlocks.com
• Dreadlock Rumors