How to Detangle Dreadlocks

Co-authored by Nikia Londy

Last Updated: January 9, 2023

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.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Prepping Your Dreadlocks

1
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]
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- 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.
2
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.^{[2]
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- Jojoba oil and coconut oil are both good options for conditioning hair.
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3
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.^{[3]
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4
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.^{[4]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Combing out Dreadlocks

1
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.
2
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.^{[5]
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- 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.^{[6]
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3
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.^{[7]
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- 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.^{[8]
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4
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.^{[9]
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- Use your water and conditioner mix as necessary to keep your hair wet and soft while combing it out.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Caring for Unlocked Hair

1
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.^{[10]
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2
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.^{[11]
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3
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.^{[12]
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