Work as close to the scalp as possible while doing this. If you cannot remove these tangles without severely breaking your hair, it’s best to wait until you work on the smaller locks before removing these large knots.
The water should be as hot as you can make it without burning yourself. The hot water and shampoo should help melt any wax and grease that has built up. Thoroughly rinse the shampoo out of your locks before continuing.
Do not rinse the conditioner out of your locks at this point. If necessary, you can wrap your hair in a towel to keep it out of your face until you are ready to continue.
A tail comb is easiest to use. You can use the tip of the tail to pierce the bottom of your lock. If you’re using a regular comb, you will need to work the teeth of the comb into the bottom of the lock. After inserting the comb into the lock, gently pull it apart using the comb and your fingers. Don’t be afraid to apply a significant amount of pressure. If the locks are too tough to unravel, work more conditioner and warm water into the hair before trying again.
Repeat this step for every 1 inch (2. 5 cm) you unravel. Removing the tangles and shed hair throughout the unraveling process will lead to fewer problems than waiting until the very end.
If you have difficulty working the locks apart with a comb, you might find it easier to do so with a metal knitting needle or long sewing needle. When using a needle, slip the point into a loop near the edge of the dread and carefully pull the loop out. Repeat as needed along the length of the lock. This can take a long time to do, but it’s totally worth it if you’ve been wanting to switch up your hairstyle for awhile.
This round of conditioner should help repair some of the damage caused by the picking process.
Use a leave-in conditioner each time you wash your hair for the first week or so. When drying your hair, use a low temperature setting. Straighten your hair with a flat iron to manage any waves or frizz.
Most of this new, loose growth can be saved when using this method. Note that older locks tend to be solid closer to the scalp than newer locks. Also note that this process is the quickest way to remove your locks and will usually take an hour or less.
You will likely have between 1 and 2 inches (2. 5 and 5 cm) of hair left on your scalp.
Apply conditioner to the hair, as well. A deep conditioner can repair damage and make the detangling process more successful. Washing and conditioning your hair now will make it easier to brush and even it out later, so it is strongly recommended that you do this step before you do any further tidying. Do not dry your hair at this point. Do so only after your hair has been brushed and trimmed.
Don’t expect your hair to be completely smooth. Frizz is normal, but you need to brush out as many knots and tangles as possible.
The easiest thing to do is to shave the scalp clean with clippers, but doing so is not strictly necessary.
Depending on how many locks you have, how old the locks are, and how much of your hair you intend to keep, this process could take anywhere from 2 to 15 hours.
This method works best if you want to keep some of your hair but have locks older than four years. When you’ve had locks for more than four years, it is best to cut off half of your hair or more before trying to unlock the rest. [4] X Research source
For best results, try to soak your locks for 5 to 10 minutes. Any amount of soaking time is better than none, though.
The water should be hot, but not hot enough to burn your scalp or fingers. Washing your hair should help remove some of the build-up that would otherwise interfere with the unlocking process. Rinse the shampoo out of your locks before continuing.
Do not rinse the conditioner out of your hair after applying it.
Start at the bottom and gradually work your way up the rest of the lock. Comb out the loosened hair after every 1 inch (2. 5 cm) or so. Repeat this process on each dread, working one at a time, until all the locks have been undone.
Let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing it out with warm water. The extra conditioner you apply now should help repair damage to your hair.
Note that it might be easiest to do this while your hair is still wet. Dry your hair after tidying it up, not before.
