dread locks? truths and myths.?

Question

i have been wanting to get them, but my manager at work hears myths about how they"smell" and you can't wash them very much. i have done some research on them but nothing like that comes up too much. anyone have any idea what the truth is and how long you're hair should be when you get them and how offen you cna wash them and if it smells or not annnndd...anything else you might want to share.

Answer 1

1. Dreadlocks do not smell and you can wash them as many times as you want. The reason that myth came along is that in the beginning you shouldn't wash them because when you do it unravels the lock and you have to start all over again. It takes months for hair to lock so during that time you should keep washing your hair at a minimum. once the hair is locked you can wash it as many times as you'd like. Just like any other kind of hair, if you roll around in dirt and keep bad hygiene its gonna smell whether u have braids, a perm, curly or straight so for the small window where your hair is locking you just have to try to keep it as clean as possible.
2. You can lock your hair at any length as long as u have enough hair on your head to make a twist.
3. Don't let people tell you that locks are dirty or nasty or smelly in any way. People are totally against this hairstyle because they are ignorant and afraid of anything different. It's just hair, so do what you want. Half the people who are telling u these myths dont know a single person with locks anyway, nor have they gotten close enough to smell their hair. I have had locks for 7 years and i think they are a very clean hairstyle. I wash my hair once a week, way more often than i did when i had extensions or braids. If you keep the front twisted and looking nice your hair will be beautiful. I get compliments all the time, and u can make way more styles. And your hair grows way faster because your not constantly ripping hair outta your head with a comb or brush. If this is really what u want to do, then get them and dont let any ignorant fool stop you. You can always try it for a few weeks and if u dont like it take them out. They dont get permanent for a few months. Mine took about 10 months to fully lock. Anyway, I hope i helped you and I just wanted to tell you I never had any regrets about my hair.

Answer 2

There are mixed races in my state. All i know is this.. the friend i have had said it iches.. a few of them said lice is bad.. they can not wash there hair but ever 2 weeks.. or the curls tend too frizz. as for the smell.. well i do agree.. it dose have a oder to them after a while. I do know that told me 4 inches.. ??? but i could be wrong. most of the time it is glued in for some.. i know they said there is a cream/oil.. dont remember which one that they have to put on the scalp once a week?? dont really know why//

and they can last up to 5 months..

Answer 3

I don't know what ethnicity you are, but nappturality.com is a wonderful site for natural Black women's hair care. I have baby dreads right now, and I love them. Dreadlocks are not nasty (I wash my hair just as frequently as before) and they only smell if you don't take proper care of them.

As far as they way they look, well, it all depends on what you want. Some people like big ones, others like smaller ones. Some like very cultivated locks, others like a more organic appearance.

I say go for it. Visit a loctician and get more information. I maintain mine myself, without the help of a loctician, but if you're not used to doing your own hair, just go to a natural salon and have them start you off.

Don't let ignorant stereotypes discourage you. Hope this helps....

Answer 4

Try Knotty Boy products. They have special products for washing your dreads and scalp care. They have tons of dread info there. My 4 year old son's hair grew to be mid-back length, and keeping his baby fine hair straight and tagle free was a nightmare, so I gave him dreadlocks. If you have good hygiene, and take care of the dreads, they shouldn't smell. You can also wear a tam to keep your dreads up and to absorb sweat.

I don't think dreads look lame on caucasian people (like the person below stated). Dreads can look nice on people of any race, but like any hairstyle, some peole can wear a certain 'do and some can't. It depends on the person's style, face shape, etc, and not necessarily their race. My son is Mexican-American, and his hair probably would've naturally dreaded because of it's baby fine texture, I just helped the process to make it look neater.

Answer 5

Its your scalp that starts to smell because its difficult to wash it with out messing up your locks.And you dont wash it really.
They can get pretty nasty looking.

If you are caucasian, dont do it,looks lame and your hair will mat severly after a while, then you have to cut it all to get the locks back out.

And Yes they do smell, I have been around people with them and there is a distinct smell to the scalp, the oils and dead skin on the scalp start to get stinky.

Answer 6

If you don't wash your hair its going to smell anyways. You can wash them when you want but make sure that you let them dry completely or else it will.

You can start growing them as soon you can twist your hair. When you have dread you have to make sure that they are well maintained. When your hair begins to grow you have to get them retwisted.

Just make sure that it is something that you really want to do. There is a tradional way of getting ride of them, which is but getting all of your hair off or there is another way, which takes a long time. You can get them proffessionally combed out, they will comb out your dreads.

Answer 7

Listen just go to a locktician,,,and thats a myth

Answer 8

They don't smell as long as you care for them properly, but I'm not sure what that entails.

Answer 9

they can be very beautiful...several of my friends worked with shoulder length hair. And no they don't SMELL!

Answer 10

these sites will help you with the myths and rumors you ever heard plus the maintence and shampoos for dreads:


www.dreadheadhq.com
www.knottyboy.com
www.howtodread.com
www.perfectdreadlocks.
www.dreadlocks.com