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Dreadlocks

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Dreadlocks are ropy mats of hair that have been allowed to grow out over time. Sometimes, if hair is simply left ungroomed for a long period of time — particularly if the hair is naturally coarse and kinky; dreadlocks will form by themselves. If left alone for a time, eventually the dreadlocks will develop their own natural way of lying. Such neglect often results in dreadlocks that are irregularly shaped and matted together, affecting a disheveled and unkempt appearance. As they grow, locks sometimes may be "ripped," or pulled apart, depending on personal preference. The coarser the hair, the more difficult this process may be. Because naturally kinky hair has a tighter curl and can be extremely difficult to manage, once dreads have reached this point, it may be easier to simply cut them off and start afresh, to better effect.

There is, however, a more systematic means of obtaining deads which results in a neater, far more polished appearance. For locks of fairly uniform size and neatness, most blacks will begin the process by oiling and sectioning off the hair into small braids or tightly twisted tufts. As the hair grows, wayward strands will appear around the sections, which must be twisted regularly to incorporate the new growth into the tufts, which become dreads as they lengthen. With many people of indigenous African descent, this process of acquiring "dreadlocks," sometimes called letting the hair "lock," basically refers to the hair matting together, the tightly coiled, nappy hair naturally turning in on and spiraling around itself. For the most part, black people's hair, usually coarse and extremely curly by nature, does this without special measures.

Caucasians, however, who generally have straighter, finer, usually oily hair, first may have to backcomb, tease or "rat" their hair. In order to help consolidate the hair into locks, wax is often used. Sometimes wisps of hair are actually sewn in, using thread or wool to wrap the locks, sealing in the shorter hairs. A crochet hook also can be a very useful tool in the creation and tidying up of dreadlocks, twisting tufts of hair between the fingers, then hooking and pulling them through the dreadlock. With straight hair, this technique also can be used at the ends of dreadlocks to make them more rounded and prevent them from unraveling.

There are several methods for keeping dreadlocks neat. With naturally nappy hair, which tends to be dry, regular oiling of the hair and scalp, often with coconut or other oil, is essential. A stocking cap or hair net is useful while washing the hair to help keep strands in place. Regular twisting help keeps locks uniform and tidy and prevents individual locks from matting together. Mud and certain chemicals sometimes are applied to shape the dreadlocks, particularly with hair that is fine or naturally straight. The finer and straighter the hair shaft, however, as with Caucasian hair, the less tensile strength it has; the less capable it is of supporting the weight of long locks.

The term dreadlocks was first recorded in 1960, so called from the dread they presumably aroused in beholders; but, for Rastafarians, "dread" (1974) also has a sense of "fear of the Lord," expressed in part as alienation from contemporary society. However, the style is not new: Egyptian pharaohs wore dreadlocked wigs, and Celts sometimes sported dreadlocks, which they moulded with mud. It may be said to be one of the oldest hairstyles, as dreads develop naturally over time, especially with curly or coarse hair.

There are many reasons for wearing dreadlocks. For some it is a religious issue, as with Rastafarians. For some African Americans, as with other "natural" (or unstraightened) hairstyles, dreads, or "locks," can be a statement of racial pride, a repudiation of European aesthetics, or a statement of generally leftist, Afrocentrist political leanings. For many people, dreads are simply a fashion. For others, they just happen. In Europe and North America, some (mostly nonblacks) consider them emblematic of an "alternative lifestyle," because they are often incorrectly perceived as messy, dirty and low-maintenance. Quite the opposite is true, however, particularly if the hair is naturally kinky or long. Just as with any hairstyle, neat dreads require regular, often meticulous grooming.

Famous persons who have (or previously had) dreadlocks

See also

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