Trimming Dreads?

My dreads are pretty old and VERY long. I love them, but the weight on my head is causing me headaches a lot and the ends are pretty scraggly (I used wax when I was a newbie and the ends have wax and lint in them, I know it). I wanted to trim my locs a little, not too much, just to neaten them up a bit. I know it's unnecessary but I want to do it.

Are there any tips or suggestions people have for me? I've cut locs before, sometimes when a weak spot would form near the end I'd just rip the end off and I've had no problems. Some sites suggest putting rubber bands around the ends and then cutting, that seems too much almost. Should I just go for it?

Thanks!!!

updated by @erin: 01/13/15 09:00:14PM

the weight is from the wax yu used years ago remove wax b4 yu remove dreads!


--
My new book Ban The Taboo Vol 1

but if your gonna trim just trim nothing to worry about


--
My new book Ban The Taboo Vol 1

Thanks!! I did trim and I took about an inch...maybe a bit more off end ends of each dread, they look so much better now. No need for elastics or anything, some loose hairs came out the ends randomly but other than that it was goooood. <3