10.31
There are two basic ways to remove dreadlocks – and yes, there are ways to do it without cutting your hair, contrary to popular belief.
Myths:
* The only way to remove dreads is to shave your head, or cut them off very close to the scalp.
* If you don’t shave your head, removing dreadlocks is painful and damaging to the scalp and hair.
Fact:
* It is possible to have dreads, and then remove them no matter how long you may have had them.
Here are the 2 basic methods.
1. Shave or cut dreads
By far the easiest method of dreadlock removal if you don’t wish to save any of your hair.
Materials:
* scissors and/or clippers
Duration:
* less than an hour
Directions:
Whether you want to shave close or cut leaving an inch or so of hair is entirely up to you.
1. Begin by using scissors to cut the dreads off one at a time near the root where the hair is less tangled, and then shaving clean with clippers if you so desire.
(You can also leave 4-6 inches and pick out that amount of hair with a lot of conditioner and a strong metal comb if you are willing to put in a little more work in order to keep some hair. For picking instructions – see below).
2. Finish by washing your scalp and remaining hair thoroughly.
2. Picking out dreadlocks
Extremely time consuming but very successful if you are willing to put the time in.
Materials:
* strong comb (preferably metal)
* high quality de-greasing shampoo
* high quality verrrry slippery conditioner
Note* We recommend the Knotty Boy removal kit, for removing dreadlocks. it has both, they also have metal combs for a good price. It is possible that you will run out of conditioner if you have really long hair or a lot of hair, so you can supplement this with another quality conditioner to finish the job.
Duration:
* up to 15 hours total, depending on your locks. We are serious about this. Typically 4-8 hours but we have heard of it taking 2 days!
Directions:
1. Lay in a bath and soak your dreads completely for at least 10 minutes.
2. Wash dreadlocks thoroughly with shampoo, and with water as hot as you can safely stand it. This will help melt the wax or whatever greasiness has built up over the years. Do this by working small amounts of shampoo into each section of each dreadlock to get the soap into the middle as much as possible.
3. Rinse
4. Work conditioner into each dreadlock and begin to GENTLY pick each dread out carefully with a metal comb, beginning from the bottom and working your way up to the scalp. This will take a LONG time – but be patient – you will get your hair back.
5. Once you have picked out all of your dreads, condition all of your hair again with a lot of conditioner and allow it to sit in your hair for 5 minutes. This will help repair some of the damage caused by picking.
6. Go to a salon and get yerself a nice new hairstyle!
Hey!
Unlike other ppl here, I’ve never had dreads. In fact I don’t have them now. I had various weaves in my hair for about 10 months, took them out yesterday and as I was coming through and detangling my hair, a big section in the back became matted and then dreaded! Now I have a large horizontal dread in my hair! I’ve tried soaking my hair in conditioner, piling on oil sheen and patiently coming through it, and though I do have some patience, I’m now in my 2nd day of trying to get my hair out. Does anyone know if any of these products are sold at stores in NYC so I can just go and pick it up?
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I’ve had my dreads for almost 10 years now. I love my hair, but it’s just time for me to try something new. I’ve never had regular hair since I was a baby. Long, curly hair runs in my family, and I would love to continue the tradition. My hair also has about 4 or 5 different colors of brown in it. I just want to take my dreads out without loosing much of my hair and fast. Theer is a family gathering coming up and I want to surprise everybody. SOMEONE TELL ME SOME SECRETS ON REMOVING THEM!
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Im only dreading the bottom layers of my hair so taking them out should be so hard ^.^
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I have the answer! I am removing my locks now, after 20 years. For me unlocking is a spiritual process and has little to do with trying to keep up with the latest style. The key here is you must TAKE YOUR TIME. The spiraling that ‘locks’ the hair took time. This process will take time too. Do not rush, this should be a process of pampering. I am in my third week, 2/3 of the way-done. Plan to spend about $80 on high quality supplies. You will need a medium (6oz) bottle of pure glycerin-easy to find in drug stores near the liquid vitamin E. You will need a spray bottle as well. Fill it half full with glycerin, add rose water and water to fill the rest of the bottle. My hair is several feet long, so first I cut the section I want to work on. For me shoulder length is my chosen length. I soak the section with hot water. I saturate the lock I will work on with the glycerin mix. Then starting at the bottom of each lock slowly ease hair away from the heart (center) of the lock using a metal rat tail comb. The goal is not to break the hair while unlocking it. You will feel like you are losing lots of hair, let it go. You will have a full head of hair when you finish – trust me. This process works best in summer weather and when its humid (glycerin draws moisture from the air). Have a plan for how you will wear your hair while unlocking – section by section. Hats and wraps have worked for me. Prior to unlocking go to Lush (all natural cosmetics and hair care products) get a really good moisturizing pre-treatment, shampoo and conditioner (this is for your first washing once completely unlocked). Enjoy!
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My hair is accidentally locked due to laziness, I am desperate, what can I do?
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I had locs for seven years. They were long, down to the middle of my back. I cut them off. I wish I knew then what I know now. I would not have cut them off. Two years ago I began “unlocKing” dreadlocs for people. I use a cream and a comb. It can take several hours to several days, depending on how long your locs are, and whether or not you want to cut at all. I am in the NYC area. If you need this service for yourself, email me: realsphinx1@hotmail.com
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Honestly, my daughter is mixed and she lets her hair get matted to the point of dreads all the time. I saturate her hair in conditioner( cheap detangling silky soft conditioner like VO5 or Ultra Sheen conditioner by Johnsons) then I soak it in water and work on the hair with my hands under water. I use a large comb and scissors to cut down from the matts. This will thin the hair and also leave some pieces short but if your hair is thick it will work, then I work the rest out in small strong strokes from bottom of hair to top. Hold the hair tightly in your hand so it doesn’t pull as bad. I’m successful everytime and I have twins with the same head of hair.
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I am soooooo grateful that I googled this site before I decided to cut out my locks. I kept praying for a miracle that God Himself would take my locks out, but instead He gave me this site. THANK YOU JESUS and that you dreadlocks.org!
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Hi I’m a 16yr old girl and I’m thinking about putting in dreads but as I go to school in Ireland where they’re not common I’m wondering if there is anyway to cheat the rules? Also I’d like them to be like this :
http://images.dpchallenge.com/images_challenge/0-999/669/800/Copyrighted_Image_Reuse_Prohibited_499365.jpg
Rather than being really matted. Nt sure if the link wrks but I’d like then fairly tight and not all thick and fuzzy. Any tips?
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I have been thinking about getting dreads but i have blonde hair and everyone is telling me it will look bad , and i still want them so i don’t know what to do because i think they look great in brown hair , what about blonde ?
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Tammy, you should work the conditioner through without water. There should be no need to cut the hair when detangling.
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To Robin: I know a lot of people who have blonde dreads, and actually, dreads tend to get lighter after you do it, because some of the hair dies and gets trapped in the dread. Blonde dreads will look just fine!!
Lisa: You could buy the kit, which would put them all in and the same time but you would defintitely be able to tell. I let my hair dread by just not brushing it and for about a year, I could put my hair in a pony tail and no one could tell. Towards the end it looks like your hair is a little messy.
Hope this helps!
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I had my first dreads removed after around 2 years of having them. It literally took a day and a half and my scalp was red raw after, but I managed to save around 9 inches of hair and it wasn’t in bad condition afterwards which was surprising. I then got dreads again around 4 months later these dreads i’ve had for around 4 years and are alot lot tighter, I cut them to half their original length, now just above the shoulder and am removing these dreads….they’ll probably take longer considering how tight they are however this time it must be done as the previous length of dreads started to thin my scalp which is annoying/scary, but reading forums I hope that my hair will recover in time. plus a drastic diet lifetstyle change has been recently undertaken.
Still I have protruding ears so i’m not going to get my hair shaven. It’s time consuming but worth it if you wish to keep your hair, but this time I will cut my dreads to around 3-4 inches to save time.
Ed
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