Do You Ever Feel Like...

You're stereotyping yourself by having dreads?

I don't have dreads, I thought about getting some when I was much younger and somewhat into the hippie thing. I'm honestly curious though, and do not mean to attack or insult you, but just to question.

Do you ever feel like you label yourself as a "stoner", "hippies", "rasta", or whatever by having dreads. Is it more of a personal statement or a statement to society? Does it bother you if you do get stereotyped based on your dreads? Do you actually wish for people to treat you or think of you differently because you have dreads?

Do you think that you will have dreads forever? Do you think that it's something that you will simply outgrow? I see a lot of people with dreads cut them off eventually... it seems to be for a reason. For what reason would you cut your dreads off?

Sorry if I ask too many questions, I'm simply trying to expand my horizons.

 

Missin RT I see. I don't think I label myself with my hair. My hair is me, it fits, and I don't feel like cutting it so I wont. I also don't think people treat me any differently because of my hair. After they get over the initial shock and realize I'm not what they might think I am it's a nonissue. I've never experienced people treating me differently because of my hair after I introduce myself to them.

I won't cut my hair until I'm ready. I don't plan on having locks my entire life because I want to be a functioning and productive member of society.

 

do you feel like you can't be a functioning and productive member of society with dreads?

 

Not when they are dragging on the ground behind me and giving me a backache all day.

 

ah i can see how that might hinder stuff didn't know they were that long!

 

Skip wants me to expand my horizons.

I like your response though. I actually like it a lot.

 

i dont put a shitload of importance on my hair... its not a statement.
i dont think im stereotyping myself, and i dont have locks for any reason other than liking the way they look and loving the freedom from hair maintenance. and i think they look good on my and suit me. i hated my hair before, now i like it.

i will probably cut them if they become really uncomfortable or get in my way too much. i cant imagine cutting them atm, but at the same time, it would be fun to start over.
im not going to let them rule my life (taking days to dry, dragging on the ground, hurting my neck) b/c they arnt some spiritual journey for me.
its just hair.

btw, welcome
shitty about skips yearly forum cleanse huh?

 

doctors, lawyers and teachers, all 'functioning' members of society are allowed to have dreadies, by having this opinion your just giving into this crazy society we have been born into and continue to create, instead being indivual and listening to your heart, while giving.

when i was 16 i got my friends to backcomb my hair because my life idle was bob marley. i loved the idea of living and breathing the earth, of not cutting or brushing your hair and seeing what would naturally happen... yet i still backcombed them. it turned into a style thing because of pressue from my parents. they werent looking perfect and i ended up brushing them out and lost a lot of hair. I then tired again 6 months later and it wasnt about style anymore, it was about trying to have that nature experience throughout my body. I kept those dreadies for 4 years, until one day i was having some personal issues and was rather drunk and cut them off. it was supposed to happen for one reason or another and since that day i have not brushed my hair.... this was the true experience i was looking for.

I believe that people do sterotype me by look because that is what humans do... but it doesnt affect my daily life. If i am ment to talk to someone I will, and i often meet very intellgent memebers of society becuase of the way i look, especally while at university... they have so many questions. I should never be bothered by what other people think, I am only ever able to change and feel my own thoughts....

and in the hospital the other day, i saw a nurse with locks, and she is just the same as every other nurse while she is showing her knowledge at work. I dont know what my life will hold in regards to cutting or leaving my hair, its hard to even tell what the next second will hold.

I hope this wasnt just pure ramble and there is something worthy of being read and enjoyed

LOVE!

 

I'm glad that you like them. I'm also glad that it's not some sort of spiritual journey or crap like that for you. Shows maturity.

Skip's forum cleanse... ehh, I will get by.

 

Wouldn't it be just easier to keep your hair short though? I understand how not combing it could be some sort of an interesting primal experience, but is it really worth it?

I guess it is, depends on the individual.

I predict that the next second will hold lots of internetage.

Ramble on.

 

I agree completely. I wasn't talking about the image of locks stopping me from functioning, I was referring the them growing to the point where they physically hinder me from completing my job and make daily life more difficult (washing, drying, tying them up, etc.) I've led a productive and successful life so far with locks for four years and my hair has not once hindered my ability to successfully function and excel in today's world. Excellence and success comes completely from within.

 

ik that wasnt directed at me, but imo, probably.
i loved having short hair. it dries fast (my dreads take at least a day), is light, cool in the summer...
as long as i cut it myself, it would be easier. though it might not look consistently awesome every morning....
i dont think dreads are the most carefree of hairstyles (not by a long shot if you take into consideration the amount of people who hang out on forums talking about all the little problems, intricacies and revelations associated with them )

 

Yeah, that always seemed to be my issue.

I'm rather lazy, well, at least in things concerned with hair. I used to have long hair, but I'm never going back since I've cut it short... it's just a million times easier.

I dunno why people look at dreads as something that you don't need to take care of, or a "carefree lifestyle", as you said. Seems like they require much more maintenance than short hair.

 

depends on the method you go with i guess. some peoples locks really are maintenance free, formed completely by neglect. i dont do anything to mine but wash them with water, but i took time to start them by backcombing.

but its the washing that makes it a pain in the ass. theyre heavy when wet and take forever to dry (dripping all over the place in the process). or they can make you hot in the summer. thats what i miss about short hair.

 

The longer they get the more of a pain in the ass (or neck and back) they become. Washing is a major bitch. I don't wash nearly as much as I probably should because I never have time to let them dry. I refuse to go to work with wet hair and it's rare that I have a day off. Anyone who says locks require zero maintenance are either in denial or don't have clean locks.

 

like lunatic ive always wanted the most natural life experience and a deeper connection to ..well everything.. i started mine when i was pretty young the 1st time. naturaly ofcourse, only way i knew of then and they went wild
i cut em due to a ton of pressure from parents and an ex who was all wrong for me..i regretted it instantly
cutting is ok, if for the right reasons..life changes, mourning..nedding to seperate from our past
but dreads are about retaining ..holding onto or locking in the experiences of life gaining wisddom from all not just simply flowing through life but greabbing onto life and locking in its lessons
i grew mine to the groundd for the experience of feeling my roots connected to the earth
from the day i let them drewad this time i knew id have themn forever most likely..
sure a personal tradgedy may make me cut someday but i doubt it

as far as being treatted differently, no if anything im treatted with more respect
in my lifes work i meet with many in power possitions polititions lawyers doctors church leaders judges and cops and never has any treatted me any ddifferent
ive been on the board of directors of a non proffit we founded (i founded the 1 group myself which was joined by another group after we combined we founded the non proffit) also been on thye board of the spca (breifly) been invited into the homes of 2 congressmen had meetings many times with 3 mayors many civic leaders
hell years ago when i had my crazy assed dreads was picked up hitchiking by the ambasador to..umm damn trying to remembedr whgere..i wanna say columbia, but all i remember was being scared shitless at his horrible driving ..wait el salvador i think it might have been.. it was too long ago to remember..
long ago i did lobying in both house and senate and un too (indirectly in the un, was more of an observer for that one)

point isive had my dreads 1/2 my life between the 2 sets
ive had many experiences aloitta people never would come close to having all those experiences are locked into my dreads and not 1 of them was affected negatively by them.

what would it take for me to want to cut them? a massive personal tradgedy
i rerally cant imagine ever cutting them..
maybe if they got tangled in a train and i was dragged for 30 miles losing 90% of my skin in the process then i might concider cutting them..but whats the chances in that?

just sat here for 5 minutes contemplating what would get me to cut them
i came up with nothing
unless i try skydiving they get tangled in the cords and break my neck..
id still be very upset over cutting though..


just had a thought..
i think when u recognize the wisdom of the trees you learn to be still let your roots reach the ground and connect you to the eaarth..its very peaceful to just be still be connected and at one ..

 

beautiful

 

Possibly, but not intentionally.

Again, possibly, in as much as if people judge me that way because of my dreads, then I suppose I have unwittingly labelled myself so.

It was a personal choice...not really a statement, unless I'm stating "I want dreads", just like someone wearing shoes is stating "I want to wear shoes"

Depends on whether the stereotyping results in some kind of dumbass situation.

I'm happy for them to assume I might not be A4.

Yup.

Outgrow?! lol

Some kind of really really important one that had better turn out to be worth it lol

The horizon is infinite.

 

i want my experience with dreads to be a journey, but i also believe that i need it to be clean and presentable with the work that i do, and i don't feel that i can just neglect my hair to let it do its own will while my dreads form. and i don't think that even if people look at me differently that it will matter much to me. i think that i will feel as though part of the real me is showing through. that to be different, or absract is kind of the point. its not a social experiment, or sticking it to anyone movement its just self expression. at least to me.. that's how i feel. plus i am really looking forward to saying that this is my small way of showing something new to myself, going to burning man with my dreads is going to be an opening to a new era in my life of self expression and self love.

 

I did a paper once on stereotypes, and well yes and no while I know that having dreads will cause people to see you as the stereotype of someone with dreads I have never once felt I got dreads to be seen this way, stereotypes are something you cant evade cause you cant control people and you cant force them to accept and understad

again I feel and I know that I am labeled by others, at least Ive had experiences of people telling me honestly, but like I said you cant force people to look at things your way or try to understand

not really sure, doing stuff to my hair was always something I enjoyed so it would be a more personal statement to prove to myself that I really dont follow trends or anti trends whihc are just as bad

Does it bother you if you do get stereotyped based on your dreads?

not realy cause I knew it was coming from before I even got them but maybe after a while but live and accept I accept they unwillingness to accept

Ive been treated different, maybe caus eIve always raveled in being different, my entire life so you get used to it, maybe I did it because of tha on a subconcient level I dont even know myslef.

forever I doubt it cause well I cant know after Im dead but for a preeeeeeety long time, yes

Do you think that it's something that you will simply outgrow?

dont know Ive tryied to outgrow that side of me but it seems I cant so I doubt it, but the fixation on painting it wild colors probably will be outgrown

habing no choice but cutting them off or being bald or something on that level

donna worrt gave me something to do