Dreadlocks are, in one sense, a wicked mess of tangles in one's hair that are tied in knots. For many people, attempting to get all those knots out looks like an impossible endeavor. For these folks, shaving the head looks like the only option. Truth is, however, there is another way. Here, we are going to look at how to remove dreadlocks without shaving your head.

The first thing you should know is that natural dreads are actually going to be easier to remove than perms or braided ones. You will have to invest a small fortune in hair conditioner and vegetable based oil. You will need a metal comb (plastic just is not going to survive this). And, you will need a great deal of patience.

The first thing you will need to do is wash your hair with a high quality shampoo. After rinsing, put in a bottle or two of cheap conditioner and let set for at least 20 minutes. You may need to wear a cap during this time and the longer you let the conditioner work, the better. When ready to rinse out the conditioner, try to avoid agitating the hair. Some may come untangled at this point, which will make the rest easier.

Let the hair air dry, then rinse with a mixture consisting of 4 parts water and 1 part vinegar. This will smell funky, but it will neutralize the slightly basic ph left from the shampoo and make the hair smoother.

At this point, you find that your hair is dry and brittle. If this is the case, soak your hair in oil. Jojoba is one example of a good vegetable based oil for this purpose. Wear a cap and leave the oil in overnight if possible. Even more hair may come loose after the oil treatment.

Next you will need to rinse the oil out of the hair and start picking the locks with the comb. You should start down near the end of the hair and work toward the scalp. Take your time so that you do not end up breaking the hair. If you finish detangling this lock, or even if you do not completely finish, braid the loosened hair to keep it from joining into another lock.

You should try to work from front to back and do each side evenly. You are going to need several days to get completely rid of your dreadlocks and your hair will look strange at times. However, if have the patience and enough conditioner you can remove dreadlocks without shaving your head.