It depends on which method you use. Check out the methods section In FAQ Part 2 to find more information about the method you want to use.

You don't have to shave your head. There are a couple ways to get dredlocks out, if you haven't used a dread perm

1. The Easiest way: cut your dreads off a little below root and have about 2 inches of hair. You won't have to spend hardly anytime with this, and if you are not partial to your hair then this is a good way for you to do it.

2. Cut the first half of your dread off, from the tip of the dread to the middle. Then soak the rest of the dread in conditioner and comb the dread out. This will take some time, but you will have cut the strongest part of the dread off, so it will be a lot easier to comb the rest out.

3. You just love your long hair and don't want short hair: I can completely understand this, this is probably the way I would choose if I were ever thinking about cutting my dreads off, but I'm not so I don't have to think about it :) Soak the whole dread in conditioner, and comb the dread out. Let me warn you that this will take a lot of time, probably 4 or 5 times longer than it took you to put them in, but if you love your hair, it's completely worth it. Some people will say that you can't do this, but you can, I know a person who did this, and I helped them take some of them out. I didn't stay the whole time, but I know when I came back the next day, they were still working on taking them out.
4. And if you have chosen the silky dread method all you have to do is take out the extensions.

It's all preference; I found the backcombing method to be the best for Caucasian and Asian hair types, and the twisting technique to be the best for African hair. But if you have your heart set on the twist and rip technique go for it, if you aren't happy with it try a different one. I can tell you this, if you want your dreads to happen and you want to know that they will turn out, use the backcombing method, you won't regret it.

Salons usually charge between $100 & $400 to make dreads. IMPORTANT! Many salons say that they do know how to make dreadlocks, but few really do. They will just put your hair in twist and cover it with gel and call them dreads and charge you $200. The best thing to do is decide which method you would like to start your dreads with, print it, and call around. Just take the directions to the salon and tell them THIS IS HOW I WANT THEM DONE! and see if they can do it. If not, try another salon, you will be able to find one that can make the dreads the way you want them.