Some questions about removing dreadlocks

[Deleted]

I’ve had my dreadlocks for three years but I’ve been having some second thoughts lately. Questions to those who made the decision to remove their dreadlocks:

What was your decision making process like? What was the thing that gave you the final push to remove your hair? How long have you been thinking about removing them before you did it? Did you get/would you get another set some time later?

I’m thinking of removing my dreadlocks by simply growing them out. I’m still a bit attached to them and I don’t want to have too short hair so just cutting them is not an option for me, neither is brushing them out - it seems to be really painful and my scalp is super sensitive, sometimes during my maintenance sessions I wonder how I survived getting them done in the first place. My hairdresser told me that growing out is an option for me - I simply stop doing the maintenance, start washing the roots with a conditioner and start combing the new growth. Anybody with a personal experience with this removal method?

[james]

Leave them be. They are just getting good. One cannot grow dreadlocks out. They grow from thou scalp. Leave them. It's just a wobble. We all get them. Seriously they have a long way to go. You'll regret it. Just let the mood pass.

But yeah A few folk have managed to comb them out over weeks and a lot of conditioner. But don't think they are on the site. Ri, had 7 year old dreads and somehow untangled them over a month. Bit by bit.
But don't do it.

[jxbx]

First off, don't do anything rash.
- Sometimes not liking your dreads is really not liking something else going on in life.
- Give the feeling roughly 2-3 months to settle in. If ya still feel like cutting them...go for it!!

I've cut three sets.
- Each time was after a number of months "not feeling the dreads" for one reason or another.
- One I cut down to 4-5 cm leaving my hair shortish. I was about to graduate college and heading out into the working world was probably one of the deciding factors even though I was working construction and no one really cared. Nonetheless, I felt a change was in the works. Also, this set mutated into a mullet of sorts and I was sick of the look. Friends don't let friends get mullets!!!!
- The other two sets I shaved down to .3 cm...a buzzcut! I won't lie, both times felt glorious...hehe.
- One was because my dreads felt damped all the time. I was living in a wet and humid area and although nothing funky happened with 'em they just seemed more bothersome to me in that climate.
- The last set I shaved wasn't working for me with two babies in the family and the get-up-go needed at that time.

As for growing them again, the answer will always be "YES!"

Three years is a long time for a set. You say that you're "still a bit attached to them" so I would say wait a few months and re-evaluate. I still get the feeling to cut every now and then. If I wait a week or so, that feeling passes.

Also, I'm not sure how long your dreads are, but you may want to consider a dread trim. Maybe the change in length will "refresh" the look for ya. It has for me in the past!!

The "cut method" your proposing might work with some hair. Mine grow and dread quickly but I am able to manage a few cms of un-dreaded hair. Perhaps, if they were combed and maintained as un-dreaded I could grow them long before cutting the dreaded part.

I know the decision is a tough one. Your friends that like your dreads will be more bummed you cut them than you will be...hehe. After you cut, you'll see everyone and their grandmother with dreads!

Lastly, I've never regretted any of the cuts and it's probably because I knew I could always grow them again with time.

I hope this helps!!