I have been accused on more than one occasion of having ‘fashion’ locks. Because I am not Rastafarian or any other religion that for whom dreadlocks have religious significance. Because I curl my locks. Because I wash my locks. Because I have cut off my locks. Because I have trimmed my locks. Because I unraveled my daughter’s locks. Because I feel it’s ok to dye dreadlocks. Because I feel it’s ok for black people to not have locks. Because I feel it’s ok for non-black people to have locks. For any reason, really, people can come up. I understand that for many people, particularly black people, dreadlocks and natural hair are a serious, serious matter. But for me it’s just…hair.
I look forward to the day when we black people feel so comfy in our skin and with our hair that we can do anything at all to our hair without it having to mean something. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for spirituality and cultural connection and all but at the end of the day, what my spirit is all about and who I am deep inside has ZERO to do with my hair. It is ‘just’ hair, and it is ‘just’ a hairstyle for me. Because who I am and what I represent on this earth and how I choose to live, carry myself, and behave towards others would still be there if I had to undergo chemotherapy or something and lost all my hair. My spirit is not trapped in my hair, nor is my ethnicity, and my connection to god or the universe is not fixated on or in my hair.
This blog entry written by Trula Breckenridge. Thanks for visiting Dread Mama!
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I'm Trula and this is my dreadlocks blog. My current set of locks were started in 1998 and prior to that I had dreadlocks from 1992-1997. Dread Mama is part of the MSPmedia network ©2001-2009 All Rights Reserved.
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I feel you!
thanks shirley!
Trula, I’ve been doing some research on dreadlocks on the internet, considering this as an option for me. Always hated my hair….looking for a style I can actually relate to….well, i could go on and on, but enuf uh that.
I enjoyed reading a bit of your blog. You sound like a nice, down to earth woman.A delight to accidentally run across you in the www ocean! Stay well!
Jude
I grow my hair naturally, and grows in the form of dreadlocks. I’m also Rasta, and so, my hair has a million different meanings, and holds a lot of significance to me, spititually, ethnic, cultural, even political. My locks are an expression of my faith, and pride as an African. But just the same as with you, it’s a personal thing. I’m very pleased to see blacks growing their hair naturally, without it having to mean anything special. personally, I don’t really like it when black women were a weave or something like that, to look like white people as much as possible, not that I have a problem with whites. You shouldn’t listen to any person calling him/herself Rasta, and critisasing you for doing with your hair what you want. People like that are uptight, arrogant fools, who try to force their way thinking on others, and that’s never good. Wear your locks with pride!
thank you for your post!
Hi Jude, thanks for visiting and your kind words
Hi Kwadwo! I appreciate you saying that. I really get quite a lot of flak for having ‘fashion’ dreadlocks and for being willing to experiment around with my locks. It’s just not that serious for me.
Hi tracey, you are welcome!
No problem Trula. Your hair grows a certain way, naturally. If god gives you hair that grows in the form of dreadlocks, by itself, you have every right in the world to grow those dreadlocks, irregardless of the meanings that other groups of people have assigned to that style of hair.
Salaam to you all!
Hello there Trula,
I’m really not into blogs but I ran across yours while trying to find pictures of haircuts for dreadlocks. I must say that your blog and pics are interesting and I’ve enjoyed reading people’s comments. Anyway, I’ve had dreadlocks for 10 years, just about a month ago, I cut them shoulder length because I wanted a new look. When I get home (in China right now) and can find someone who knows how to handle African-American hair, I want a more fashionable cut, but I’m having trouble finding pictures, ideas of cuts for dreadlocks. After reading this “fashion locks” piece, I thought you might be able to point me to some resources for finding haircuts for dreadlocks. I’m thinking something short and layered. Thank you!
Natalae
Hi Natalee, thanks for visiting. I maintain my own locks including any cutting and styling, so I am not sure how a salon would do your hair or what kind of style you are referring to…I assume you have tried googling for styles of dreadlocks cuts? Another idea might be to look in fashion magazines/websites about our hair, specially braided/extension styles. If you have thin locks, they can be cut and styled in any way braids are.