That depends on how badly your dreads have grown together.
With dreadlocks, many issues can be fixed. With grown-together dreads, in most cases, it's also possible but there are exceptions.
Try to gently pull your dreads apart yourself
Do you have several dreads that are starting to grow together or are already somewhat kind of stuck together?
You can try to gently pull the dreads apart in opposite directions. If more than two dreads have grown together and it's formed a kind of cluster, take two dreads at a time and try to gently pull them apart a little. Then take two other dreads opposite or next to each other and try to pull them apart a little. Repeat this until the dreads no longer loosen or you've managed to pull them all the way to the scalp. Often, there will still be some hairs attached to the wrong dread, but at least this will allow your scalp to breathe more. We recommend having your dreads maintained every 3-6 months, to prevent them from growing together.
Consult a professional Dreadlock Salon
Are you unable to separate your dreads yourself or have they grown so tightly together that you're unsure whether they can be separated?
The best thing to do is consult a professional Dreadlock Salon. They can best assess whether your dreads can be saved and advise you accordingly.
In extreme cases, it may be necessary to cut the dreads with scissors to separate them. We prefer not to do this, as cutting them can weaken their structure and cause them to lose their solidity. However, as a last resort, it's an option, and we proceed with caution. Do not just cut your dreads yourself; leave it to a professional.
Combing out and re-creating dreads
If your dreads have been growing together for years, effectively becoming one dread from the scalp, we may advise against separating them. Because the dreads have been forming as one dread for years, there's a good chance that if we cut them apart, they will no longer have a strong structure and could then fall apart.
An alternative solution could be to comb out the dreads, re-section them and make new dreads. Possibly with extensions if your new dreads would be shorter than the existing dreads to match the length.
Have your dreads grown together and you're at your wit's end?
Book a Dreadcall so our Dread Expert can assess whether your dreads can be fixed!
