What culture does dreadlocks belong to? Does anyone have the right to grow dreadlocks? Because Black people have kinky hair, many believe they're the only race that grows dreadlocks and it's black culture. However, if you travel the world, you'll find people of all color and cultures growing dreadlocks.

Dreadlocks are the natural result of three to six months uncombed hair. Strains of hair intertwine together and create "ropes" or "locs". All types of hair eventually clunk or matte together if left free of combs and hair relaxers for a long time. The texture of the hair determines how long it takes.

Thick coarse hair develops or grows dreadlocks fast, easy, and may not need chemicals or twisting. Thin straight hair will take longer. Also, it requires chemicals and twisting. Most Blacks' hair is coarse while other races have straight hair. In the end, however, both types of hair will start growing dreadlocks. To say one race of people is responsible or can claim dreadlocks as their own is a bold statement against the laws of nature.

The issue isn't what race of people did dreadlocks come from but rather, which accepts this unique and natural hairstyle as a part of their culture. So far, the answer has been a resounding yes from the Black communities across the nation and world.

For many Blacks, dreadlocks are a symbol of pride and cultural identity. Some are going natural because most hairstyles need the use of hair relaxing chemicals which may cause harm to hair and scalp. Dreadlocks are much simple to maintain: just wash and go.

In Bob Marley's song "Buffalo Soldiers," he describes the black soldiers who helped protect American settlers from Indians after the Civil War, as "dreadlock Rasta." The Indians called the soldiers "Buffalo Soldiers" because their dreadlocks resembled curly hair of the buffalo.

The Buffalo Soldiers are examples of how dreadlocks have been much a part of Black history and culture right here in America. In fact, historians have described how shackled slaves grew dreadlocks during the three to six month ride from Africa to America. The slave trader or master cut them off because they considered them "dreadful" to look at and forbade the slaves to grow them back.

Whether for spiritual reasons, personal motivation, or a fashion statement, Black people have been growing dreadlocks longer than most cultures. Today, the popularity of dreadlocks is on the rise not only for Blacks, but for many in other races.

As stated before, anyone can grow dreadlocks with patience and the right technique. It doesn't matter the color of skin or which part of the world you live in. Again, the hair's texture is what matters most. To find out what you need to grow dreadlocks, visit a hairstylist specializing in dreadlocks (locticians).

Here's a rule of thumb with much wiggle room. If you are of African descent with thick hair, growing dreadlocks should be natural, easy, and fast with few visits to a loctician. If you are not of African descent and have straight thin hair, it will take longer. You'll need more frequent visits to a loctician and the use of chemicals such as beeswax.

Dreadlocks are a big part of Black culture. However, they can be experience and enjoyed by every race in the world. So, in the words of Bob Marley "Grow your dreadlocks, don't be afraid of the wolf pack".

Dreadlocks at Work

People have dreadlocks for spiritual reasons, making a fashion statements, or simply want natural hair. Whatever the reason, the unique hairstyle could be an issue in the workplace or business world. Co-workers or managers misunderstanding dreadlocks could allow negative beliefs to interfere with working relationships and affect productivity.

So how does a person with dreadlocks survive in the workplace or business world? Decide to let excellent work ethics prove your worth to the company. You can't change the way people think, but you can always control how you react and handle problems about your dreadlocks.

These tips will help you excel and succeed in your job of career with dreadlocks:

• Believe in yourself. Always keep a positive attitude and strong confidence no matter what happens during the workday. Those who hired you believe in your skills to help the company or department meet goals. Stay focused on that purpose.
  
  
• Be professional and dedicated. "Professionalism is knowing how to do it, when to do it, and doing it," quotes Frank Tyger. In essence, this means doing what the company hired you to do at the best of your abilities. Make a habit of creating to-do lists everyday and complete many tasks as possible.
  
  
• Build strong working relationships with coworkers. Be friendly with everyone in the company and be a part of the team. Have a positive attitude to be more approachable and easy to work with.
  
  
• Have good work ethics. Put in the long hours or extra time when needed. And don't complain when you have to work beyond your standard hours. Take pride in your work and leave a statement of success in every task you complete.
  
  
• Be on time. Get to work on time, or better, five to ten minutes before. Punctuality is important to managers and co-workers. It shows your respect for others who depend on the work you do.
  
  
• Know your company. Take time to learn about your company, its culture, long and short-term goals, and your responsibilities to help reach those goals. Visit the company's website often, attend all meetings, and ask questions that will give you a better understanding of your role in the company.
  
  
• Dress well. Your clothes should always be neat and pressed. Make sure you follow the company dress code. Shine your shoes and groom your dreadlocks. Men should wear long dreadlocks in a ponytail behind the head. Women are more flexible. A loctician or image consultant can help you create a professional business hairstyle with dreadlocks.
  
  
• Underpromise and overdeliver. Never take on more than you can handle and research your tasks thoroughly. It's always better to wow your co-workers and boss by doing more than to apologize for not delivering on time.
  
  
• Improve your skills continuously. Keep current on the changes in your industry and upgrade your skills match your industry's standards. Sign up for online courses, use computer based training (CBT) CDs, and attend seminars about your job or career.
  
  
• Stay positive no matter what. Keep track of what you say to you and others. End conversations on a positive note and action step. Never say you cannot perform a task, but rather, you will find a way to resolve the issue.
  
  
• Work gossip-free. Don't gossip with or about co-workers. And try to keep your life personal. Avoid gossipers by changing the subject or simply walking away. If gossipers talk to you about others, they also talk about you to others. Everyone knows the person who gossips the most. Be careful.
  
  
• Learn the art of listening. You have two ears and one mouth, try to listen more than you speak. When someone approach you for help, advice, inspiration, or anything work related, always give them your full attention with eye to eye contact. If you can't fully attend to the person at the minute for any reason, it is better to reschedule the conversation.
  
  
• Limit alcohol consumption at company events. Drinking alcohol creates alter egos you may not want co-workers to know about. Also, drunken people make statements about dreadlocks, play with your hair, or ask silly questions making you feel uncomfortable.
  
  
• Expect some people to dislike your dreadlocks. Do not worry about their thoughts of you or your life. Les Brown, the motivator, quotes "What others think of you is none of your spiritual business." Remember, you are on a mission to be the best you can be.
  
  
• Stay motivated for success. Take spiritual time everyday to appreciate who your are and the gifts you have to offer. Keep a place in your work area for family pictures, how-to books, and calendars. Develop an attitude of gratitude for your job.
  

Start today on making yourself more valuable to your company with your dreadlock hairstyle. Do the best job you can possibly do for every task. When co-workers and managers see your dreadlocks, they will also see a person dedicated to the success of the company, their job, and the team.

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This is how we do it Pinoy Style from PinoyDreadman.

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Manny Ramirez and his Dreadlocks

Manny Ramirez of Dodgers is being asked to cut off his dreadlocks by Joel Torre.

Nobody seems to be lapping it up more than Dodgers fans, who sold out the first two games the left fielder played at Dodger Stadium and purchased more than $125,000 worth of No. 99 T-shirts and jerseys since the slugger was acquired Thursday from the Boston Red Sox. When the Dodgers return home from the six-game trip that begins tonight in St. Louis, they'll find brown dreadlocks and blue ones for sale in the team stores.

So I guess it'd be pretty late for Joel TOrre to ask Manny Ramirez to cut off his shoulder length dreadlocks since it's giving enough cash for the Dodgers from the Dodgers fans.

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Cha Seung Won Shows off Dreadlocks

Cha Seung-won (Born June 7, 1971 in Seoul) is a South Korean actor. He received an engineering degree from Mokwon University before embarking on a successful career as a model in 1988. After finding success in modeling, he was cast in the TV sitcom "New York Story", which would eventually pave the way for his debut in film.

Cha Seung Won who is now showed off his dreadlocks while in Seoul this morning to promote his upcoming flick Eye for an Eye, Tooth for a Tooth.

PinoyDreadman Dreads Shampoo Solution

Shampoo for cleaning and maintaining dreads.

Available only at PinoyDreadman.

Neat Dreads

Dreadlocks do not require as much work as normal hair but there are a few things you should do to keep your dreads looking, and smelling nice.

Dreadlocks should be washed every 2 to 3 days. If you do not want to wash them this often that's fine, just make sure you wash them at least once a week. Dreadlocks should be washed in a shampoo that leaves nothing behind in the hair and removes all residue that is in the hair. The best shampoo I've found is the residue free shampoo on the PinoyDreadman site.

"In the first three weeks your dreadlocks be will very delicate and you'll want to wash them about every 6-7 days. After they have had a chance to establish themselves a bit you can begin washing them every 2-3 days.

After you wash them, squeeze the extra water out, then put them in a dry towel (one that doesn't shed) for about 10 minutes. Then let them air dry or dry them with a hair dryer. They also have these nifty hair dryers that have a plastic bag which fills with hot air and dries your dreads faster. These will leave your dreads tight and fluffy.

Only wax your dreads when they're dry. Dry and warm them with a blow dryer while you wax them if possible. This will help the wax settle into the dreads where it does the most good. More wax does not make them dread faster. Only use enough wax to hold loose hairs down. During the first 3 weeks you'll want to keep some wax on the dreads all the time. A little goes a long way, add small amounts at a time and work it in completely before moving on the next dread. Only reapply wax after it has been washed away, you won't need to re-wax every day. After your dreadlocks mature a bit and feel tighter they will need less and less wax. When your dreads start to feel dry work some wax in to moisturize them and prevent breakage.

One routine that works really well is to alternate your maintenance weekly.
Week A you wash, use the accelerator, then palm roll and clockwise rub for a few hours before adding wax.

Week B you wash, use the accelerator, then palm roll and clockwise rub as often as possible, but don't add wax. During the B week your dreads will be a bit frizzy, but frizzy is good for starting new knots. During week B the new knots form, and during week A they work on turning from knots to dreads."

DreadWorks 4

Dread Works

Bands in Dreadlocks. Dreadlocks rock!

Is there any hairstyle that could rock harder? I think not. Mohawks? Neon dyed hair? These rock, but not like dreadlocks. Dreads just radiate attitude and individuality. You can'­t attend a good rock show without seeing multitudes of dreads on crazy cats wondering around. Short dreadlocks, long ass dreadlocks, bright pink dreads. (Even The Simpsons had an episode with a cat with dreadlocks, and NOTHING rocks more than the Simpsons!) The rock subculture of North America is inundated with knotty heads of all shapes and sizes. But it is the dreadlocks adorning the musicians themselves that really immortalize the style. It is the dreadlocks on the rock stars of our age that send the ass-kicking factor of dreads through the roof.

I can't remember the first time I saw dreads, but I knew since a young age I had to have them. They looked so knotty and rad. Dreadlocks just stood out as an independent statement that was neither rebellious nor conforming, it wasn'­t a fashion, yet dreads are so damn styling. And for me, a guitar playing high school boy, dreadlocks seemed to call out to me, in the night, calling my name.

Bob Marley

Obviously, Bob Marley is the dreadlocks adorned rock star of all time. His dreads remain unmatched, his music remains unsurpassed. He is a legend. One thing that is way way cool is that you see the progress and growth of his dreads via his record covers. His first major label album Catch a Fire features a Marley with some baby dreads, and from there they grow, and mature like a mane of pure soul power. His life is a unique ?blessing that is truly a gift from God to the world.?

POD

P.O.D rock. They are everything a great band should be. And more than that, their spiritual nature is a blessing. Their faith is strong, and their message stronger. They make faith in God cool, which is the hardest thing to do in this world (yet the most appropriate thing in the Universe!). Musically, the rock so hard, and surprised everyone with a huge break-through album.

Faith No More

One of my favorite drummers of all time is Mike Bordin of Faith No More. This dreaded drummer is a powerful creative madman. Everyone should listen to Faith No More, they are pure rock music rock! His knotty dreadlocks down to his drum stool, this man pounds his drum set with fierceness. Mike'­s dreads are almost too long to really whip around while he plays, but they drape down his back like a lionís mane. Frankly, he looked super cool. He is/was a big influence on me wanting to get dreadlocks.

Zach De La Rocha

Zack from Rage. What can I say, a revolutionary, an artist, a man for all seasons. But sometimes the whole political angle outshines the music of Rage Against the Machine. But behold, Zack is one of the raddest MCs. His lyrics, his delivery. Fire! And his dreadlocks are super cool. I met him once, too.

Lenny Kravitz

Another phat set of dreadlocks are, or were, Lenny Kravitz'­s. The first time I saw them was during the Let Love Rule era. Lenny'­s dreadlocks were almost divine. He epitomized everything being a killer rock star was all about. I felt like I was never a big fan of him, but every single song I have ever heard of his I have really felt it. I really like him. And his dreadlocks look fly with all the vintage guitars and styles he sports. I heard Lenny speak about when his dreads were cut off. He went to his very fine friend and lub of his life Lisa Bonnet's house, and she looked straight into his eyes, and saw something, and told him they had to cut his dreads off today. He said he blew it off, but she was serious. So off they came one day. New Lenny.

Incubus

One for the ladies, Brandon Boyd of Incubus. Brandon has since cut his locks, like Lenny, but he had his dreadlocks hey-day. Incubus rock, they are a great band. The time signatures, the music shifts, it is all so awesome. Truly a great band that somehow made it through the evil rock machine and got known. I for one am super glad they did. Brandon's dreads rock, but thank goodness the moustache left when the dreads did. Just say no to moustaches.

Korn

The super popular group of the sad 'n' angry generation. Great music, but Jon is such a whiner and a terrible lyricist. He is just milking the depressive tendencies of youth, he has no real talent, he just whines it up a lot. Oops, did I say that out loud? But he has dreads that the whole world loves, but Munky has better dreadlocks. Munky really rocks, super great guitar playing. The whole band is really tight and damn heavy. And they all have kooky hair, now that I think about it.

Dread Works 1

Dread Works 2

Dread Works 3

What is up with metal musicians and dreadlocks?

THE ORIGIN of dreadlocks stretches back to the fifth century when Bahatowie priests in Ethiopia began locking their hair. Mention of dreads can also be found in the tenets of such diverse religions as Hinduism and Christianity, the tresses symbolizing a devout perquisite of spirituality.

But it's Rastafarianism, a religious movement born of revolution in Ethiopia during 1935, which is most closely associated with the practice of dreadlocking. As for the expression "dreadlocks," it was initially coined by the conservative sector of Jamaica and intended as an insult insinuating the dreadful nature of the hairstyle.

In pop culture, however, Bob Marley is without a doubt the man most responsible for bringing the culture and coiffure of dreadlocks into the mainstream. It's safe to say that prior to Marley topping the pop charts few outside Africa, the East Indies and Jamaica knew what dreads were. Marley's universal popularity made him the dreadlock poster boy for an entire generation as well as generations to follow.

Dread couture, especially within the music industry, has largely been relegated to reggae and hip-hop artists. Yet over the past decade, a new purveyor of the natty hairstyle has emerged: the metal musician.

Drummer Mike "Puffy" Bordin, formerly of Faith No More, is the godfather of the metal dread look. Bordin still sports massive dreads, almost 20 years after he emerged in that groundbreaking band. The lineage of high-profile rock musicians with dreads has continued with the likes of Rob Zombie, Zack de la Rocha, and Jonathon Davis and Munky of Korn.

Recently, a whole new generation of metalheads has adopted the dreaded style. One only has to look as far as the current lineup of Ozzfest 2002; bands like Mushroomhead, Ill Nino, Adema, Switched, P.O.D., Flaw and Neurotica all contain members who sport dreads. Given that the music these bands create is light-years removed from the languid island rhythms of reggae, one has to wonder what the connection between metal and dreadlocks is.

Tim Fluckey, guitarist for Bakersfield-based Adema, has a theory about why so many metal musicians sport dreads. "The long, straight hair was getting pretty much bagged on for awhile, especially after the hair bands died out," he explains with a laugh. "So I think a lot of dudes were left over with this long-ass hair that they didn't want to cut off. They went to dreads so they wouldn't catch shit."

Fluckey's theory may loosely hold water, but the overall reasoning behind cultivating dreads, at least among the musicians interviewed, is a triple combo of convenience, laziness and natural occurrence.

"I was a fuckin' long-hair, an old-school fuckin' hippie," laughs Skinny, founding member and drummer of Mushroomhead. "Ultimately, I was into the whole Metallica/Megadeth type of heavy metal where long hair was cool. But as time went on, everybody was changing their hair--you know, music changes, style changes. But I was like, fuck it, man. I'm not losin' the hair; I'm not givin' up. It was just much easier to maintain it as dreadlocks than it was to have straight hair."

Switched guitarist Brad Kochmit sees it as something of the lazy man's do. "You don't really got to do much--you just wake up and there they are," he muses. "I think [the reason so many metal heads have dreads], honest to God, is because it's an easy fuckin' hairdo. You can either shave your head or [grow dreads]. I think it's for all the lazy guys out there."

While easy maintenance seems to be a big draw for many musicians, there is some care involved in keeping your dreads reasonably presentable. Most of the guys wash their locks at least once a week, so the myth about never washing your dreads is just that, a myth.

Beyond washing and rinsing every once in a while, dread care varies. "Everyone's got a different thing," says Lazaro "Laz" Pina, bassist with Ill Nino. No fewer than three of his band mates also rock dreads. "Cris [lead singer] uses gel; Jardel [guitarist] just put beeswax in his head the other day; Dave [drummer] has his girlfriend twisting 'em; and I just leave mine alone. So I probably have the most rattiest, natural dreads of the crew."

Skinny, who has been cultivating his dreads for more than eight years now, recently started wrapping them in hemp. Switched's Kochmit has an altogether different approach to maintaining his dreads. "I put a little bit of honey in there for awhile, but then it got all sticky and nasty," he states. "Basically, I just find anything and put it in my hair, string, solder, rubber bands, all that shit to keep it locked up. We had a day off in Fresno on our last tour; we were just bored, sitting in the hotel room. and there was this big ball of black yarn [sitting there]. So I was 'Fuck it, man, let's put some yarn in my hair.' I took the hair, and I tied knots around some yarn, and I weaved it in with the hair."

Maintenance aside, perhaps the most interesting issue surrounding metal musicians who sport dreads is the concept of cultural appropriation. After all, dreads are rooted in the religious beliefs of Rastafarianism. Surprisingly, none of these guys have been hassled because of their locks.

"I've never gotten flak," admits Kochmit. "People just assume that I am a pothead, though. I always get the ganja stereotype, but I never get flak for being white and having dreads."

Laz merely sees dreads as being more socially acceptable, especially when placed alongside all the other stuff that musicians do to their appearances. "I'm surrounded by musicians who do all kinds of strange shit to themselves, so dreadlocks are not really out of this world," he remarks. "In fact my experiences with meeting real Rastafarians has been pretty open. They usually compliment you on your dreads and invite you for some weed."

Fluckey has been hassled, but not for his dreads. "I haven't really had that much trouble with it at all," he says. "I used to have trouble all the time when I had cornrows, especially in Bakersfield. Racist white dudes would drive by and yell, 'What the fuck do you have cornrows in your hair for?!' I figured that I might get that with the dreadlocks, but actually it's been pretty cool. Normally, if you just tell people you're in a band, they just leave you alone. I guess you get the free pass if you're in a band. It's funny that way."

I saw this article online, I just wanna share it to you readers of blogosphere. Tell me what you think and your insights.

Narrow ropelike strands of hair formed by matting or braiding is Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary's definition of dreadlocks. But to the many who wear them, dreadlocks-often called "dreads" or "locks" are an extension of one's personality. According to www.wikipedia.org, the first known dreadlocks date back to ancient Egypt, but the rise in popularity of reggae music in the 1980s, combined with the fame of Bob Marley, caused an international interest in the eye-catching statement. Dreads are seen on a frequent basis here in Savannah. Dwayne Stephens, a Savannah native and senior at Savannah College of Art and Design, says they help him stand out. "They give me a distinct look," he says. "It's rare to see a six-foot-tall dude with dreads halfway down his back." It is that distinction that caused Stephens to start his dreads some eight years ago. "I just wanted to do something that no one else was doing." Despite the fact that dreadlocks are sometimes viewed as an inappropriate hairstyle, Stephens says there are many advantages to having dreads. "Females are attracted to my hair; random people are attracted to my hair. It's a conversation piece," he says. Fran Ware, a Savannah State University senior who has been growing her dreads for three years, has different reasons for liking dreads. "They're low maintenance," she says. "You don't have to do your hair in the morning if you're running late." Ware and Stephens both agree that the one of the worst things about dreads is starting them. "You have to go through that ugly phase where you're trying to get your hair to a maintainable state," Stephens said. "When you're first starting, it looks kind of bad and it can make you want to cut them, but you gotta stick it out," Ware said. Dreadlocks are not just seen in one's local sphere. Many celebrities have also taken a liking to this interesting hairstyle. Whoopi Goldberg, Pretty Ricky and Zach de la Rocha of the now defunct rock group Rage Against the Machine have all made a statement with dreads. As cool as dreads may be, there are numerous negative associations that come with them. Those who wear dreads are sometimes seen as anti-establishment and pro-Rastafarian. Dreads are often seen as a sign of rebelling against the notion of European straight hair or society-approved neatness; accepting one's hair in its natural, ethnic and unruly state is not a thought that enters the minds of critics. Despite the negativity that may come with dreads, it is clear that they are not going anywhere anytime soon. Many ethnic hair care lines now make products for dreadlock maintenance and the style was even seen on models by fashion designer Christian Dior. Stephens sums his feelings about dreadlocks by using a more positive point of view. "I don't call my hair dreads. I call them locks because I don't feel that there's anything dreadful about them."