To those who have or want dreadlocks......

I've meet many other people with dreads and without them, and most of them seem to have many misconceptions regarding dreadlocks. First of all, they aren't just some fashion statement or way to look "cool" or different amongst others. WAAAYYYY to many people these days (especially in the U.S.) are getting dreads, simply because of these two reasons. Throughout history dreads have typically been reserved for those who are very spiritual. They represent that the person with dreads is trying to become closer with God/the Gods or whatever divine entity they believe exists. (I like to think it's simply nature...bit of a Stoic philosopher myself) It's commonly believed that dreadlocks were first worn in Africa (many argue the exact locations of their origins.) Some believe Kemet others Kenya.....and some still think Jamaica.

It is fairly well known (not to the general public obviously, but to those who are actually interested in the history of dreadlocks) that there are 77 commandments that apply to everyone in the world, however those with dreads are believed to have an even greater duty to follow them. Some of these commandments are: Not causing others to suffer, not eating meat, not gossiping, not cheating, not to lie, and not to become angry. As we can already tell many people with dreadlocks today don't follow many of them, some none at all. The ancient kemetic belief is that those who have dreads are openly stating that they have taken a vow to follow these commandments (I'd personally like to think a simple vow to be richeous, ie. just and good to all living things) and are therefore watched with a keen eye by God/the Gods. Their punishment in this life and more so in the after life is much more severe for breaking these commandments, as they have taken a public vow to uphold them and in not doing so they have failed their vow. The history of dreadlocks continues on and on, with dreadlocks being present in MANY different cultures at different times, some including: Vikings, Germanic Tribes, Celts, Greeks, Egyptians and many more. As already explained they are suppose to be spiritual, so many of the worlds religions have implemented them into their own deities/beliefs at some point in their existence. Some of which are: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and many more.

I realize that anyone has the ability or at least should have the ability to wear whichever hair style the so wish, but I am very sad at the reasons many people these days get dreads. So, if you are considering dreading your hair, or already have please remember that the history of this hair style walks hand and hand with a moral/spiritual life style that above all else regards anything living just as worthy to inhabit this earth as ourselves.

 

Dreadlocks are not a religion.

 

Are you simply stating that or attempting to correct me, claiming that I stated somewhere in my post that they are? Clearly they aren't and if you are saying I said that, please show me where I did.

I'm simply asking, perhaps even pleading people to not forget the history of them. I realize that is a very brief history that I gave, but the reason for posting was not necessarily to provide a history lesson. Rather it is to make an attempt at allowing people to be more conscious towards the pretty much universal meaning dreads have had throughout their existence.

 

It is not an ideology is what I think Cavale was trying to say.

 

I respect what you are saying,stating that theres more to dreadlocks then most people think. But honestly in the end its just knotted up hair.

 

I suppose you could say the same about the piece of the true cross (highly doubt it was real) it was just a piece of wood, but it inspired thousands. That really applies to any relics of the sort, it may simply be wood, or a cup or something of that nature, but really it is in the eye of the beholder as to what it is.

If you feel dreads are just another hair style, that is fine with me and other than giving you facts regarding the history of dreads and my personal beliefs regarding them I will not try to persuade you to think otherwise.

On that note, anyone has the right to do with their hair as they wish, however those of us with dreadlocks or even without who know, respect and wish to uphold their history often look in disgust (I personally feel sad that people do things simply for the "look") at those who get them just because they want to get noticed or look cool amongst their peers.

 

All u guys do here in these forum is argue. Get a life!! Yep in these days for most of the ppl is hairstyle and i dont see anything wrong. Abt the dreadlocks history there is a google for it

 

Who is arguing? We are simply giving our opinions on a specific subject and if they so happen to be in contrast to another's views that is not arguing. Now if I were to say that one of their opinions was wrong and mine right and further explained as to why I thought that, then I would be arguing. So, I suppose that by disagreeing with your statement that we are arguing I have hence begun an argument.......Congrats, now you have proved your theory that all we do is argue in this forum!

Oh and when you think about it, where would life be without arguments? If we could not argue that slavery was wrong then I would assume it would still exist today. You see, arguing has its place, but I do agree that arguing over pointless subjects or arguing in excess is bad.

 

amen... i didnt look into the history of dreads before i started my journey (probably should have) but from what it sounds like its stuff that i live by already... and hopefully what everyone strives to live by.

 

I for sure agree that people should not be going into the journey of dreadlocks simply for a statement. Although, i think that has been CLEARLY put across in this dread lock forum since the beginning of knotty know how (or atleast it has been that way since i have joined). But as you said before (although a bit different), perception is in the eye of the beholder. People of certain religions see the hair as one thing extremely symbolic, as a link to a god maybe. I know in rastafari they will not touch a blade to any where on their body to physically alter themselves including cutting hair. They beleive the hair should naturally end up knotting into 7 distinct locks on the head.

Many of us here on this forum do not see it as a simple hairstyle and i think we all do our part in stressing to everybody who joins to avoid getting dreads if it is simply as a fashion statement. We stress the natural method more than anything. And competely discourage any over night dreads or dread products. For many of us it is more than a hairstyle, maybe for some it is religious purpose, others maybe just a simple spiritual journey in which they find natural identity with themselves.

Dreads are a long journey, and i feel bad for the dreads of anybody who possess them as a fashion statement, because they will be cut off very short into their life.

 

I agree with you and I am glad you posted this. Much respect to you.

 

It is awkward to see dreadlocks hit mainstream mass appeal. Johnny Deep the pirate has them, a finalist American Idol contestant had them, Jackie Chan the drunken master had them, a White Witch in Narnia had them... Famous athletes, hip-hop artists, rock group members, the attention starved, boring person down the road who wants some way to gain second glances.... everyone it seems.


The media is pushing it hard. I suspect Dreadlocks will be as common placed as any other "hairstyle" in less than 10 years time.
It will be interesting to see who has them just to be different, and who has them for supposed 'right' reasons. I guarantee you that once it hits true mainstream mass acceptance, a large % of our current dreaded people will be so consumed with bitter tears that they may look to a pair of scissors.

 

I have to agree with you. Dreadlocks mean a multitude of things to different people. I don't think there's any point in getting bent out of shape about how/why others dread their hair. If you're happy with yourself, that should be enough. More than enough. Sure, we could spend our time criticizing people for getting them for nonspiritual reasons, but what good does that do? We should respect people for their unique beliefs - that's what makes being a part of the world so incredible. Enjoy your locks; love them for whatever reason makes sense to you. I don't think there's enough time in life to spend otherwise.

 

If you really want the spiritual journey and all those great things you'll go all natural, I think people getting dreadlocks by waxing or anything like that, backcomb too maybe? cause it's forcing the hair into something it dont want to at first, won't give as nearly as much interest in that special hair style. I liked your post and agree with everything you said but maybe dreadlocks could represent something new now, I mean the basics are good and all those believes and religion and gods but I look around me now and it makes me sick, people follow every single things governement says to them, the majority I talk to can't make an intelligent action by themselves by thinking before doing it with what they learned before and all. Still theres exceptions, theres good people but damn. So I'm growing dreadlocks now, and I'll do what I wanna do in my life with people I love and I won't lay down in front of the rules like I see too often. Kind of another subject but anyway. Cya

 

i think this is a legit thing to say, but putting it in perspective it kind of reminds me of old ladies who scowl at girls for wearing mini skirts with cross necklaces. it just depends on the person, i don't think this argument has any resolution.

 

If by 'going natural' you mean ripping your hair apart as it knots up, then you contradict yourself. Ripping you hair is esentially no different from backcombing in principal. You are forcing your hair to do something it wouldn't otherwise do. If you want to be natural, you should allow your hair total freedom to do as it pleases. Truly natural hair is one giant nappy ball of dread.

I am seeing more and more of this elitist attitude at the forum. *Not necessarily singling you out ShortyAH, you are quite tame compared to others here*

 

I started dreads for one reason only. I have very long, very thick, very wavy unruly hair that was always knotting on its own in ways I didn't like. I did the neglect method almost all my life, ripping out the knots once or twice a week because they were huge, and I didn't know anything about dreads. So the reason I had a friend backcomb me was for one simple reason: An attempt to control the so far uncontrollable. So now it's knotting and tangling, but not in one giant clump. I understand and respect the spiritual aspects of dreads, but those didn't factor into my decision. I am fairly spiritual and don't eat meat tho, coincidentally.

 

who cares if someone backcombes their hair into dreads because they like them as a style??
everyone has their own reason, wether it has to do with spirituallity, ease of care, or cause they just like the look.
i have my hair dreaded for a mix of my own reasons, mostly spiritual (in a personal sense) and for ease of maintenance. but i would never bash someone who has dreads for a different reason. thats just as intolerant and close-minded as bashing people for backcombing.
thats not necessarily directed at the OP. it does make sense to educate yourself about something as permanent as dreads, especially with the deep cultural roots they have. but dreads are slowly being attributed to newer, more modern cultures and i dont see anything wrong with that. sure, its not why i have them... hell i only know one other dreaded person and i did his locks... but conformity is not a sin. im only recently starting to figure that out, after years of trying to be as individual as possible. i think its very natural to want to look and act like your friends, and everyone does that. its the strength of your character and your inner self that lets others know that you are different. once you try to cover that up... well those people are pretty hard to be around.
anyway, love everyone

 

Didnt wanted to say that exactly but yea, truly natural dreads would be a giant ball like you said, and I don't say the only way of growing your hair the way it wants into dreads (without shampoo full of chemicals and combing) is all natural without backcomb if you want to take that way your hair grows as it wants anyway and knots. That's the point of having dreads for me, let my hair free and don't take full of chemicals thing to control them, but rip them so it don't make a giant ball, but big and healty dreads. To compare to that theres the exemple of the majority of people I know and the governement, they invent whatever they want and people trust it too often, they want to control their thought, and it kinda work so I don't like that, so I won't use 'normal' shampoo either and let my hair dread. It's another way for myself to be a free minded person lets say.

 

There are many different types of dreadheads out there. Unfortunately, some do it simply for fashion, and others do it for personal/spiritual reasons.

I personally agree that you should not get them just for looks. But I try not to condone those who do....because I was once one of them. I backcombed, waxed, all of that, and needless to say, ending up cutting after a couple months. I just had no idea what I was doing or why. But since then I have learned and now I see things differently. it's all a learning process. I think with natural dreadlocks, it's hard to not be a spiritual thing.

and Super Smash, knock it off with that whole "not truly natural" thing. just because one rips, does not mean their locks are not natural. only a complete purist would say that. "natural" is commonly defined as- no backcombing, wax, or putting your dreads in any other way. letting the hair lock naturally.

why is it that people who backcombed get all defensive when it comes to this? it is just usually more personal to people who have natural locks, and the happen to be more vocal about it. just because someone is vocal about what the believe in does not make them an "elitist".