Antiquity

Young boxers with long dreadlocks depicted on a fresco from Akrotiri (modern Santorini, Greece) 1600–1500 BCE.^[11][12][13] Other sources suggests they were not dreadlocks but long tresses of loose curly hair. Some authors suggests meanings and translations are misinterpreted. Long tresses of hair defined by Collins Dictionary are long loose curls of hair or long braids.^[14][15]

According to Sherrow in Encyclopedia of Hair: A Cultural History, dreadlocks date back to ancient times in various cultures. In ancient Egypt, Egyptians wore locked hairstyles and wigs appeared on bas-reliefs, statuary and other artifacts.^[16] Mummified remains of Egyptians with locked wigs have also been recovered from archaeological sites.^[17] According to Dr. Delongoria, braided and locked hair was worn by people in the Sahara desert since 3,000 BC. Dreadlocks were also worn by followers of Abrahamic religions. For example, Ethiopian Coptic Bahatowie priests adopted dreadlocks as a hair style before the fifth century AD (400 or 500 AD). Locked hair was practiced by some ethnic groups in East, Central, West, and Southern Africa.^[18][19][20]

Pre-Columbian Aztec priests were described in Aztec codices (including the Durán Codex, the Codex Tudela and the Codex Mendoza) as wearing their hair untouched, allowing it to grow long and matted.^[21] Bernal Diaz del Castillo records:

here were priests with long robes of black cloth ... The hair of these priests was very long and so matted that it could not be separated or disentangled, and most of them had their ears scarified, and their hair was clotted with blood.

Hairstyles in Europe

It is thought the ancient Greek Kouros statues wore dreadlocks. However, historians and archeologists who specialize in ancient Greek hairstyles suggest they were not dreadlocks but braids. For example, academics at Reed College explained they were braids of thick dense hair braided together "divided into uniform globules."^[22] "During the archaic period (i.e., up to about 500 BC) the male youth or kouros (Greek) wore his hair long to the shoulders or even longer finely braided—an extremely artificial time-consuming style of the privileged nobles."^[23] Janet Stephens explains some of the Kouros statues had curly hair.^[24]

Other earliest known possible depictions of dreadlocks date back as far as 1600–1500 BCE in the Minoan Civilization, centred in Crete (now part of Greece).^[12] Frescoes discovered on the Aegean island of Thera (modern Santorini, Greece) depict individuals with long braided hair or long dreadlocks.^{[11][12][25][26][27][28]} Another source describes the hair of the boys in the Akrotiri Boxer Fresco as long tresses not dreadlocks. Tresses of hair is defined by Collins Dictionary as braided hair, braided plaits or long loose curls of hair.^[29][30][31] Historian Chapin explained the boys in the Akrotiri Fresco are between the ages six to ten years old based on their long locks of loose curly hair. In ancient Greece, the heads of children were shaved leaving a few locks of hair to grow, and when they reached adulthood the head shaving of children ends, and their allowed to grow a full head of loose hair.^[32][33]

During the Bronze and Iron Ages, many peoples in the Near East, Anatolia, Caucasus, East Mediterranean and North Africa were depicted in art with braided, plaited, twisted or curled hair and beards, as were the Greeks, Minoans, Dacians, Celts and Etruscans. However, braids, twists and plaits are not dreadlocks, and it is not always possible to tell from these images which are being depicted. In addition, Norse people combed their hair daily so locs of hair were not worn.^{[34][35][36][37]}

Archeologists found skeletons of Viking human remains and the grooming tools Viking men and women used to style their hair. The artifacts found are in the National Museum of Scotland and the National Museum of Denmark.^[38][39][40] Numerous combs were found indicating Viking people combed their hair regularly. The Vikings carried their combs with them during seafaring voyages and were buried with their combs. Viking men and women valued their combs and grooming practices and wanted their hair neat and untangled. The Vikings wanted durable combs and made them using antler bone because it was a strong organic material. Also, the Vikings made special boxes or comb-cases to put their tweezers, combs, and other grooming tools inside when they traveled to prevent their grooming kit from breaking.^{[41][42][43][44][45]} A 12th century writer from England, John of Wallingford, wrote a detailed account about Viking male grooming, John wrote: "...after the fashion of their country, to comb their hair every day, to bathe every Saturday, to change their garments often..."^[46]

Historians noted Viking men wore a reverse mullet, long hair in the front and short hair in the back. Women in the Viking age tied their hair in ornate knots at the top or behind their head or wore a ponytail. Artifacts found depicting Vikings showed them having long loose hair.^[47][48] In the 1st century AD, Germanic Suebi men wore their hair in a Suebian knot. Roman historian Tacitus reports in Germania (98 CE) that the Suebian warriors combed their hair back or sideways and tied it into a knot, allegedly with the purpose of appearing taller and more awe-inspiring on the battlefield. Tacitus also reports that the fashion had spread to neighboring Germanic tribes among the younger warriors, while among the Suebians, the knot was sported even by old men as a status symbol, which "distinguishes the freeman from the slave", with the most artful knots worn by the most wealthy nobles:^[49]

A comb found in Scotland. Celtic people combed their hair daily and did not wear dreadlocks.

Some ancient Celtic people wore their hair long and loose and combed their hair daily after a bath therefore locs and locked hair were not worn.^[50][51] Ancient Celtic women wore their hair loose, in curls or braided (not dreadlocks) and adorned their hair with ornaments and used combs made of bone to comb their hair. Celtic men braided or spiked their hair and bleached their hair with lime water.^[52] Archeologists and historians found numerous combs in areas where Celtic people settled in Ireland and Britain. Double-edged combs were found and a collection of Welsh tales indicates some of the Celts wore their double-edge combs as hair decorations. Celtic people valued their combs and preferred long loose untangled hair. Other combs were made of ivory and an ivory comb was given as a gift to King Edwin of Northumbria.^{[53][54][55][56]}

In ancient Celtic folklore, matted hair was caused by mischievous fairies that visited people in their sleep and placed their hair in knots that were difficult to comb out. Knotted hair in Celtic belief caused by fairies were called fairy-locks (also called elf-locks). This may explain why Celtic people combed their hair regularly because they believed matted knots of hair was caused by playful fairies.^[57] The ancient Celts had negative beliefs about knots and matted hair because knots of hair was caused by evil witches and mischievous fairies. Ancient Celtics believed people who woke up from their sleep with knots in their hair was fairy ridden and had aches in their body and were exhausted. If someone woke up with matted knots in their hair they were untangled or cut. To protect from fairies, Celtic people slept with iron in their hands to ward them off to stop fairies from putting their hair in knots.^[58][59] Author Morgan Daimler specializes in Irish folklore and wrote several books on the topic of fairies and elf-locks. Elf-locks were a sign of bad luck and ill omen. If a fairy placed an elf-lock on an animal's hair the owner of the animal might have offended a fairy.^[60] Pagans and New Agers in the late twentieth century misinterpreted the ancient Celtic belief of elf-locks as dreadlocks. Elf-locks are not dreadlocks. In Celtic folklore, matted and knotted hair was a sign of misfortune caused by witches or mischievous fairies, and Celtic people cut and untangled knots in their hair because of this belief.^[61]

Greco-Roman people wore their hair long in braids called plaits, and Greek and Roman men had long hair sometimes braided called locks of hair (not to be confused with dreadlocks) in childhood and short hair in adulthood.^[62][63] Greco-Roman children wore a braid on the central part of their head and was cut, and the braid was dedicated to the goddess Artemis. The Romans displayed their wealth and status by wearing intricate hairstyles that were braided or curled. Roman women wrapped their braided hair with fabric and jewels and used thread to hold their hair in intricate styles. Roman people believed natural untamed unkempt hair was considered to be worn by poor people.^{[64][65][66][67]} Some authors suggest that dreadlocks was not a common hairstyle in European society. Braids, plaits, and loose hair was preferred. Images and statues of ancient Europeans with locs is questioned as some scholars suggest they were not dreadlocks but braids or plaits.^[68][69] Hair archeologist and professional hairdresser Janet Stephens whose academic interest is studying the hairstyles of ancient Greece and Rome, explains the braided hairstyles worn in the ancient Mediterranean region were achieved not with wigs but by braiding peoples natural hair.^{[70][71][72][73]}

A comb made of antler bone from the exhibition We call them Vikings produced by The Swedish History Museum.^[74] The Vikings combed their hair daily and wore their hair long and loose and did not wear dreadlocks.

Historians and archeologists state the ancient kouros statues hair are braids and other kouros statues hair are in curls. The Getty kouros statues have what historians call helicoid curls of hair.^[75] Currently, there is no archeological evidence that Europeans wore dreadlocks in antiquity. Others argue the Vikings and Celtics wore dreadlocks, but historians and archeologists found combs in areas where the Vikings and Celts settled indicating they combed their hair daily, and ancient Celts had negative beliefs about locks in their hair.^[76][77]

Women in the Middle Ages wore their hair in braids using ribbons or wrapped with fabric, covered their hair with veils, put their hair in a bun, and wore their hair long in curls or straight. European men in the Medieval age wore their hair cut short in a bowl cut or wore their hair long and loose.^[78][79][80] Women and men in the Elizabethan era in England wore their hair curled and loose, dyed their hair red, wore wigs and false hair pieces. Red hair color was popular among the English because Queen Elizabeth I of England had red hair. During this period, English women emulated the hairstyles of Queen Elizabeth I.^[81][82] Traditional hairstyles in the eighteenth century in Europe were braided and loose. European women of wealth and status adorned their hair with jewels and pearls, and the hair was worn in soft curls, waves, frizzed hair and wrapped in fabric. European men of wealth and political status in the eighteenth century wore white wigs or shaved their heads or had short haircuts and combed their hair. During the Middle Ages and in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries in western Europe, dreadlocked hairstyles were not worn especially among Europeans with political, financial, and religious status.^{[83][84][85][86]}

Nineteenth century

Polish plait, 1734–1766

In Poland, for about a thousand years, some people wore a matted hairstyle similar to that of some Iranic Scythians. Zygmunt Gloger in his Encyklopedia staropolska mentions that the Polish plait (plica polonica) hairstyle was worn by some people in the Pinsk region and the Masovia region at the beginning of the 19th century. The Polish plait can vary between one large plait and multiple plaits that resemble dreadlocks.^[87] Polish plaits according to historical records were infested with lice. It was believed in Poland that not washing and combing the hair will protect the person from diseases. This folk belief was sometimes common in Eastern Europe. However, the polish plait accumulated lice and other debris. Some Polish people that wore plaits, their scalps had multiple bites from lice causing an immune response to lice bites on the head.^[88]

Work Baye Fall

In Senegal, the Baye Fall, followers of the Mouride movement, a Sufi movement of Islam founded in 1887 AD by Shaykh Aamadu Bàmba Mbàkke, are famous for growing dreadlocks and wearing multi-colored gowns.^[89] Cheikh Ibra Fall, founder of the Baye Fall school of the Mouride Brotherhood, popularized the style by adding a mystic touch to it. This sect of Islam in Senegal where Muslims wear ndjan (dreadlocks) was to Africanize Islam. Dreadlocks to this group of Islamic followers symbolize their religious orientation.^[90][91] Jamaican Rastas also reside in Senegal and settled in areas near Baye Fall communities. Baye Fall and Jamaican Rastas have similar cultural meanings about dreadlocks. Both groups wear knitted caps to cover their locs and wear locs for religious and spiritual purposes.^[92] Male members of the Baye Fall religion wear locs to detach from mainstream western ideals.^[93]

Twentieth century into present day

Hippies in Riviera Villas, San Diego, California with dreadlocks

In the 1970s in the United States and Britain, Americans and British people attended reggae concerts. This resulted in Americans and British people hearing and seeing the cultures of Jamaicans and Rastafarians wearing locs. Hippies related to the Rastafarians idea of rejecting capitalism and colonialism called Babylon. One of the ways Rastafarians rejected Babylon is wearing their hair natural in locs; this is to defy western standards of beauty. The 1960s was the height of the civil rights movement and some White Americans joined Black people in the fight against inequality and segregation and some were inspired by Black culture. As a result, some White people joined the Rastafarian movement. Dreadlocks was not a common hairstyle in White America, but by the 1970s, White Americans were inspired by reggae music, the Rastafarian movement, and African-American hair culture and started wearing dreadlocks.^[94][95] According to authors Bronner and Dell Clark, the clothing styles worn by hippies in the 1960s and 1970s was copied from African-American culture. The word hippie comes from the African-American slang word hip. African-American dress and hairstyles such as braids, and braids decorated with beads, dreadlocks, and language were copied (appropriated) by hippies and developed into a new countercultural movement used by hippies.^[96][97]

In Europe in the 1970s, hundreds of Rastafari Jamaicans and other Caribbeans immigrated to metropolitan centers of London, Birmingham, Paris, and Amsterdam. Communities of Jamaicans, Caribbeans, and Rastas emerged in these areas. Europeans in these metropolitan cities were introduced to Black cultures from the Caribbean and Rastafarian practices and were inspired by Caribbean culture leading some Europeans to practice Black hair culture, music, and religion. However, the strongest influence of Rastafari religion is among Europe's Black population.^[98][99]

When reggae music, which espoused Rastafarian ideals, gained popularity and mainstream acceptance in the 1970s, thanks to Bob Marley's music and cultural influence, dreadlocks (often called "dreads") became a notable fashion statement worldwide, and have been worn by prominent authors, actors, athletes and rappers.^[100][101] Rastafari influenced its members worldwide to embrace dreadlocks. Black Rastas loc their hair to embrace their African heritage and accept African features as beautiful such as dark skin tones, Afro textured hair, and African facial features.^[102]

Mavi the rapper with locs raps about Black liberation.

Hip Hop and rap artists such as Lauryn Hill, Lil Wayne, T-Pain, Snoop Dog, J-Cole, Wiz Khalifa, Chief Keef, Lil Jon, and other artists wear dreadlocks which furthered popularized the hairstyle in the 1990s, early 2000s and present day. Dreadlocks are a part of Hip-hop fashion and reflects black cultural music of liberation and identity.^{[103][104][105][106]} Rappers and Afrobeat artists in Uganda wear locs they are, Navio, Delivad Julio, Fik Fameica, Vyper Ranking, Byaxy, Liam Voice, and other artists. From reggae music to Hip Hop, rap, and Afrobeat, Black artists in the African diaspora wear locs to display their Black identity and culture.^{[107][108][109]} Youth in Kenya that are fans of rap and Hip Hop music and Kenyan rappers and musicians, wear locs to connect to the history of the Mau Mau freedom fighters who wore locs as symbols of anti-colonialism, and to Bob Marley who was a Rasta.^[110] Hip-hop and reggae fashion spread to Ghana and fused with traditional Ghanian culture. Ghanaian musicians wear dreadlocks incorporating reggae symbols and Hip-hop clothes fashion mixed with traditional Ghanaian textiles such as wearing Ghanaian headwraps to hold their locs.^[111][112] Ghanaian women wear locs as a symbol of African beauty. The beauty industry in Ghana believe locs are a traditional African hair practice and market hair care products to promote natural African hairstyles such as afros and locs.^[113] The previous generations of Black artists inspired younger generations of Black actresses to loc their hair such as Chloe Bailey, Halle Bailey, and R&B and Pop music singer Willow Smith. More Black actors in Hollywood are choosing to loc their hair to embrace their Black heritage.^[114]

Although more Black women in Hollywood and the beauty and music industries are wearing locs, there has never been a Black Miss America winner with locs, because there is pushback in the fashion industry towards Black women's natural hair. For example, model Adesuwa Aighewi locked her hair and was told she may not receive any casting calls because of her dreadlocks. Some Black women in modeling agencies are forced to straighten their hair. However, more Black women are resisting and choosing to wear Black hairstyles such as afros and dreadlocks in fashion shows and beauty pageants.^[115][116] For example, in 2007 Miss Universe Jamaica and Rastafarian, Zahra Redwood, was the first black woman to break the barrier in a World pageant stage when she wore locs that paved the way and influenced other Black women to wear locs in beauty pageants. In 2015, Miss Jamaica World Sanneta Myrie, was the first contestant to wear locs to the Miss World Pageant.^[117] In 2018 Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers of Britain was crowned Miss Universe wearing her locs and became the first Black British woman to win the title.^[118][119]

Hollywood cinema uses the dreadlock hairstyle as a prop in movies for villains and pirates. According to author Steinhoff, this is appropriating dreadlocks and removing it from its original meaning of Black heritage to one of dread and otherness. In the movie Pirates of the Caribbean the pirate Jack Sparrow wears dreadlocks. Dreadlocks are used in Hollywood to mystify a character and make them appear threatening or living a life of danger. In the movie The Curse of Black Pearl, pirates were dressed in dreadlocks to signify their lives were cursed.^[120]

Hairstyles at Burning Man

In the 1980s, artists and community organizers gathered together to celebrate freedom of expression through art called Burning Man at Baker Beach in San Francisco, California. Burning Man started as a bonfire summer solstice ritual. Over the years participation of this event grew into the thousands. The location of Burning Man moved from Baker Beach to Black Rock Desert, Nevada. Most of the attendants at Burning Man are White. Anthropologists and historians who studied Burning Man argue that White people at Burning Man appropriate Black and Native American culture in dress and hairstyles, such as Native American headdresses and dreadlocks.^{[121][122][123][124]}

Some authors argue that the appropriation of dreadlocks was taken out of its original historical and cultural context of resisting oppression, having a Black identity, Black unity, a symbol of Black liberation and African beauty, and its spiritual meaning in other cultures to one of entertainment, a commodity, and a "fashion gadget."^{[125][126][127]} In response to the backlash from the Black community about concerns of cultural appropriation from fashion creators putting fake dreadlocks on fashion models, in 2016 the modeling agency Assembly New York hired Black men with natural dreadlocks to model the hairstyle in a fashion show at New York Fashion Week.^[128]

Africa

Himba woman with red dreadlocks

The practice of wearing braids and dreadlocks in Africa dates back to 3,000 BC in the Sahara Desert. It has been commonly thought that other cultures influenced the dreadlock tradition in Africa. The Kikuyu and Somali wear braided and locked hairstyles.^[129][130] Warriors among the Fulani, Wolof and Serer in Mauritania, and Mandinka in Mali were known for centuries to have worn cornrows when young and dreadlocks when old.

In West Africa the water spirit, Mami Wata, is said to have long locked hair. Mami Wata's spiritual powers of fertility and healing comes from her dreadlocks.^[131][132] West African spiritual priests called, Dada, wear dreadlocks to venerate Mami Wata in her honor as spiritual consecrations.^[133] Some Ethiopian Christian monks and Bahatowie priests of the Ethiopian Coptic Church loc their hair for religious purposes.^[134][135] In Yorubaland, Aladura church prophets called woolii matt their hair into locs and wear long blue, red, white or purple garments with caps and carry iron rods used as a staff.^[136] Prophets loc their hair in accordance with the Nazarene vow in the Christian bible. This is not to be confused with the Rastafari religion that was started in the 1930s. The Aladura church was founded in 1925 and syncretizes indigenous Yoruba beliefs about dreadlocks with Christianity.^[137] Moses Orimolade Tunolase was the founder of the first African Pentecostal movement started in 1925 in Nigeria. Tunolase wore dreadlocks and members of his church wear dreadlocks in his honor and for spiritual protection.^[138]

Hamar women with red ochre locs

The Yoruba word Dada is given to children in Nigeria born with dreadlocks.^[139][140] Some Yoruba people believe children born with dreadlocks have innate spiritual powers, and cutting their hair might cause serious illness. Only the child's mother can touch their hair. "Dada children are believed to be young gods, they are often offered at spiritual alters for chief priests to decide their fate. Some children end up become spiritual healers and serve at the shrine for the rest of their lives." If their hair is cut, it must be cut by a chief priest and placed in a pot of water with herbs, and the mixture is used to heal the child if they get sick. Among the Igbo, Dada children are said to be reincarnated Jujuists of great spiritual power because of their dreadlocks.^[141][142] Children born with dreadlocks are viewed as special. However, adults with dreadlocks are viewed negatively. Yoruba Dada children's dreadlocks are shaved at a river, and their hair is grown back "tamed" and have a hairstyle that conforms to societal standards. The child continues to be recognized as mysterious and special.^[143] It is believed the hair of Dada children was braided in heaven before they were born and will bring good fortune and wealth to their parents. When the child is older the hair is cut during a special ritual.^[144] In Yoruba mythology, the Orisha Yemoja gave birth to a Dada who is a deified king in Yoruba.^[145][146] However, dreadlocks are viewed in a negative light in Nigeria due to their stereotypical association with gangs and criminal activity; men with dreadlocks face profiling from Nigerian police.^[147][148]

Sangomas wearing white beaded dreadlocks.

In Ghana among the Ashanti people, Okomfo priests are identified by their dreadlocks. They are not allowed to cut their hair and must allow their hair to matt and loc naturally. Locs are symbols of higher power reserved for priests.^{[149][150][151]} Other spiritual people in Southern Africa who wear dreadlocks are Sangomas. Sangomas wear red and white beaded dreadlocks to connect to ancestral spirits. Two African men were interviewed explaining why they chose to wear dreadlocks. "One – Mr Ngqula – said he wore his dreadlocks to obey his ancestors’ call, given through dreams, to become a “sangoma” in accordance with his Xhosa culture. Another – Mr Kamlana – said he was instructed to wear his dreadlocks by his ancestors and did so to overcome 'intwasa', a condition understood in African culture as an injunction from the ancestors to become a traditional healer, from which he had suffered since childhood."^[152][153] In Zimbabwe there is a tradition of locking hair called mhotsi worn by spirit mediums called svikiro. In addition, Rastafarian religion spread to Zimbabwe and influenced some women in Harare to wear locs, because they believe in the Rastafari's pro-Black teachings and rejection of colonialism.^[154]

Zulu-Shona African Man With Salon-styled dreadlocks. In the Shona language locs translate to mhotsi.

Maasai warriors in Kenya are known for their long, thin, red dreadlocks, dyed with red root extracts or red ochre (red earth clay).^[155] The Himba women in Namibia are also known for their red colored dreadlocks. Himba women use red earth clay mixed with butterfat and roll their hair with the mixture. They use natural moisturizers to maintain the health of their hair. Hamar women in Ethiopia wear red colored locs made using red earth clay.^[156] In Angola, Mwila women create thick dreadlocks covered in herbs, crushed tree bark, dried cow dung, butter, and oil. The thick dreadlocks are died in color using oncula an ochre of red crushed rock.^{[157][158][159]} In Southern, Eastern, and Northern Africa, Africans use red ochre as sunscreen and cover their dreadlocks and braids with ochre to hold their hair in styles and as a hair moisturizer by mixing it with fats. Red ochre has a spiritual meaning of fertility, and in Maasai culture the color red symbolizes bravery and red ochre is used in ceremonies and dreadlock hair traditions.^[160][161] Historians noted West and Central African people braid their hair to signify age, gender, rank and role in society, and ethnic affiliation. It is believed braided and locked hair provides spiritual protection, connects people to the spirit of the earth, bestows spiritual power, and enables people to communicate with the gods and spirits.^{[162][163][164]} In the 15th and 16th centuries, the Atlantic slave trade saw Black Africans forcibly transported from Sub-Saharan Africa to North America and, upon their arrival in the New World, their heads would be shaved in effort to erase their culture.^{[165][166][167][168]} Enslaved Africans spent months in slave ships and their hair matted into dreadlocks that European slave traders called "dreadful."^[169][170]

African diaspora

Black people in the diaspora wear locs as a protective hairstyle.

In the Black diaspora, Black people loc their hair to have a connection to the spirit world and receive messages from spirits. It is believed locs of hair are antennas making the wearer receptive to spiritual messages.^[171] Other reasons people loc their hair is for fashion and to maintain the health of natural hair also called kinky hair.^[172] In the 1960s and 1970s in the United States, the Black Power movement, Black is beautiful movement, and the Natural hair movement inspired many Black Americans to wear their hair natural in afros, braids, and locked hairstyles.^[173][174] The Black is beautiful cultural movement spread to Black communities in Britain. In the 1960s and 1970s, Black people in Britain were aware of the civil rights movement and other cultural movements in Black America and the social and political changes occurring at the time. The Black is beautiful movement and Rastafari culture in Europe, influenced Afro-Britains to wear their hair in natural loc styles and afros as a way to fight against racism, western standards of beauty, and develop unity among Black people of diverse backgrounds.^[175][176] From the twentieth century into present day, dreadlocks are hair symbols of Black liberation and are worn by revolutionaries, activists, womanists, and radical artists in the diaspora.^[177][178] For example, Black American literary author Toni Morrison wore locs and Alice Walker wears locs to reconnect to their African heritage.^[179]

Natural black hairstyles worn by Black women are not seen as feminine and professional in some American businesses.^[180] Wearing locs in the diaspora signifies a person's racial identity and defiance of European standards of beauty which is straight blond hair.^[181] Locs encourages Black people to embrace other aspects of their culture that is tied to Black hair such as wearing African ornaments that are cowrie shells, beads, and African headwraps that are sometimes worn with locs.^[182][183] Some Black Canadian women wear locs to connect to the global Black culture. Dreadlocks unites black people in the diaspora because wearing locs has the same meaning in areas of the world where there are Black people which is opposing Eurocentric standards of beauty and sharing a Black and African diaspora identity.^[184][185] For many black women in the diaspora, locs are a fashion statement to express individuality and the beauty and versatility of black hair and as a protective hairstyle to maintain the health of their hair by wearing kinky hair in natural locs or faux locs. To protect their natural hair from the elements of cold or hot air during the changing seasons, black women where certain hairstyles to protect and retain the moisture in their hair. Black women wear soft locs as a protective hairstyle because soft locs enclose natural hair inside soft locs protecting their natural hair from environmental damage. This protective soft loc style is created by "wrapping hair around the natural hair or crocheting pre-made soft locs into cornrows."^[186] In the diaspora, Black men and women wear different styles of dreadlocks. Each style requires a different method of care. Freeform locs are formed organically by not combing the hair or manipulating the hair. There are also goddess locs, faux locs, sister locs, twisted locs, Rasta locs, crinkle locs, invisible locs, and other loc styles.^{[187][188][189]}

Australia

An Indigenous Australian with dreadlocks

Some Indigenous Australians of North West and North Central Australia, as well as the Gold Coast region of Eastern Australia, have historically worn their hair in a locked style, sometimes also having long beards that are fully or partially locked. Traditionally, some wear the dreadlocks loose, while others wrap the dreadlocks around their heads, or bind them at the back of the head.^[190] In North Central Australia, the tradition is for the dreadlocks to be greased with fat and coated with red ochre, which assists in their formation.^[191] In 1931 in Warburton Range, Western Australia, a photograph was taken of an aboriginal Australian man with dreadlocks.^[192]

In the 1970s, hippies from Australia's south region moved to Kuranda and lived near Indigenous Australians and introduced reggae music to Buluwai people. Buluwai people heard the music of Peter Tosh and Bob Marley for the first time in the 1970s and learned about the Rastafari movement. Indigenous Australians found parallels of the struggles of Black people in the Americas to their own racial struggles in Australia. A Buluwai reggae band was formed in Australia called Mantaka. Mantaka combines Buluwai cultural traditions with reggae guitar music. The reggae music among the Buluwai reflects their culture and history. Willie Brim a Buluwai man born in the 1960s in Kuranda, Australia was introduced to reggae music from hippies. Brim and other Buluwai people wear dreadlocks but wear them because it is a part of their culture and not an influence from the Rastafari religion. Although Brim was inspired by reggae music, he is not a Rastafarian because he has his own spiritual culture.^[193] Foreigners visiting Australia think the Buluwai people wearing dreadlocks was an influence of the Rastafarian movement, but Buluwai people say their ancestors wore dreadlocks prior to the movement.^[194] Some Indigenous Australians wear an Australian Aboriginal flag (a symbol of unity and Indigenous identity in Australia) tied around their head to hold their dreadlocks.^[195]

Buddhism/Hinduism

The deity Shiva wears dreadlocks.

Within Tibetan Buddhism and other more esoteric forms of Buddhism, locks have occasionally been substituted for the more traditional shaved head. The most recognizable of these groups are known as the Ngagpas of Tibet. For Buddhists of these particular sects and degrees of initiation, their locked hair is not only a symbol of their vows but an embodiment of the particular powers they are sworn to carry.^[196] 1.4.15 of the Hevajra Tantra states that the practitioner of particular ceremonies "should arrange his piled up hair" as part of the ceremonial protocol.^[197] Archeologists found a statue of a male deity, Shiva, with dreadlocks in Stung Treng province in Cambodia.^[198] In a sect of tantric Buddhism some initiates wear dreadlocks.^[199][200] The sect of tantric Buddhism wear initiates wear dreadlocks is called weikza and Passayana or Vajrayana Buddhism. This sect of Buddhism is practiced in Burmese. They spend years in the forest with this practice and when they return to the temples they should not shave their heads to reintegrate.^[201]

Hinduism

Two sadhus (ascetic monks) with their hair in traditional jaṭā style^[202]

The practice of Jaṭā (dreadlocks) is practiced in modern day Hinduism,^{[203][204][205]} most notably by Sadhus who follow Śiva.^[206][207] The Kapalikas, first commonly referenced in the 6th century CE, were known to wear Jaṭā^[208] as a form of deity imitation of the deva Bhairava-Śiva.^[209] Shiva is often depicted with dreadlocks. "Shiva's dreadlocks represent the potent power of his mind that enables him to catch and bind the unruly and wild river goddess Ganga."^[210]

In a village in Pune, Savitha Uttam Thorat, some women hesitate to cut their long dreadlocks because it is believed it will cause misfortune or bring down divine wrath. Dreadlocks practiced by the women in this region of India are believed to be possessed by the goddess Yellamma. Cutting off the hair is believed to bring misfortune onto the woman, because having dreadlocks is considered to be a gift from goddess Yellama (other names for this goddess is Renuka).^[211] Some of the women have long and heavy dreadlocks that puts a lot of weight on their necks causing pain and limited mobility.^[212][213] Some in local government and police in the Maharashtra region demand the women to cut their hair, because the religious practice of Yellamma forbids women from washing and cutting their dreadlocks causing health issues.^[214] These locks of hair dedicated to Yellamma are called jade. The locks of hair are evidence of divine presence. However, in Southern India people are advocating the practice should not continue.^[215]

The goddess Ankalaparamecuvari in Indian mythology is said to have cataik-kari matted hair (dreadlocks). Women healers in India are identified by their locs of hair and are respected in spiritual rituals because they are believed to be connected to goddesses. A woman who has jata is believed to derive their spiritual powers or cakti from their dreadlocks.^[216]

Rastafari

Rasta Bongo - A Rasta wearing a tam (Rastacap) to cover his locs.

Rastafari movement dreadlocks are symbolic of the Lion of Judah, and were inspired by the Nazarites of the Bible.^[217] Jamaicans locked their hair after seeing images of Ethiopians with locs fighting Italian soldiers during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. The afro is the preferred hairstyle worn by Ethiopians. During the Italian invasion, Ethiopians vowed not to cut their hair using the Biblical example of Sampson who got his strength from his seven locks of hair until emperor Ras Tafari Makonnnen (Haile Selassie) and Ethiopia were liberated and Selassie was returned from exile.^[218] Scholars also state another indirect Ethiopian influence for Rastas locking their hair are the Bahatowie priests in Ethiopia and their tradition of wearing dreadlocks for religious reasons since the 5th century AD.^[219] Another African influence for Rastas wearing locs was seeing photos of Mau Mau freedom fighters with locs in Kenya fighting against the British authorities in the 1950s. Dreadlocks to the Mau Mau freedom fighters were a symbol of anti-colonialism and this symbology of dreadlocks was an inspiration for Rastas to loc their hair in opposition to racism and promote an African identity.^{[220][221][222]} The branch of Rastafari that was inspired to loc their hair after the Mau Mau freedom fighers were the Nyabinghi Order previsously called Young Black Faith. Young Black Faith were considered a radical group of younger Rastafari members. Eventually other Rastafari groups started locking their hair.^[223]

In the Rastafarian belief, people wear locs for a spiritual connection to the universe and spirit of the earth. It is believed by shaking their locs it will bring down the destruction of Babylon. Babylon in the Rastafarian belief is systemic racism, colonialism, and any system of economic and social oppression of Black people.^[224][225] Locs are also worn to defy European standards of beauty and helps to develop a sense of Black pride and acceptance of African features as beautiful.^[226][227] In another branch of Rastafiri called Boboshanti Order of Rastafari, dreadlocks are worn to display a black person's identity and social protest against racism.^[228] The Bobo Ashanti are one of the strictest Mansions of Rastafari. They cover their locs with bright turbans and wear long robes and can usually be distinguished from other Rastafari members because of this.^[229] Other Rastas wear a Rastacap to tuck their locs under the cap.^[230]

The Bobo Ashanti ("Bobo" meaning "black" in Iyaric;^[231] and "Ashanti" in reference to the Ashanti people of Ghana, whom the Bobos claim are their ancestors),^[232] were founded by Emmanuel Charles Edwards in 1959 during the period known as the "groundation", where many protests took place calling for repatriation of African descendants and slaves to Kingston. A Boboshanti branch spread to Ghana because of repatriated Jamaicans and other Black Rastas moving to Ghana. Prior to Rastas living in Ghana, Ghanaians and West Africans previously had their own beliefs about locked hair. Dreadlocks in West Africa are believed to bestow children born with locked hair with spiritual power, and it is believed children born with dreadlocks called Dada were given to their parents by water deities. Rastas and Ghanaians have similar beliefs about the spiritual significance of dreadlocks, such as not touching a person's or child's locs, maintaining cleanliness of locs, locs spiritual connections to spirits, and locs bestowing spiritual powers to the wearer.^[233]

In sports

Dreadlocks have become a popular hairstyle among professional athletes. However, some athletes are discriminated against and were forced to cut their dreadlocks. For example, in December of 2018 a Black high school wrestler in New Jersey was forced to cut his dreadlocks 90 seconds before his match that sparked a Civil Rights case leading to passage of the CROWN act in 2019.^[234]

In professional American football, the number of players with dreadlocks has increased ever since Al Harris and Ricky Williams first wore the style during the 1990s. In 2012, about 180 National Football League players wore dreadlocks. A significant number of these players are defensive backs, who are less likely to be tackled than offensive players. As per the NFL's rulebook, a player's hair is considered part of their "uniform", meaning the locks are fair game when attempting to bring them down. ^[235][236]

In the NBA there has been controversy over the Brooklyn Nets guard Jeremy Lin, an Asian-American who garnered mild controversy over his choice of dreadlocks. Former NBA player Kenyon Martin accused Lin of appropriating African-American culture in a since-deleted social media post, after which Lin pointed out that Martin has multiple Chinese characters tattooed on his body. ^[237]

David Diamante the American Boxing ring announcer of Italian American heritage sports prominent dreadlocks.

Police profiling

Black men that wear locs are profiled and watched more by the police and are believed to be "thugs" or involved in gangs and violent crimes than black men who do not wear dreadlocks.^[263] A police officer in Iowa aggressively yanked a black man's dreadlocks during an arrest.^[264]