mostly due to medical issues (headaches, severe back and shoulder pain) my GF has cut her dreads that she has had for 13 years almost to the day, and she hasn't cut her hair since she was 11 years old. (shes 31 now)
she didn't chop them completly yet....they were all over 3.5 feet long and the longest one was 4 foot 3 inches (they went beyond the back of her knees)
well she cut them all down to 22 inches and is gonna comb and condition her hair as it grows from the scalp for the next few months so that she doesn't have to shave her head.... shell prolly chop them the rest when she has 8 or so inches of combed hair growth. (this was my suggestion to avoid shaving her head)
i wish i could post sum pics, but she is VERY well known for her dreads, and it would be a security risk.
I'm sorta sad, but I understand ....I chopped my own dreads twice in the time she's had hers, and keep my head shaved now.
she got physically sick when she cut the first one (i refused to partake in this cutting event...but wasnt mad)
...she's in good spirits right now and says it has already made a big difference.
I'm down for whatever