why do you dread?

[Deleted]

Basically, wanted to know why people decided to dread their hair. Actually, I kinda want to know if there are any famous female dreadheads, that may have been inspiring (honestly, haven't found too many myself...natural ones anyway)....but I don't want to leave anyone out, and I think the stories might be helpful to some of our newcomers as well as for those readers lurking out there.

So, why do you dread? And who, if anyone, was your inspiration?

[willowbranches]

I dreaded because I believe it allows the hair to exist in its most natural state. combing/brushing is so artificial to me, like shaving body hair or wearing makeup regularly, it is like fighting what the body naturally does and wants to be. symbolically, combing feels like a concession to standards of beauty that represent humans as nothing more than a pretty, polished illusion, so dreading is a rebellious act, flipping the bird at the image establishment. dreads are a small piece of freedom in a hyperstigmatized social construct that attempts to dictate how we look in order to be acceptable in mainstream culture. it's a damned farce, and I won't concede to its necessity ^_^

[micki]

I just love the way it looks is all. If I had to choose an inspiration, it would be Ari Up, always loved her!

[Deleted]

woah! micki , are these like folded over and twisted? that's kinda neat!

[micki]

Apr 22, 2016 21:59:55 GMT @vacantalleyways said:

woah! micki , are these like folded over and twisted? that's kinda neat!

Yes, I love her, she always had her own unique style. She was a true original.

[Deleted]

to be quite honest, micki, i don't know her...read something about the Sex Pistols, honestly don't know as much as I should maybe know about them either...(oh wait, that was her Ma that married...)

but that is one impressive set! I don't think I'd be able to carry around all that weight, idk That style though, is a clever way to maybe do it!. (omg, i just thought of how some women wear that much jewelry for some functions (50lbs I once heard!)...but at least they can take it off at the end of the night)

[lipstic]

I started (for the second time) this journey because I simply like them. I have always loved dreads; I don't know if I necessarily had an inspirational person, I've just always been a hippie and this was me accepting myself.

[stryke]

I've wanted dreads since I was 15. 27 now and finalllly got a job that doesn't care. So I chose neglect and am absolutely loving it. 4 1/2's in. I love how they look how unique. They are. I wanna decorate them and all kinds of stuff. Not to mention it is a big f you to society. I love the amount of patience I've already learned drom dealing. Its a blast and wouldn't go back on my decision to dread my hair.

[Dreadlocktruth]

Started my first set because I wanted to "let my freak flag fly" and I wasn't brave enough to just grow my hair long so I thought I'd put hair in short, spikey dreads and let it grow out.

After cutting that set off and majorly regretting it, I started this one because I realise that dreads are an accurate expression of some part of my inner self... so they're more a spiritual thing now.

[wells]

id say it's is about connecting to and embracing myself and my unique authentic expression of Source, and a commitment to being unapologetically true to that expression.

[Deleted]

I almost resisted putting down my reasoning...actually, I still don't know if I could put into words why I did it. Something about holding on to (haha literally) something of myself from long ago. I honestly have gotten rid of a lot of things that reminded me of the past...actually, ironically, this has made me forget some more of my past, but this site has reminded me some again. I think I am trying to just come to terms with who I was then, who I am now, and justwho I want to be. It is all conected. I don't believe we can or should ever completely forget our past. It is what makes us who we are.

idk so maybe this is me outwardly embracing all of me. Yeah?

Oh, also about the yarn stuff. I love the whole process from rough wool freshly shorn (shorn is the word?), to spun, to knitted or crocheted into something new. The coziness of cloth? Um..and combine that with my weird vut true dissatisfaction with the amount of hair I clean out of the vacuum. I seriously wished for a way to preserve that hair...like dreads kindof do this no? They suck up lose hair, right? I haven't really checked the vacuum recently. Kinda hoping there is less next time! But yeah, basically this not wanting to waste... and also wanting to preserve my hair.

thanks to everyone for sharing. Please continue. I know at least one person who is considering dreads and might be reading.

wells , you have one of my favorite signatures! Peace indeed!

[LeRemy]

Personally, I just like the look of them for now. Though my hair style was too childish, and I was tired of the whole wannabe-emo side-bang haircut.

[kondzio]

I started liking them in secondary school and getting interesting in them

once I went for my sister to kindergarten, my best firend found on my computer lots of photos with dreads and asked me "Why don't You get dreads?", then I decided to start growing hair

[Deleted]

Ok, thumbs up everybody!

I'm like, do I "like" every post, or do I comment? last time I commented so I didn't like (of course I like all of them tho)


but I just had to say this...


EMO!!!!!!

I was never "emo" like how people describe it, but I love "emo" music...sortof...some of it...

[taoistlocks]

Apr 22, 2016 15:07:36 GMT willowbranches said:

..,I believe it allows the hair to exist in its most natural state. combing/brushing is so artificial to me, like shaving body hair or wearing makeup regularly, it is like fighting what the body naturally does and wants to be...

This very similar to my reasons for freeforming: the taoist practice of wu wei (effortless/natural/ non-forced action).