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Dreadlocks Myths and Rumors
- By naanis naturals
- Published 01/20/2009
- Dreadlocks
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We now know that the history of Dreadlocks is full of deep spirituality, conviction, defiance and pride, but despite the fact that dreadlocks represent one of the oldest and most universal of all hair styles, there are many negative urban legends and myths surrounding their process of growth, maintenance and appearance. Unfortunately, few people have been willing to address these rumors head on and instead have chosen to educate through positive affirmation.
Although this site is about uplifting the world’s perception of dreadlocks through understanding, proper care and instruction, before we can tackle how to care for them, we must uncover how dreadlocks fell from their position of reverence in ancient societies to its present-day existence where it teeters in the realm of taboo.
Dreadlocks Can’t Be Shampooed
Ask virtually anyone, of any color or background and they’ll tell you that in order to grow dreadlocks, you can’t shampoo your hair. This is perhaps the most popular and offensive of all dreadlocks myths as people who’ve never even been in the real-life presence of the hair style often hold this belief to be true. Because negative myths often have more legs than reality, dismantling the perception that dreadlocks can’t be shampooed is difficult and unfortunately what makes the task even more daunting is that there are bits of truth in this lie.
The unkempt nature of traditional dreadlocks probably lead many in the modern-day to believe that their appearance is as much the result of not using combs and brushes as it is from not shampooing one’s hair. What gives the myth credence is that for decades, due to a lack of education, instruction or presence of dreadlocks, there are indeed individuals who refrained from washing their hair for several months. In essence, the myth took root in popular culture and individuals who considered dreadlocks grabbed hold to it, refrained from washing their hair and thus perpetuated the myth. This willingness of some members in the dreadlocks community to adopt the myth is what makes it difficult to fully eradicate.
The story of African hair is indicative of how locks which were once revered in religious institutions throughout the world, are now seen as dreadful by many in mainstream society. It’s amazing to think that racist institutions in Jamaica were able to transform this styles role in history and present day with one word, dread. Thus today, dreadlocks or locks now face the same plight as African hair as any and everything is done to make the style objectionable including telling people that by choosing this style, you’re in-effect choosing to live in filth.
Although this site is about uplifting the world’s perception of dreadlocks through understanding, proper care and instruction, before we can tackle how to care for them, we must uncover how dreadlocks fell from their position of reverence in ancient societies to its present-day existence where it teeters in the realm of taboo.
Dreadlocks Can’t Be Shampooed
Ask virtually anyone, of any color or background and they’ll tell you that in order to grow dreadlocks, you can’t shampoo your hair. This is perhaps the most popular and offensive of all dreadlocks myths as people who’ve never even been in the real-life presence of the hair style often hold this belief to be true. Because negative myths often have more legs than reality, dismantling the perception that dreadlocks can’t be shampooed is difficult and unfortunately what makes the task even more daunting is that there are bits of truth in this lie.
The unkempt nature of traditional dreadlocks probably lead many in the modern-day to believe that their appearance is as much the result of not using combs and brushes as it is from not shampooing one’s hair. What gives the myth credence is that for decades, due to a lack of education, instruction or presence of dreadlocks, there are indeed individuals who refrained from washing their hair for several months. In essence, the myth took root in popular culture and individuals who considered dreadlocks grabbed hold to it, refrained from washing their hair and thus perpetuated the myth. This willingness of some members in the dreadlocks community to adopt the myth is what makes it difficult to fully eradicate.The truth is, dreadlocks are not filthy and dirty, but some people who grow locks are ignorant of their care and do indeed engage in filthy practices. For most people, the idea that water can not touch your scalp is immediately a deal breaker. For others, adhering to the rumor and sticking with a practice of filth is evidence of a misguided conviction. Simply put, being able to endure one’s own filth for several months is not indicative of fortitude. If anything, it demonstrates how easily negative and objectionable beliefs can be willingly and openly adopted by society. Although it may seem impossible, the history of African hair provides yet another example of how negative hair propaganda can easily overcome rational thought.
For hundreds of years, African slaves throughout the Diaspora were told that natural African hair was ugly, Nappy, kinky and inferior to straight, long, Caucasoid hair types. As Malcolm X penned in his autobiography, the slaves who worked in the field were subjected to the hardest physical labor while the house slaves, who were often the biracial products of rape, performed indoor tasks and duties that although still objectionable, were preferred to long days of laboring in the sun. As a result of these differences in treatment, slaves began to understand that looking more like the oppressor garnered privilege whereas appearing as God intended left you far more susceptible to the whip.
Where one may not readily change skin color, African slaves began to develop techniques to change the appearance of their unique, African hair. Gradually they began using fat from animals to smooth and slick hair backward. What makes animal fat-only methods and hair dressings ineffective is that you often have to use large amounts of them in order to achieve the desired look. That look is easily compromised by hours of
working in the sun. The fat would melt and eventually run its way down the face and body. Soon, enterprising African slave descendants developed alternate methods to achieve the straight hair look with the most famous of them being Madame C. J. Walker.
working in the sun. The fat would melt and eventually run its way down the face and body. Soon, enterprising African slave descendants developed alternate methods to achieve the straight hair look with the most famous of them being Madame C. J. Walker.
The Guinness Book of World Records touts Madame Walker as America’s first female self-made millionaire; a feat that was seemingly impossible by a woman, let alone a Black woman in the early 20th century. With her invention of the straightening or Hot-Comb, Madame Walker gave Blacks a means to mimic naturally straight hair without changing African hairs’ chemical structure. Eventually however, the hot-comb was replaced by a chemical substance that unlike heat, breaks down hairs’ chemical bonds and achieved the solution that had for so long evaded African slaves, hair that is permanently straight.
Lye, a chemical that literally eats away at flesh and is often used in shallow burials to help decompose corpses, also helps straighten African hair. Today lye appears in many Relaxer products and is marketed to Black women and children alike and is the predominant method of styling hair in Black communities throughout the world. Many Black women who refuse to consider wearing their hair naturally have adopted the perceptions of colonial slave masters. These women believe that the do not have what is often referred to as “Good Hair (hair that is naturally straight or semi-curly),” that their hair is “too nappy” or in a more pointed fashion, they feel they have “nigga hair.”
What makes the study of African hair perception so important is that a negative belief has the ability to overtake a positive reality to the point where the lines of truth and lie mutually coexist. Modern-day Blacks who believe natural African hair to be objectionable ignore or are ignorant of African-history prior to slavery. Even those who acknowledge that African hair wasn’t regarded as foul until Blacks became oppressed by White colonial powers, still refuse to wear their hair naturally.
The story of African hair is indicative of how locks which were once revered in religious institutions throughout the world, are now seen as dreadful by many in mainstream society. It’s amazing to think that racist institutions in Jamaica were able to transform this styles role in history and present day with one word, dread. Thus today, dreadlocks or locks now face the same plight as African hair as any and everything is done to make the style objectionable including telling people that by choosing this style, you’re in-effect choosing to live in filth.So now we know the harsh reality. Yes, some people who have dreadlocks do not shampoo their hair for months but this practice is outside the norm. If you’ve been considering dreadlocks, it’s important to draw the line between dreadlocks reality and dreadlocks myth. Yes, you can choose to refrain from shampooing but in doing so, you’ve made that choice, dreadlocks didn’t make it for you.
If you’re still worried that shampooing will keep you from achieving locks or have friends who tell you that shampooing is not possible, ask yourself, if the myth were true, would the overall journey be worth the lack of hygiene? There are many misguided people who engage in filthy dreadlocks care practices who try to convince themselves and others that although their hair has not touched water for months, that it does not smell and is clean. The reality is, it does smell and it’s not clean. If you choose to believe the myths and practice them, do so on your own accord but know that you’re furthering the negative image of locks and proving oppressive forces right.
At naani we will discuss how to properly shampoo locks. We will help you understand that although some methods may indeed be helped by abstaining from water for a brief period that there are many methods that allow for shampooing on a regular or daily basis. Dreadlocks are clean, if you want them to be. Dreadlocks are dirty if you have a mindset tainted by oppressive colonial garbage.
If you’re still worried that shampooing will keep you from achieving locks or have friends who tell you that shampooing is not possible, ask yourself, if the myth were true, would the overall journey be worth the lack of hygiene? There are many misguided people who engage in filthy dreadlocks care practices who try to convince themselves and others that although their hair has not touched water for months, that it does not smell and is clean. The reality is, it does smell and it’s not clean. If you choose to believe the myths and practice them, do so on your own accord but know that you’re furthering the negative image of locks and proving oppressive forces right.
At naani we will discuss how to properly shampoo locks. We will help you understand that although some methods may indeed be helped by abstaining from water for a brief period that there are many methods that allow for shampooing on a regular or daily basis. Dreadlocks are clean, if you want them to be. Dreadlocks are dirty if you have a mindset tainted by oppressive colonial garbage.
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Comments
Comment #1 (Posted by Jessi)
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I just got my hair locked and I totally agree with everything you said. I have not washed my hair in almost 3 weeks, but it is because my hair has not fully locked in place. I am looking forward to wasking my hair every two days. Thank you for the information it makes me feel a lot better about my locs.
Comment #2 (Posted by Calisha)
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Prior to going natural I wore a perm. I went to a loctician for a consult. I was told that I had to wash my hair with laundry detergent for one month in order to prepare my permed hair for locs.
Comment #3 (Posted by Luckner)
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The worst advice EVER, for me anyway, was to "melt some beeswax in a pot, let it cool off, and use it to palm roll your hair." Talk about a set up. What a mess...
Comment #4 (Posted by esoteric)
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I went to an all natural hair salon and the loctician dry twisted my hair, I mean she put me under the dryer for 10-15 minutes and THEN twisted my hair. My hair is soft and somewhat fine and at the time only about 1-2 inches long. So, by the time she started to twist I was bone dry!
Also, she used a ridiculous amount of product.......I took my "never been used" sample jar of Yummy Locked Down Butter and she used about half the jar (on my 1-2 inch twists). I spent the rest of day blotting the excess from my head with paper towels! I know this was a function of the amount she used and not the product itself (cause it's the bomb). Luckily, I had previously been to another shop that was really good, so I knew the above locticians practices were not kosher. Needless to say, I never went back.
Comment #5 (Posted by Jameelah)
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The very first time I attempted to lock, I went to a "natural" salon. My first mistake was that I didn't bother to ask her what product she was using because back then I didn't have a clue myself. She used brownish product that looked like mud, I found out later that it was a mixture blackgel, beezwax and vaseline.....ugh.
She told me that in order for my hair to lock, I should not wash it for two months but I could come to her for a "touch up" every other week. This "touch up" consisted of her saturating my hair with seabreeze, and then squeezing all of the brown gunk out of it. And then applying more of it on ($70 a pop). She told me that the severe itching and the brown flakes were simply a part of the locking process. It didnt take me long to realize that this woman didn't know what she was doing...
Comment #6 (Posted by Rhonda)
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Worst advice, or rather unsolicited advice from a "perm-head," was that I should not consider locking, because my hair texture would not take to it ....so glad, I think for myself, and at 19 months later, my hair is locked and sitting on my shoulders!
Comment #7 (Posted by Thia)
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I REMEMBER I NEEDED TO GET MY HAIR RE-TWISTED THE DAY BEFORE MY GRADUATION. WHEN I GOT THERE, THE PERSON WHO NORMALLY DOES MY HAIR WAS GONE FOR THE DAY. HOWEVER, I THOUGHT SINCE MY LOCTITON IS THE MANAGER AND DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB, WHY NOT LET SOMEONE WHO WORK THERE DO IT FOR ME? THE OTHER LADY WASHED MY HAIR THOROUGHLY AND THAN SHE APPLIED THIS CREME. ALSO, I REMEMBERED ASKING HER IF SHE WAS PUTTING CREME IN MY HAIR. SHE TOLD ME I HAD NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT BECAUSE ALMOST ALL OF HER CLIENTS USES THIS PRODUCT. I HONESTLY BELIEVED HER...PROVIDING I DIDN''T KNOW BETTER. SO, SHE PROCEEDED ON MY HAIR, THEN I WENT UNDER THE DRYER. MIND YOU, THIS IS THE NIGHT BEFORE MY GRADUATION. WHEN I WAS DONE I TOOK A LOOK AT MY HAIR IT WAS RE-TWISTED BEAUTIFULLY AND SO SHINY AT THE SALON. EXCEPT THAT SO CALLED "SHINE" WAS NOT SHINE..... MY HAIR LOOKED LIKE I HAD POWDER ALL OVER IT....TALK ABOUT PURE RESIDUE. SAD THING IS, I DIDN''T REALIZE IT UNTIL I GOT HOME. I HAD TO APPLY ALOT OF SEA BREEZE AND RE-TWIST MY HAIR ALL OVER AGAIN THAT NIGHT. I WAS SO UPSET. HOWEVER THE MORAL TO THE STORY IS, NEVER AND I NEVER GO TO A DIFFERENT PERSON OTHER THAN YOUR ORIGINAL LOCTITION NO MATTER HOW DESPARATE YOU ARE. IF THAT IS THE CASE, DO IT YOURSELF!!!
Comment #8 (Posted by naturegirl)
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Started locing my hair in Nov 04 at a loctitian. My hair is naturally soft in texture. I have been told that I will not be able to shampoo my hair until the locs are fully formed which may take up to 1 year. I have a problem with this as my hair is smelling and does need to be washed. I have been told that I could use a tonic to clean the scalp but if I wash my hair the coil twists would unravel. Please help!! I dont think I could go without washing my hair for 1 year. I am very concious of the smell of my dirty hair. please advise. Is the information they have given me correct.
Comment #9 (Posted by naani)
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Greetings naturegirl,
Ask yourself, do you really even need to ask? Why would you want a hair style that would force you to live uncomfortably for one year? Why would you endure filth, dirt and odor for such an extended period of time? Are dreadlocks really that important to you? Do you honestly believe that everyone with dreadlocks didn't wash their hair for a year?
Although many don't believe it occurs, yes, there are so-called "professional" locticians and dreadlocks stylists who urge their clients to not wash their hair for months on end. The most extreme cases are similar to that of naturegirl where the stylist scares the client into refraining from shampooing for up-to one year.
It's disheartening and sad and it also explains why the majority of the world believes that dreadlocks stink. If you were one of the unfortunates who refrained from shampooing due to the ill advice of another, then how can we blaim non-dreadheads for thinking dreadlocks are filthy, employers for thinking that dreadlocks are not professional or potential loved ones for going no further than a handshake?
It's nasty. It's inexcusable and frankly, if it don't sound right, it ain't.
At naani we attempt to refrain from giving arbitrary time limits on shampooing. At most, you may see suggestions of waiting 4-6 weeks but I think even that's pushing it.
Why? What if you work out everyday? What if during that 4-6 weeks you went rockclimbing with friends or had a food fight with your kids? Dreadlocks time limits don't take into account individual life experiences but your stylist should. YOU should if you're caring for your locks on your own.
Stylists who tell you that you can't do this or that because of your hair texture, because of the method THEY chose to start with, etc, are not doing you a favor and frankly, most of them probably don't deserve your money anyway.
There are so many articles here on naani regarding this topic. Use the search engine for more information on shampooing dreadlocks.
As visitors, it's important that you take the time to search the site, to read the information presented here, to use the message boards before asking questions. It's not fair to the staff and it's not fair to you either.
You can't expect someone to hold your hand when it's time to grow dreadlocks and those of you that do often end up in the chair of a stylist who gives you the worst advice known to dreadlocks kind or those who use "gunk" on your hair that never seems to go away no matter what you try.
Use your common sense. Use the resources available to you. Ease your own pain rather than looking for others to do it for you. By educating yourself and using a bit of common sense, you will be able to filter out the garbage. In the end, you will still have questions but there's a difference between truly not knowing and not taking the opportunity to know. --much luv, naani
