I hate dreadlocks, always have. I’d rather see someone with a nice, sensible French braid instead of dreadlocks any day of the week.
I think my distaste for dreadlocks began when stoner, privileged, white kids with whom I went to high school started “dreading” their hair to piss of their parents and teachers. I didn’t get it then, and I don’t get it now. If the means to accomplishing dreadlocks is by not washing or grooming your hair, then why would you want them? Doesn’t everyone want clean, groomed hair??
I understand dreading your hair because of religious or cultural reasons, but if you dread your hair because you’re bored or just because you think it will look cool… then I think you’re a poser.
Plus, it seems weird to me when white people dreadlock their hair. I don’t know. It just seems like they’re trying too hard. I feel the same way when I see rich, white, suburban kids wearing FUBU. It just makes me uncomfortable. Which is probably the point, to go against the status quo. But if you’re going to fight the status quo, can’t you at least do it with clean hair?
Although, I did think Lisa Bonet looked smokin hot with dreadlocks.
Axel Rose, however, did not.
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Axel Rose had a weave…..not dreads.
I have to agree with you Matt, I am someone with very little hair left (on my head) and call it hair envy but if I had hair I would have it clean and styled (do they say that any more) so I would look my best and not like a circus act.
Hi Matt,
First off, I love your blog, and read it everyday. But I just have to interject here. I was of the same opinion, until my really well-read and intelligent brother informed me on the subject of dreads. They’re actually not dirty at all, and there is a really great history behind them. Alice Walker, of The Color Purple fame, wrote a wonderful essay explaning them. It’s called “Dreads” and it is part of her book Anything We Love Can Be Saved. You should check it out.
I do totally agree with your distaste for the overpriviledged brat rebelling against the parents situation, but don’t blame the poor dreads! :-)
Ummm. YUCK. Sorry, but whenever I see dreadlocks all I can think about is how dirty and disgusting it is not to wash your hair and it makes me wonder what other body parts you don’t wash.
I think it just makes white kids look dirty. Who hates showering???
You can say that they aren’t dirty, but anyone I’ve ever known to have dreads hair stinks and on most people, it just looks nasty.
Dreads are not exclusively nor necessarily dirty, some people who wear them are. Taking a poll of the number of clean dreads at a Phish or Dave Matthews concert is not a fair sample.
Love your blog Matt! Sorry, but both of those examples you gave(Lisa Bonet & Axel Rose) are both not dreads. Lisa (love her, and she looks great in that photo) had some sort of highly styled non dread do. Axel clearly has corn rows. If you want to see some really gross dreads check out http://sf0.org/bin/index.php?action=viewFile&id=87522 .
You crack me up with your stance on dreads, I must say, I’m with you!
Why do people cut or dye their hair a certain way? Because they think it looks cool!! I can understand the annoyance with rich kids from surburbia doing it to piss of their parents but some people just like how it looks
I gotta say I’m with you on this one, Matt. I just do not like dred locks on anyone. I just don’t get why anyone would want to do it.
You actually have to keep them very clean and shampoo daily if you want your dreads to stay tight and nice looking. But the ones that don’t regularly shower because they are too stoned and veged out are the ones that give dreadlocks a bad stereotype.
I generally like the way they look, but I must agree, they hold on to any scent they pick up. It’s like wearing the same sweater every day and never washing it.
Years ago, when I asked my friend Joel why he cut his dreads off, his answer was, “because I got bugs.” Ick. That exchange is burned into my memory.
Ditto. Dreads = smelly and gross. Go up and smell some dreads sometimes to all you nay sayers. If I go ONE day without washing my hair, I can barely stand it. The people who say they are not dirty… how do you wash that mess? Go tap your head with your hand. People who that applies to know what I mean. lol…
Dreadful…….
I suppose as long as they show up for work, are responsible…and are clean of course, I don’t have a problem with dread-heads. Not nearly as horrific as a ‘comb-over” Ughhh!
I know someone who calls them shitlocks because once they get to be a certain size, they look like logs of shit hanging from your head. And they tend to smell bad too.
I never liked dreads to begin with but once I heard that, it only solidified my hatred for them.
LMAO Matt. You hit the nail right on the head!! Gross!!
i TOTALLY agree. and who wants to dread their f-ing child’s hair…..beyond me. get over it…..
dude. I have dreads and i wash them alot. they look pretty cool, and i get offended when pple ask me if i wash my hair. hair is hair, and it should be clean nomatter what style you have. unless you’re not a clean person. but your hair has nothing to do with how clean you are. period. From someone with dreads.
I have dreads and i wash them every 2 days! And i have them because i don’t like the idea of putting so many chemicals and heat appliances on my hair (i used to straighten my hair like basically every other girl not happy with themselves and to look like what women are meant to look like). The only thing i am rebelling against is the stereotypical model type we are bombarded with in the media, and trying to give women a healthier alternative to beauty! And i do still shave my legs and shower regularly AND i have dreads!!!
Some ppl really need to educate themselves, how ignorant to make a sweeping generalization that dreads are dirty. I’ve seen alot of ppl with straight hair who smell and don’t wash so don’t make this about hygiene, when the fact is some people are just threatened when African-American dare to wear their hair in a natural state, and automatically take it as an insult to the western standard of beauty. And dare to affirm their cultural heritage. I should feel sorry for people who need everyone to look like them in order to feel good about themselves.
Most of you ignorant people don t like dreads cause they are “dirty” and “ungroomed”. Since ive had dreads i have tended to my hair more than ever before. Dreads are the natural way, they encourage a healthy strong scalp and a natural way of life. no dirty combs or brushes made of synthetic materials. no gross greasy shampoos or conditioners stripping your hair of its natural oils. just residue free wash and natural grooming…if anyone is gross its you people with your over-fragranced shampoos and conditioners and your hairsprays and gels which cause dandruff and scalp stress, and hair dye which causes hair damage and hair loss. know the facts before you judge. . . p.s. DONT WAX DREADS! NATTY DREADS ARE THE WAY!
I have been considering getting my hair done in dreads. It’s not to look cool or to rebel against my parents because I am 43 years old. Many of you talk down about dreads have obviously never had to deal with naturally curly hair that is more frizzy and big than anything. I use to use a blow fryer and a straightening iron. These things damaged my hair, not to forget all the expensive products I used just to get that straight look that “everyone” has. I was miserable knowing the “stand in front of the mirror for an hour” routine I had to face everyday. A year ago I quit with all the heat styling permanently. So now I have this big, curly frizzy type of hair that does not behave. Right now I wear it up in a bun everyday just to keep it in place. I am tired of this look. I want to wear my hair down and free without a bunch of hair products to keep it tame. Are cornrow braids a good alternative? No, because they have to be redone every so often when they start to grow out. I have had them before. So far dreads seem to be the best alternative I can come up with. Of course I would keep them clean and do whatever I had to just to keep them smelling fresh too. I have been doing a lot of research and dreadlocks are not all as bad as some make them out to be. They are a great alternative for some of us unfortunate ones who have been dished out bad hair to try and work with. So any of you on here who have been fortunate enough to be born with nice long natural straight hair that requires no work, think of us who don’t have that option and the next time you see someone with dreads, ask yourself if maybe that person is wearing them due to bad hair and not for attention as you might think.
Obviously you are not aware of the facts of dreadlocks. First of all, not washing your hair is not a part of getting dreadlocks what so ever. In fact, dreadlocks are healthier and lock faster when they are clean. Second off, not brushing or combing your hair is only one of the many ways to get dreadlocks. There are other techniques such as twisting, crotchet, and back-combing dreadlocks. Saying that a white kid with dreadlocks is a poser is basically like saying a black kid who straightens their hair is a poser. Lastly, it is only a hair style. You should not feel uncomfortable around people because of a hairstyle. Learn to accept it.