What's the deal with dreads?

[my3peanuts]

Why are so many people seemingly offended by them? Why the dirty looks? I've heard this from people with dreads and I'm really wanting dreads & call me a people pleaser but I don't want to deal with people...

So, when you got your dreads what comments did you get?

[mommaof3boz]

There is a Dready tribe here somewhere. You might head there for lots of insight.

[texasnurse3]

My first guess would be that it's the misconception people have that dreads are simply unwashed unkempt hair, so they think it's a laziness/hygiene issue. And of course that it's different.

[FloridaBorn]

I had natural dreads for three years. My hair was long and blonde before I locked up. I was totally *NOT* prepared for the looks/comments/criticisms from such a broad spectrum of people.

The most frequent assumptions were:

That I was a pot-smoker
That I was a dirty hippie
That I liked to have sex with Rasta men

Having dreads was the first time in my life when I knew what it felt like to have someone pass judgement on me just because of the way I looked.

My dreads were awesome, btw. I miss them sometimes, especially when I see others with dreads.

[grahamsmom98]

I'll answer, and please don't pass judgement on my being honest, since you did ask!!

Personally, I think they do look dirty. I know that they aren't, but dreads look so rough, unkempt and dull, that that is how they appear.

I've never had any thoughts regarding pot-smokers or the sex partners of dread-wearers (I don't care about either). In fact, all the pot smokers I've ever known were yuppie types (I've never smoked the stuff, I hate any kind of smoke :Puke )

Dirty hippie? Well, I was around when the hippies got their start (the first time, back in the 60's! ), and I remember girls with long hair (and, guys, too, naturally), but not many with dreads.

I love the look of long hair (mine is 52", from crown to ends). But, I like it without the look of tangles and snarls, swinging free or braided, looking shiny and healthy.

All that being said, I have never given anyone with dreads any kind of "look" because it isn't of any interest to me. What you want to do with your body is your business!

I don't like tattoos or body piercings (beyond the ears), either!

Just giving my honest opinion, I mean no offense.

[mamallama]

I don't know the OP's ethnic heritage, and I don't want to personally go into the details of the cultural appropriation issue...but I will toss it out there as a reason why some people look askance at white folks with dreads.

(I don't have a problem with anyone with dreads )

[FloridaBorn]

Originally Posted by mamallama

I don't know the OP's ethnic heritage, and I don't want to personally go into the details of the cultural appropriation issue...but I will toss it out there as a reason why some people look askance at white folks with dreads.

(I don't have a problem with anyone with dreads )

Thing is, any ethnicity can have natural dreads. I backcombed mine to form them, but my best friend (let's call her "Casper") let her dreads form naturally... meaning she didn't brush her hair and a month later she had dreads. She had flat, straight, white girl hair.


Dreads aren't necessarily dirty although they can be, depending upon the person wearing them. I washed my dreads once a week with Paul Mitchell Tea Tree shampoo. They took FOREVER to dry out.

I combed out my dreads when I was tired of them. It took me *months* of tedious combing, but I did it. I mostly found fluff and shampoo residue gunk inside them, but nothing more heinous than that.