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This article was co-authored by Nikia Londy. Nikia Londy is a Hair Augmentation Specialist and the Founder and CEO of Intriguing Hair, a one-stop solution for women from all ethnicities wanting to purchase high-quality human hair extensions, hairpieces, and wigs. With over 16 years of experience, she specializes in artificial hair integrations, hair extensions, hair loss, hairpieces and wigs, and non-surgical hair replacement. Nikia holds a BA in Organizational Leadership from Charter Oak State College and received her Cosmetology Certification from Blaine Beauty School. She is also a member of the American Hair Loss Council.
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Detangling dreadlocks isn’t for the faint of heart. It takes a lot of time and patience, and several bottles of conditioner. If you stick with it, though, you can comb out your dreadlocks and still keep most of your length. Just work one dreadlock at a time, and be sure to be gentle with your hair during each step of the process. If all else fails, you can always visit a salon that specializes in removing dreadlocks without shaving them off.
Things You Should Know
- Cut off the old ends of your dreadlocks, wash and condition your hair, then soak your dreadlocks in hot water for 10 minutes.
- Start at the ends and untangle one dreadlock at a time. Coat the dreadlock in conditioner and use a rat-tail comb to gently pick out the end.
- Work your way up to your roots, reconditioning your dreadlock as needed. Then, comb through the dreadlock until you don’t feel any resistance.
Steps
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![Step 1 Cut away old portions of your dreadlocks.]()
Cut away old portions of your dreadlocks. The older a portion of your dreadlock is, the harder it will be to untangle. Cut off any old lengths of dreadlock. This will make it easier to untangle the newer lengths.[1]- Generally, lengths of dreadlocks that are over four years old are considered much more difficult to remove. Old dreadlocks may require the removal of up to half the length of the lock.
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![Step 2 Wash away any wax and grease.]()
Wash away any wax and grease. Rinse out any wax, grease, or other product you use to maintain your dreadlocks. Wash your hair thoroughly with shampoo and condition with a commercial conditioner or a hydrating oil.- Jojoba oil and coconut oil are both good options for conditioning hair.
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![Step 3 Soak your hair in hot water for at least ten minutes.]()
Soak your hair in hot water for at least ten minutes. Before you start to untangle your deadlocks, you want to get them as wet as possible. Lay down in a bathtub filled with the hottest water you can stand. Let your dreadlocks soak for at least ten and up to thirty minutes. -
![Step 4 Mix a bottle of water and conditioner.]()
Mix a bottle of water and conditioner. Fill a spray bottle up one quarter of the way with a very slippery conditioner, and the rest of the way with hot water. Screw on the spray head and shake the bottle thoroughly to mix it. Use the bottle to re-wet your dreadlocks as they dry out during the untangling process.
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![Step 1 Work one dreadlock at a time.]()
Work one dreadlock at a time. Combing out a dreadlock takes a lot of time and patience. You will need to work one dreadlock at a time, re-wetting and re-soaking each dreadlock as necessary. Make sure to saturate your hair with oil to condition it. Do not try to work more than one dreadlock at a time.- Clip back any dreadlocks you are not actively working on. Once your hair is unlocked, use a separate clip to pull back your unlocked hair and keep it separate from the area you are working on.
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![Step 2 Condition your dreadlock.]()
Condition your dreadlock. Apply a liberal amount of conditioner or conditioning oil to your dreadlock. Your hair should be slick to the touch. In this case, you don’t need to use a specialty conditioner. A cheap, drugstore conditioner is the best option.[2]- You will likely need several bottles of conditioner to complete this process.
- Alternatively, some salon stores sell a dreadlock removal cream that can replace conditioner and make it easier to comb out your hair.[3]
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![Step 3 Use a rat-tail comb to pick out the end of the dreadlock.]()
Use a rat-tail comb to pick out the end of the dreadlock. Using the tail side of a rat tail comb, slowly and gently pick out the end of your dreadlock. Reapply conditioner along with the conditioning water spray as necessary. Work your way up the length of the dreadlock until you get to your roots.- You may find it easier to work out your dreadlocks using a crochet hook. The process is the same as using a comb, but the hook may offer you more control.
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![Step 4 Comb out your untangled dreadlock with a regular comb.]()
Comb out your untangled dreadlock with a regular comb. Using a normal or wide-toothed comb, brush out your newly unlocked hair. Work through smaller tangles until you can run your comb through your hair without resistance.- Use your water and conditioner mix as necessary to keep your hair wet and soft while combing it out.
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![Step 1 Wash your hair.]()
Wash your hair. After you have completely unlocked each dreadlock, you will need to wash your hair again. Shampoo and condition it with your preferred products. If you normally use salon or alternative products, use them for this wash. -
![Step 2 Brush your hair.]()
Brush your hair. Using a brush or a wide-toothed comb, brush out your hair one more time while it is still wet. Work carefully and gently on any remaining problem spots. This will help remove any remaining tangles and restore your pre-dreadlock texture.[4] -
![Step 3 Trim away any spilt ends.]()
Trim away any spilt ends. The process of detangling dreadlocks can leave your hair frizzy and damaged. If you have the resources, head to the salon and have your stylist trim away any remaining split ends. You can also trim your split ends at home.
Expert Q&A
Tips
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Detangling dreadlocks takes a lot of time and patience. Be prepared to spend upwards of 15 hours over one or two days completely dedicated to unlocking your hair.Thanks
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Most people see substantial hair loss when detangling their dreadlocks. This is completely normal. Hair that sheds when you have dreadlocks comes loose from the scalp but doesn’t fall out of the dreadlock. The hair loss you see is years' worth of already shedded hair trapped in your dreadlock.Thanks
References
About This Article
Detangling dreadlocks can take time and patience, but you can do it while keeping most of your length. Cut away any portions of your dreadlocks that are older than 4 years since they'll be hard to untangle. Once the old locks are gone, wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner. Then, soak your hair in hot water for at least 10 minutes to get it as wet as possible. To keep your dreads wet while detangling them, fill a spray bottle with hot water and conditioner. Work 1 dread at a time, slathering it with conditioner and using a rat-tail comb to pick out the end of the dreadlock. Slowly work your way up the dreadlock until you get to your roots. Then, use a normal or wide-toothed comb to brush through the unlocked hair. To learn how to care for unlocked hair, keep reading!
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