Om RastasDreadlocks · Lisbon

Dreadlock removal

You do not have to cut. Taking dreadlocks apart is slow, manual work, but in most cases it is possible — and you keep far more hair than you would expect.

Inside the Om Rastas studio in Santa Apolónia, Lisbon, with mirrors and chairs

How it is done

We soften the hair, open each lock from the tip and release strand by strand up to the root. You lose the hair that was already shed and held inside the lock — that is normal, and it is not your living hair.

It takes hours and patience from both sides. On heads with many locks we split the work across sessions.

What the result looks like

Your hair comes out thinner than you remember it, with uneven texture and some breakage at the ends. After a few washes and a good cut, it comes back together.

From your photos we tell you upfront how long it will take and what result is realistic — including the cases where cutting part of it is honestly the better option.

Frequently asked questions

Will I lose a lot of hair?

You will lose the hair that had already shed and stayed trapped in the lock — it can look like a lot, but it was dead hair. Living hair is saved in most cases.

Can I do this at home?

One or two locks, yes. A whole head is many hours of work where it is easy to rip hair out by rushing. That is exactly what we are here for.

Other services

Client in profile with long blonde dreadlocks made at Om Rastas

Dreadlock installation

Dreadlocks made from scratch in your own hair, by crochet needle, no chemicals.

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Dreadlocks being worked on, spread over the studio chair mid-session

Dreadlock repair

Rescuing broken locks, thin bases and badly made work.

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Close-up of tererés and adornments: coloured thread, glass beads, feathers and metal pieces

Tererés

Colourful thread-wrapped braids, for days or for months.

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Let's talk about your hair

Send us a message on Instagram with a photo of your hair and what you have in mind. We reply with a plan, the timing and a quote.

Bookings and quotes are handled by direct message on Instagram.

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