Dreads

As you can see I have dreads. My history with them is amazing ten years and counting. My dreads are apart of me. Where I go they go when the wind blows they follow how I feel is represented by every single strand and lock on my head. I decided to dread my hair because I always felt people with this way of life were conscious, free, open minded, intellectual, creative, brilliant, and innovative. This is me I walk to the beat (boom boom boom clack boom clack boom boom Tupac shed so many tears track) of my OWN drum. I get a lot of inquiries about my hair. The most craziest question is how do you wash your hair my response: With Shampoo just like you.

There is a profound history about the dread lock. We all know it dates back to Africa but some are confused as to how far back. In my research I have found that evidence of dreadlocks are found in Kemet known today as Egypt. Some associate the dread lock to the rastafarian religion which includes smoking ganga ( marijuana cush chronic weed) and listening to reggae music but being a true rasta is not based on those principles. It is based on being one with God (Jah) fighting the struggle of Babylon, eating healthy and keeping the body free from caffiene, drugs, meat, alcohol, and anything else that contaminates your temple.

In Kemet dreadlocks were only to be worn by the Kemetic Spriritual Master and Dogon Priest for a period of seven to thirteen years. It was a very sacred hairstyle. These spiritual figures healed the body and was responsible for procreation. The belief system for hair was it has emmiters and receptors which control the flow of energy. God gave Moses the ten commandments but the Priest in Kemet had seventy seven commandments.

King Tut had dreads and so did the Pharoahs. You see this is why some people get highly offended with people who are just wearing this as a hairstyle and ignorant to the lifestyle. It is different from a weave, blonde streaks, and hair extentions. Braids are even symbolic in the African Culture and apparently we have lost sight. My hypothesis is the reason why we do all these different styles with our hair and most take so much pride is due to the spiritual connection we once lost but remains present in our heart. When I made the decision to dread my hair I was on a spiritual journey, pregnant with my second son, discovering who I was all over again, re-building my relationship, disconnecting with all negativity and reconnecting with the love of my life meaning Myself. As I sat in that chair it was the most wonderful experience I shared in a salon filled with abundant prayer and good conversation. Every lock on my head was created in Agape Love. Lastly some not all wonder why I continue to use the term dreads instead of locks. What does dread mean the dictionary definition is extreme fear, fearful expectation or anticipation, be afraid of or frightend. Well I do not use it loosely this is what they say and this is how I interpret it "Yes beware and have extreme fear of my intellect" I did go through a point in my life where I said my hair is not dreadful but I realized that words mean different things to different cultures. I will not let the original term be translated into something so negative and dark. The term is embraced by many due to the struggle, rebellion, and sacrafices that were made and until I find the original word that was used in Kemet I will continue to refer to my lifestyle as a Dread Head. Dreadlocks are symbolic and can be a controversial subject. I prayer is people will read this article and become more cautious and sensative to this decision. Leave your biased opinions to yourself. Hope this key of information is the missing piece to the dreadlock puzzle.

From my heart to yours

Peace, love, and lots of blessings