"If you ever want to get rid of your dreadlocks, you’ll have to be bald!"
Especially parents like to say just that to their children when being told that their child wants to have dreadlocks. And our dreadstylists have made the experience that this is indeed a pressing issue for many future dreadheads. So, we decided to present you with a few options of how to change your hairstyle after you decide that you no longer want to have locs.
1. Combing method
If your dreadlocks aren’t that old yet, there is a possibility of combing them out and keeping your original hair length intact. This method can be painful depending on individual pain tolerance. It takes roughly the same amount of time as making dreadlocks, but it’s about the only option you have if you don’t want to have short hair.
How to comb out your dreadlocks:
- First of all, you will need a lot of shampoo and conditioner. When making dreadlocks, the hair dried out so you will first have to strengthen your hair again and smoothen it. We advise that you start to integrate the softening treatment in your washing routine a few weeks before combing the dreadlocks out.
- Now you need a comb with a metal tip or a crochet hook, approximately 1.0, 1.25 or 1.5 mm diameter. The most important part is that it can withstand pressure and is robust. You might also want to use coarse comb.
(You will find everything in our shop!)
- Now take each dreadlock apart, starting at the tips and working your way up to the top of your head. Use the hook and start pulling out the lowest hair out of the dread. In between, you can also comb your hair but please be careful and don’t rip out too many hairs when combing the locks. My advice is, to do it while your hair is dry - wet hair is more about to break and we want to damage as less hair as possible.
- One last thing concerning the combing method: Humans naturally lose a lot of hair on a daily basis – but after combing your locks out, you will probably have loads of hair lying around everywhere because your dreadlocks were keeping the old hair on your head. So don’t be shocked if you have a heap of old hair on your floor after combing out your locks.
2. Let your hair grow out partially and cut the rest off or comb them out.
Some dreadheads have hair that naturally starts to felt at the roots, others don’t. So if your hair needs to be felted at the roots, you’re in luck. You will be able to grow out your hair until you have reached the length you want and still feel comfortable with. Then you can cut off the rest of your hair or try to comb out a part of it.
3. The radical option
The easiest option is of course to simply take a pair of scissors and just cut off your dreadlocks. Then it’s time to decide whether you’re more into the bald look or want to keep your few millimeters of hair.