What's So Dreadful About DreadLocks? Is it true that Jamaica's original Rastafarians' long matted hair was considered to be a dreadful sight? Well, according to what I've read thus far, it was European travelers who made derogatory references that our hair looked dreadful. What nerve of them to imply that hair that looks like GOD's hair look dreadful? Thus the word dread in front of the word locks. Now, they got the word locks correctly, because that's how GOD Himself referred to the hair of our ancestors. Egyptian royalty wore their hair in locks. In mummification, the hair on their heads were adorned with locks, as well as wigs with locks. The statues and wall carvings throughout Egypt shows evidence of locked hair.

Let's take a look at what several dictionaries have to say about the word dread: be afraid of; not look forward to; be terrified of; be frightened of; to fear intensely, distaste, reluctance, horror, alarm, apprehension, regard with awe. Alright, that's enough information about this word, even though there are more negativities associated with it.

Now, let's look at the best part of us and our locks.

First and foremost, have a look at the description that Prophet Daniel said upon his vision of GOD in Daniel 7:9, which says: I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool, his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

To interrupt, GOD always referred to us as his sheep, and a sheep's hair is made of the purest of wool. Why would Daniel describe GOD's hair as looking like pure wool? Why not say that GOD's hair was like the hair or fur of a horse? Simply put, GOD's hair is twisted or tightly curled, just like springs, just like coils, just like spirals, just like yours and mine.

Now, let's take a look at the book of Revelation where you will find the description of Yahshua, known to everyone in modern days as Jesus, whose name and true image were changed. Here is what Revelation 1:12-15 says: And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

Like Father like Son. Eh? Hair looks like wool, feet smooth like brass (not hairy) with the appearance of something that was burned in a furnace, leaving it the color of black; and of course, he spoke with a deep voice. Most of our brothas have that trait down to a science.

I mentioned the two scriptures simply because the identity of GOD's hair and the hair of His son needed to be known in order for one to understand that if GOD possesses it, what makes it so dreadful to have hair like wool?

I am one that love the looks of what we've come to know as dreadlocks. That's the hairstyle of twisting hair that stays in place and looks similar to that of plaits, or to some, individual braids. Well, one day it occurred to me about the word dread and it began to bother me. I remember some years ago where a young African American sistah went to her place of employment with her hair braided in cornrows, and she was given an ultimatum by her employers: either she get rid of the braids or resign from her job. I don't know whatever happened to that case, but I sure as hell hope that the sistah took those jerks to court and won.

How can another race of people tell us how we should or should not wear our hair when they are wearing their hair as nature intended for theirs to grow? Yeah, yeah, I know we didn't come out of the womb with our hair braided. Nor did we come out holding onto an ironing comb or a box of chemical hair straighteners either. Okay? So, let's be realistic here. Non-African descendants whose hair is not like wool, hair falls vertically, naturally. However, with African textured hair, the hair grows outward and falls only when it becomes too heavy to keep going outward. So, from the time of creation, we have locked our hair to keep it tidy and in various hairstyles. And to cornrow our hair, all we were doing was trying to keep it from hitting other people in the face whenever we turned our heads. Feel me?

To lock our hair was easily done back in the days of old. I don't know what they used, maybe beeswax, but now we have all types of products readily available to help us maintain our locks in a sexy and orderly fashion.

I know it will be a very difficult task trying to get rid of that mentally-programmed negative word dread from our vocabulary when coupled with our locks. However, maybe if we just call them locs/locks and keep in mind why the word dread is there in the first place, it could make it much easier for the transition. I hate the thought of calling our hair dread anything. Don't you?

The word locks (without the dread) is mentioned in the Bible when it refers to our hair. We were to never cut it unless we were to cleanse ourselves of various ailments or diseases. But, never as a casual way of grooming ourselves. And, as a further note, people of African decent with woolly hair never had a problem with lice. Why? Because our genetics forbid it from occurring. No matter the stories of our scalp containing added oils or by us using hot combs, those were put out there to make you believe that our DNA allows for lice to breed and live in our hair and scalp. Again, our genetic make-up does not allow for lice to breed or live anywhere on our bodies.

Furthermore, when you read the Bible, you will find that African descendants with kinky hair are the only people on Earth with hair identical to that of GOD's. We should all be proud of that fact. So, the next time when you say that somebody's got good hair, try to remember that good hair is nappy, kinky, woolly locks.

Some people believe that wearing their hair in locks causes the hair to grow faster. Not so. Regardless of the hairstyle, your hair will grow on an average of six inches or more per year; providing of course, that there are no evidences of disease, illness, scalp abuse, or chemical damage present.

What some people are unaware of is that hair is dead cells filled with protein. The hair cannot die anymore than that. What happens is that when your hair is loose and flowing, the weaker strands ends up in your comb or brush. You will even see your hair on the floor, your shoulders, and maybe in your food. The wind, certain types of weather conditions, and the lack of moisturizing and lubricating our locks, play big roles in the lost of hair as well.

When your hair is locked [meaning that the strands are tightly twisted] and your hair breaks, the breakages have nowhere to go, so they stay within the twisted locks, which causes each lock to become thicker and thicker. Because of that, it appears as if your hair is growing longer, when in fact all the hair that should have fallen victim to comb, brush, and weather, stays within the twists. Once again, your hair will grow regardless, it's what you are no longer losing is what you see in your length.

Once the locks are released, in other words, when you take them out [and they can be removed with a very good soaking of a very good hair conditioner and combed out starting at the tip working toward the root], all that was supposed to have already fallen from your head will already be loose. But, because you have protected most of the hair strands, you will retain much of the length that you saw before you started unlocking your locks.

I hope this explains the myth that locks makes your hair grow faster when in reality, whether you have locks or not, your hair will grow. It's just a matter of how well you take care of it and how well you avoid damaging it by too much combing, brushing, heat, chemicals, and exposure to the weather.

If you are one of those people who have, for many years, been mentally conditioned into believing that "good hair" is slick, shiny, soft curled or straight, here's your chance to accept the truth that:

GOOD HAIR LOOKS LIKE GOD'S HAIR
Woolly, Kinky, Nappy & Locked.

Now, Smile. You And Your Hair Are In Very Good Company.

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Skin Deep - This website gives you the opportunity to search the cosmetics you use on your face and body then gives you the hardcore information about its toxicity. This is a non-profit organization doing the job that the FDA should do.