How to Comb Out Dreadlocks | Interlocks 

I combed, well ATTEMPTED, to comb out my 8 1/2 yr old locs in Jan. It took me three hours to comb out four locs. I lost it, LOL. I grabbed the scissors and cut them off. I have a 6 inch afro now. Just last week, I FINALLY found a hair routine and products that my hair loves!! Not sure if I will ever loc again, but a perm is NOT an option.

You speak so beautifully. It sounds like you wrote a paper about this

I applaud you on your well thought out decision. Thank you for literally being a “compass” for us DIY locticians for the past 2 years. I love my locs and at 1 year in, I will always have them because it allows me a lot more time to do other things. My age played a huge part in the decision to Loc my hair in the first place. I will say locking my hair has taught me patience and endurance. It has reaffirmed my love of being natural, revealed my strength and has been a source of encouragement for my daughter. I thank you for showing this older black woman the way.

Combing my hair out dry worked for me. I tried it with the water and conditioner and the hair tangled and brake. Dry was better for my hair; 4b/4c hair.

This is me totally shocked that this was uploaded 5 years ago. Been thinking of cutting my 7 year locs but somebody suggested I comb them out. Your video is very informative and detailed. Thank you

I removed my daughters locs dry and it worked great. She didn't lose a lot of hair like I did. I removed mine wet.

I remember when you started combining out your locs years ago and thought “I could NEVER.” Lol Welp. Here I am! I’ve tested this method and so far it’s worked for me. I also have some build up so combing out dry helps the build up fall out easier. Thank you for this video!

Shooooot! It takes mental preparedness to take down braids! I can only imagine with locks.

It took me 14 days to comb out 120 locs. I used water and conditioner. This may sound crazy but I used a dog flea comb to take out my locs. The metal teeth are rounded so no sore fingers. If a tooth got slightly bent I just took that out so my finger wouldn’t catch it. My locs were really thick, so dry was out of the question,lol. Already had a sister lock consult and now ready for my new babies to get installed. Be very patient or you’ll lose your mind lol.

“The time is gonna pass anyway” ding ding ding! Yep. Take your time.👊🏾

I had locks for 4 years, 15 years ago. It took my mother and I 6 months to comb them out with a small wooden afro comb. It can be done and you will have plenty of hair at the end of it. I hope you keep going. Funny thing is. I'm now considering locks again.

ive been able to comb out some of my microlocs by using a .75 crochet hook on dry hair. lil to no breakage. :)

A lot of wisdom shared from such a young woman. I applaud you my sister. Still trying to decide which way to go. I am 12 years in to my Sisterlocs journey and am praying for guidance as to whether to comb out, cut off, or just keep my locs. I am expecting the Lord to give me a clear answer so that I don't regret my decision. Thanks. Be Blessed!

You better than me. If I decide to cut my Locs.. I'm just going to let myself get a good amount of new growth and cut them off.

Combing out locs has always been fascinating to me. I didn’t even know it was possible until I decided to start locs myself. Can’t wait to see the rest of your (continuous) journey. Regeneration and change is good.

Hello JoyceMD, I took my locs out recently. I have been growing them from a twa about a few months after a big chop. My loc method was interlocking. I had thick locs and the only products I used on my hair was a watery Africa black soap solution and olive oil. Oh yeah and I had them for about 2 1/2 years . To take them out I used a soft plastic parting comb on dry hair . As I took them out, I noticed that I did not have lint or buildup and minimal shedding. What I was blessed with is sebum coated hair.

Thank you for this...your observations, lessons learned, and tips have made a huge difference as i'm preparing for my sisterlock "take-down/comb-out" journey.

I can't wait to see what your hair looks like when you are done. It was so long when you started your locks. One thing that worked surprisingly well for me when combing out my locks was finger detangling. Once I got about an inch loose, I could use my fingers to break up a lot of the tangles and remove the shed hair. Then I used the comb to get it smooth. It was a lot faster than just combing with the comb for some reason. Good luck!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THIS! Your tips have helped me soo much and I greatly appreciate this. I've had mine in for a year, but I just want them installed differently. I told my mom I wouldn't cut my hair off once I joined the military, so i'm just trying to keep my promise with her, but also be happy with my hair! Thanks again for sharing this!

I saw that my hair was starting to go thin in the back so I decided to take my locs out at the 8th month mark. I used the comb and detangling spray method. A lot of hair came out but I was surprised that so much of my hair has retained length.

Hey I have been following you from the beginning of your loc journey, so I was sad to hear you were combing them out, but I respect it. It's your hair and I wish you luck! 🤗 I will be 2 years loc'd in December, and I have had to comb out a few because of LINT! I take great care to make sure I don't get lint, but somehow it creeps on in! The ends ARE the hardest to get through, and I know from experience, they do contain the most length! I picked out the bud on the bottom and it was the same length as my entire loc! I pick my hair dry with the end of a paper clip, I never thought to use a pushpin! Thanks for the tip! My picked out hair locs back up after a few washes, minus the lint, lol. I found the same exact routine to be very helpful. I can also tell when my hair is shed or if I'm popping it! It was so crazy, cz while watching this video, I felt like you were IN MY HEAD, lol. Continue to take your time girl, happy picking! 😉

I used your method and it worked I took of my locs dry. I lost less hair compared to the amount I see for those you used wet method. It took my six days cause I was only doing it in the evenings after work but it was good. I used a bobby-pin to detach n later combed through with a fine tooth comb. Thanks for the video

Thank you for this video! I’m taking down my daughters locs and the dental pik has saved my life. It’s an extremely long process, but this video saved my sanity. Thanks Queen

I just started my loc journey a little under 3 months ago. I'd been watching your vids to help give me courage and inspire me (so thanks for that). I don't ever plan o comb mine out lol but seeing that it is a possibility does make me feel more ... free? there is probably a better word. But anywho good luck with your process.

Thank you sooo much for this!!! I have traditional interlocked locs and YES! At first I was trying to do it wet with conditioner and was literally shredding my hair and lost A LOT of hair! I remembered a video I had viewed about dry combing out and found this one!!! THANK YOU !!!

Your loose natural journey will be amazing..your hair is beautiful...

Not sure why but when I first clicked on your update, I was stunned. I kept asking myself why I was tripping. You were my inspiration back in March when I first started. I am not a "follower" type of person so my feelings struck me as strange and emotional...feelings I have now gotten over. Overall, Sis, I have nothing but respect for yours or anyone's decision to just live their life. Much love, JMD. xo.

Girl, this entire video is triggering. Praying for you lol you can do it!

The smaller the tool, the better. I used a metal yarn needle.

I combed out my first two sets DRY! It was quicker and lost less hair

I literally used a metal fork and a toothpick to get mines out it took three days because I took a lot of breaks. My hair was dry though I didn’t wet it because it would have gotten knotted up wayyy to quickly. I didn’t wanna drive myself crazy lol. But yes, different things work for different ppl.

Ur so pretty and this video is informative! U have a teaching gift for sure!! 🫶🏾I have watched dozens on combining out my locs lol.. 16 years in, and it’s definitely time! I’ll heed to ur advice and plz pray for me! I’ll have to check out more of ur content as I see we are both believers!! Yaaay!! ✝️🤗💪🏾🙏🏾

Thx so much. It took 2 hours for me to remove one loc with water, conditioner and the dental pick. I've had pics for 7 yrs and 4c hair. I was so discouraged but will try your method.

This is by far the best video! You take ur time explaning every detail. U have a nice subtle voice that is very easy to listen to. Great video! I look forward to more...💯😊☺👍

Clicked so fast!

wow i love this video. so encouraging . also ur being very sincere about the time and everything. thank you so much

This is interesting. I spent about a month combing my 13 yr old locs about 3 years ago. I lost a lot of hair and ended up cutting it. Now I'm thinking of locing my hair again...

With my hair type Detangling works best dry with oils with pointy toothed combs. I use a safety pin for knots. I like the push pin idea

Very helpful! Push pin is doing the trick. Before watching this video I was doing a rattail comb and spray bottle. But I could both hear an see the little hair popping. Thanks again for the suggestion. What state are you in? Would love to find a sister-lock consultant who cares about hair.

As a loose natural, I can't really detangle with regular conditioner either. I either have to use oil or a conditioner with lots or oil in it to detangle it.

This was a good video thank you I’m gonna try this right now

I'm in the process of taking mine down and the only tool I am using is the pointy end of a dental floss stick. I highly recommend anyone who wants to take their locs down to try that out first.

am combing out my locs now w water and conditioner. gosh, i lost a lot lot of hair. am going to try the dry combing . i think its gonna work for me. thanks swtheart

I was a little saddend that u were combing out your locs, but i understood your reasoning. I think you're beautiful, locs or no locs! I have to be honest, though, I was a bit distracted by the bruise under your lip. Are u alright? My concern is genuine.

Best wishes on your new chapter of your journey. Locking one's hair is a very personal decision....as such, so is combing them out. You are beautiful regardless. Enjoy!

Heya Joyce, you are so well informed and in tune with your hair. Your discoveries are so goal and research driven. I have silky smooth luxurious hair (love, thy hair), but I took note because I blunted the ends that if I wanted to ever wisp the tips, I'd have to loosen the tips (at least a few inches) towards the scalp before pulling them out because although there are some loose hairs, that would be where lots of the ends would actually create fully closed loops. (ja ja my first comment would of been to cut them but you addressed that). You also addressed the molding seem of most plastic combs. Some of my locs where initiated with back combing and that seem was an issue before, on my quest I found metal combs with fine free-floating teeth that have a smooth finish and consistent diameter (which helps because it does not over tighten the knots when it goes in as the angle widens like a rat tail comb or the typical teeth on most.). Another great thing about removing tangles with the free floating feature is that because the individual teeth roll if you get cought in some knot that would likely brake, if your not to rough with it, it will catch rotate and just change angles allowing you to reassess the stroke before just ripping through it. Anyway I know it's long but given your research driven approach and knowing you love your hair figure you'd want a Lil background and this helped me, not to mention your going to be at it for a while ja ja Awesome vid!

I had problems with the placement of a couple of my locs and I combed them out dry with no problems.

I didn't listen to you about this and thought because my hair was loced differently it would not take as long WRONG it's been two months I still have 16 left 😩

That’s so true lol dry work best for me when adding conditioner make it more harder lol

Conditioner closest the cuticles!!! The exact opposite of what you need when detangling!!💡💡💡💡

This is off subject! But I had no idea you had such a BEAUTIFUL❤❤❤ VOICE!!! ..I've been following​ you for a while and just saw your older vid's. 🎵🎵🎵

I want to retwist(braid, twist, braid) locs that are too large. 8 week starter. The base is already locked incredibly! Cannot imagine your job, but your confidence says you will be successful. Blessings ❤

Thank you for sharing this advice. Based on past experience of taking down locs over the years, saturating the locs before taking them down did lead to breakage.

I LOVE BLACK HAIR... WE ALL WISH TO HAVE YALL HAIR CUZ YALL ARE HELLA SMART AN CREATIVE IN EVERY FORM I PROMISE YOU! 💯💯❤️❤️

I had locs for 6years. I did the water and conditioner I cut my locs shorter and took 3days to pic out. It depends on the type of locs format you used. I loced from 2strand twists n it brushed out pretty well. Ive has loose hair for 6months and miss my locs now. Today ive started my locs again watched ur previous vids. I feel like im u in reverse lol. Ive enjoyed both loc and loose hair. Back to locs now so let the journey begin. Enjoy watever you feel like. Just Enjoy ur freedom

It was very pleasant to listen to you and thank you for the video; you gave a lot of brilliant detailed advice which I appreciate. ☺️

Thank you! This extremely useful to me. That push pin idea is brilliant! And would appear my hair prefers to be detangled dry too...side note - you voice is so soothing!

Thank you this video helped me a lot ur method is really working out for me taking down my locs

Wondering if you ever considered letting your roots grow out a bit then cutting the locs so you could re-attach at a later date if you changed your mind?

I️ would have just let my hair grow out then cut them off... ijs... I️ would not have the patience... I️ currently interlock and palm roll through my 4 years. I’m anxious to see your outcome. Good Blessings to you👍🏽

Very good tutorial simple but with good information and presentation

When you finish, please treat yourself! You deserve a reward for all that patience, lol. I remember having mini box braids (with just my natural hair) yearssss ago and it took forever to get them down - even with help! I'm still traumatized, lol so this whole idea is daunting. Can't wait to see the final result, tho! Thanks for sharing the process. Oh, and do you have a plan as far as the order your going to take them down in? (so as to hide the 2 textures: twists and locs) Like working from back to front? From the center out? Or are you indifferent?

I took out my daughter hair and she's interlock and redid them because she wanted them smaller but it took me two weeks. You can get someone to help you take them out

Can u show what u r doing. Yes u showed the pin but would have liked to see the rest

Thank you! Cause I knew you could comb out interlocks!

You've given me extra life with your tips! Thanks for sharing your trials and success with us! Much Love!

Thanks for making this video would love to see how it looks once your done

I'm taking out my locs as we speak!!!

I took my Locs out An I Lost a lot of hair but now I’m in the proses of getting them back

This literally saved me! Thanks sm! Had to like, subscribe, and comment for this one.

Hi it took me five days to pull mine out using your tips, have you pulled yours out completely yet ? X

I just discovered your channel and your locs was so beautiful 😍😍, I'm in the process of doing all my research before I start my journey. And taking out locs has always fascinated me. I just wanted to ask how long did u have your locs before u started to take it out? I was always under the impression if u had them for years it was impossible. Also do you think u will ever locs your hair again? Your interlocking video was very helpful. ❤❤

Crochet hooks work well for detangling dreads. I have one that is 0.25 mm. That way you have a handle

Hi Joyce, you mentioned that the locs you've combed out didn't have buildup, but how does the hair feel? Does it feel different than your loose natural hair did pre-locs?

Do you think this will work on unlocking the ends. Some of the ends on my locks have budged.

Had my locks for 6 years and coma locks out to it took me 6 days lol

It's just dead hair anyway...cut it off. I'm about to start my microlocs all over after three years because I got multiple sizes going on and I don't like it. Plus I had some in the front that fell out. I can hide it pretty well, but it really does look a mess. Well, trial and error and I'm gonna try it again and keep them all the same size.

Thank you for this! I love my locs, but I hate the interlocked roots, which I've found out was done incorrectly. Can you suggest a way to comb out the roots and leave my locs intact? I really didn't know that that was what the person was doing...I thought I was getting added hair crochet onto my some of my locks. I don't want to cut my locs, but I hate seeing my scalp! I love my locs when they were only twisted or palmed rolled, and not interlocked. NEVER again, will I ever interlock? Btw, I've had my locs since the mid-90s...; I have no plans to change my hair, as I am locked for life.

The hair that u see that coming out is dead hair 😐 it happens when u combing out locs

Thanks for the info

Why did u make the decision to comb out ur locs?

I’m combing out my locs dry with toothpicks but will use the pin. Nothing worked. Water and conditioner just breaks the hair because it’s soft.. this method works for me too

You have a lot of hair - you are good. I am looking forward to seeing what you do next.

I combed out my locs and it took me a day and I did it dry.

I’m doing mine with a toothpick... but I’m not fully locked.. just 2 and half months in but I didn’t like he previous sizes sooo Yh fingers crossed

Thank you for sharing this!!!

This was so so helpful, thank you!

I used a thumb tac and saturated it with water.. Works great for my head..

How long were you loced before combing out? I'm thinking of getting my hair locd but I want to know my options

Your locs are beautiful. Sad you are unhappy with them. Good luck. Stay blessed!!!

I have locs with thick 4b hair and I’ve been using a lot of water and conditioner, but I already feel like I’ve lost a lot of hair from the detangling! So I think I’m gonna try taking my locs dry

cant wait to see your end result....can I have your London locker ??

Didn’t you say you interlocked at the beginning . Is that why the ends were so hard to get through ?

I went from palm rolling to interlocking and i am thinking about taking out my dreads. Is it possible to take out the knocks from the inner locking without cutting my hair ?

can the knot created when you interlock secure locs to the scalp be indone? ive had atleast 4 inches of growth and i want to start braiding my hair because i travelled and have no loctician

I'm removing My Beautiful Daughter Princessita #blexican waistline length #microbraids #microtwists #locnewbie #finehairloc #3chair #twistlocs #diylocs realness because the tangles from twists have been looping over themselves and it looks so unattractive. We saw a Tykara Ann locs and were inspired until the locs began to merge and loop back on themselves. I decided to remove the 360ish locs and begin again with a fresh grid using Tay Lawdawn, Queen Eleme, and another who I can't remember but I will install microlocs with 4 point rotation minus any twists. Twists that are not tight enough form loops! I didn't know but We know now. It's hard for Us to see so much loose hair as We remove one year old locs with Grapeseed oil and Rose Water spray. We know it was shed hair of a year. She's protein sensitive so I avoided conditioner for sleepage. I will let her hair rest after removing then hot oil treatment before washing and deep Aphogee treatment. Please research Your options before any installation. Twists were frustrating. We slowly removed locs and watched videos.

Can’t wait for the update

How long do you think it is going to take you to comb out your locs?

Thank you

I got free forms that eventually were twisted and interlocked so I have one lock towards the bottom and I can comb it out decently until I get to the interlock and than it gets difficult I can do it, but it’s very difficult to do it without losing much hair