Combing out dreadlocks is a hugely tedious and time consuming task. To a lot of people, the mere thought of it sounds impossible! This YouTuber is here to prove that theory wrong.
West Indie Ray is a natural hair influencer who has grown a solid follower base by creating content specifically tailored to people with dreadlocks. Thus, the decision to part ways with the style was a big and brave move in itself. The creator’s loc journey started when her mother sadly passed away, which make the take-down process a symbol of moving on from sadness and letting go of grief.
@westindieray
The video quickly took off on YouTube gaining thousands of views and likes with hundreds of people sharing their thoughts and feelings similar experiences in the comments. We are glad to be there for the inspiring creator as well as share her tips and tricks that you can use to end your own journey when you feel the time has come.
To give you an idea of what we are working with, the locs were medium size, mid-back length, and West Indie Ray had them in for four years and a few months. Also, Indie had color-treated hair, which makes the combing out process high-risk, as chemically treated hair is generally weaker and usually more susceptible to dryness and breakage. Whatever the state of your own locs, you can never go wrong with the gentle and thorough approach.
After you get everything needed, follow these steps:
Put a few squirts of your detangling conditioner into a spray bottle, adding a concurring amount of warm water, and shake it up to mix. Use the mixture to saturate the locs before combing them out.
Indie used the Wella color-safe, extra-moisturizing conditioner. You can use any conditioner that suits your style but it is recommended that you go for something with a lot of slip to make the detangling process easier.
Then, part your hair into six sections starting with a straight part down the middle of the head then dividing those parts into sections of three. After parting, separate the sections with the hair ties (you can also use hair clips). Starting unraveling on the last section at the back of your head will make the proces more comfortable.
For the conditioner application, spray the mixture in the spray bottle onto a single loc saturating it from root to tip. Next, take a little bit of the conditioner and apply it to the loc you are about to work on.
Using a rat tail comb, unravel the locs bit by bit starting from root to tips. The trick is to comb out from the point where the hair is loc-dead. This helps to prevent severe knotting and breakage while combing.
After the combing out process, you may notice that you have a lot of shedded hair. Don’t be afraid. This is totally normal as humans shed anywhere between 50 to 100 strands of hair per day. In the case of dreadlocks, the hair is locked together so the shedded hairs simply can’t fall out.
The combing out process took Indie 9 whole days with a little help from her sister and husband on a few occasions. While the process its tedius, there are a few tips and tricks that can help.
Combing out dreadlocks is a hard process regardless of the size, length, or how long you’ve had them in. It can feel mentally draining and physically exhausting. Remember to be patient with yourself and try not to rush the process. Handle the loc detangling with care and don’t be afraid to take breaks if you need it or get help whenever you can.
Enter your email to get this picture to your inbox, and get other ideas you might like 💌
Enter your email to receive a 20% off coupon directly in your inbox. Use it in our Virtual Styler to try on dozens of hairstyles on your selfie!
