i found that the forced sectioning of my scalp was just too much discomfort for me to handle. after literally ripping a few dreads in half from the base up to free up my natural part i spent a week combing them out. not im a week into letting them do their thing. my hair feels broken and maimed after being so used to dreads but i have faith that, in time, it will heal and be magnificent. i have a 4 year committment to dreadlocks. i was 9 months in and im counting that. as it is i have 179 weeks of no combing left. after that. who knows. we'll see how i feel in 3 years :D thanks toeveryone for the wonderful advice posted all over this site. and thank you soaringeagle for being a man on a mission of truth