Dreadlock Misconceptions/How We Are Viewed

Last night I had a conversation with someone regarding dreadlocks. This person was obviously intelligent regarding many subjects, but "dreadlocks" was not on that list. She said, "What are you doing to your hair!?". I told her I have dreadlocks. She said "So you never wash it?". I said, "I do wash it about 2x/week". She said she was told that not washing it is what makes dreadlocks. (I explained that I could not even have dreads if my hair was filthy like that.)

I was sort of offended by how she asked what I was "doing to my hair" but I don't think she meant offense.
Does anyone say anything negative or ignorant (this is not always necessarily "stupid", sometimes it just means "unaware") about you all and your dreadlocks? I was just curious about other peoples' experiences.

Pamela

 

well unforetunetly, I would have never been able to work if I kept mine. Its funny how quickly I was hired afterwords. Its very sad that your maturity rests on the way your hair looks, how you take care of yourself or if your a drug addict or not... ugh. I hated that one, I was def treated horribly out with my kids and accused of things just for sporting dreadlocks. Once I get my life in a situation I can control I'll be able to do whatever I wish. Sad isn't it?

 

I live in the capital and there are a lot of people (of different races) that wear dreadlocks but I know the discrimination exists everywhere. It is also probably worse in smaller cities.

 

I overhear more comments about my hair being purple than about DD's dreads... for some reason, when the purple fades to pink, nobody thinks anything about it. I think, DD being just about to turn five, and so unbelievably beautiful, that she gets away with a lot more than she would if she were 17 or 23.

 

She is gonna have some sick locks by that age!!!

 

hahah yea she will

 

I usually get asked if I have any weed...when in fact, I don't smoke pot.

No one really says much about my dreads...if anyone says anything about them, it's just questions about them.

 

the only thing I get sometimes is things like "natural? so they're not real dreads?" "if you'd cut the tips, you'd have real dreads!" "if you'd wax..." etc

 

Everyday students at my school call me stoner and assume i never shower or wash my hair.. i did both today.. Theyre always like when was the ladst time you showerd?
IT REALLY ANNOYS ME.

 

do you have any lsd?

 

shhhhhhhh

 

I don't have too much of a problem, except with a couple of my dad's idiot co-workers. Unfortunately, one of those idiots is my future father-in-law...

Peace and love

 

I haven't noticed any bad vibes coming my way due to my dreads. You get 'looks', but I'm MORE than used to that from people. I've had complete strangers in the street giving my hair compliments, which is nice but something I'm not used to!

There doesn't appear to be many people with dreads in my town (unless they're all in hiding) so you can kinda understand why people would stare at you......just got to remember that not all those people are viewing you in a negative light.

 

dumb girls at school always asking me "do you not shower or something? thats so gross, how can you not wash your hair" i always respond that i wash at least twice a week. they think im dirty and smelly. but i smell dead sexy

 

yeah there's lots of people that really think you have to stop washing your hair to grow locks - it's quite the opposite -- you're scalp has natural oils and without washing your hair oh at least once a week or so it will actually counter the dread process because these natural oils fight knottyness!!
wash with a clarifying shampoo without conditioners that will somewhat make it dry - also my honey has recently been using conditioners and it helps avoid breakage