20 Years With Dreadlocks - Tales & Lessons From The Natty Dreads! ;-)

From the Rastas to the Sadhus since I was a child I always loved dreadlocks! I was entranced with the organic way hair forms itself into wild and unique shapes. This is an ancient hair style which stretches back into the mists of prehistory.

As a child I remember telling my mother I would grow old with long silver dreadlocks!

Did the wonderful hair have something to do with my love of Indian and Reggae music? ;-)

Rasta Birthing

As a teenager in Germany my best friend had fantastic dreadlocks and my hair was long. Later I was living in a teepee next to the ocean on a hippy commune in Ibiza and my hair created its first dreads naturally. When I returned very late to University in London I combed these natty dreads out. Sand, twigs and dead ants fell onto the bathroom floor. Not a great start but something to work from.

During this time I was living in London's Notting Hill Gate (before it was trashed by the tourism) and I knew many of the local Rasta musicians and gangsters. We would drink in the pubs and sweat in the sauna together. The next summer I took off hitchhiking around the festivals in Europe. During my months away I had beautiful young girls twisting my second set of dreads in the backs of vans and under the shade of cork trees.

When I returned to London with my first set of full dreads I was unsure of how my Rasta friends would react. Although I am not white I am not black either. I had about 90 thin and clean dreads on my head at that point - not your typical Rasta style. Unanimously all my Rasta friends from The Hill congratulated me on my new improved look and welcomed me with open arms into their community of matted beautiful hair! =)

These dreads taught me the first of several interesting lessons:

Having dreads means not having to look into the mirror and this is invaluable for dealing with vanity and residual self image!

Dreadlocks Reincarnated

After University I moved to Australia and the dreads were definitely a hinderance for getting normal work. I found myself at a bush party talking with an older guy and complimenting him on his crazy hair. He thanked me for the compliment and told me that they were the 5th incarnation of his dreadlocks!

I looked confused so he pointed at a dread and said:

"See, that's 1983-85 mayt.", pointing to the oldest end of his dread.

"Then there's 88-90 and here is 93-95. This bit is 97-2000." he grinned pointing at various sections of his dreads which had been died various colours and were all sown together.

"And this is all the new growth!" he said pointing at his scalp. "All the bits have been sewn together mayt! Fifth incarnation brotha!"

Laughing heartily in appreciation I knew I'd learnt the second valuable dreadlock lesson:

Dreads reincarnate if you will them to!

Perhaps we also reincarnate if we will it to be so! ;-)

Dreadful

Through a random meeting in a Melbourne bar I was offered work in Asia if I would only cut my dreads off. I agreed and immediately regretted it!

At home I cut some of the best dreads off for reincarnation purposes and then combed the rest out myself. It was a nightmare of pain and I made a movie about the process which I named Dreadful.

The last three of the biggest dreads at the back I saved for the hairdresser telling them they could cut them off. The hairdresser demurred and got two assistants to wash my hair and gently comb the dreads out. I felt no pain and even enjoyed the experience!

Here was my third valuable dreadlock lesson:

Dreads can be painlessly combed out - you don't need to cut them off and have short hair - choose your own adventure!

Horses Are Rastas!

I spent many years breeding horses in New Zealand and Australia. Horses naturally produce amazing dreadlocks. I love them and didn't really like having to comb those dreads out. I am an expert now! ;-)

Some of the best horsey dreads I harvested to keep and occasionally at parties, for extra style, I added them to my own dreads with rubber bands! ;-)

Rasta Regrowth

My dreads today were created naturally during several years breeding horses on the farm in Australia. There are not many but they are long and very incongruous with the rest of my hair cut.

There used to be a lot of prejudice against dreadlocks when I was younger and all rastas were assumed to be Cannabis users. Fortunately that attitude is decreasing. It's strange because I used have a reverse prejudice against people with narrow view points. I don't feel that way today. As soon as I speak to people I can change opinions with my words.

Although I loved wearing my dreads with a beautiful three piece suit I like having my dreads now because they almost preclude me from corporate work. I like that! There is no way I can fall into that life again with my dreads! Yay! ;-)

Here in my village on Bali some of the older people in the community have dreadlocks. There is one old lady with a massive single dread at the back. Next time I see her I will ask politely if I can take a photo so you can see her amazing hair.

I find my hair gives me strength and maybe some wisdom. The legends and history around dreadlocks is very interesting and I will write about them if you are interested!

Oddly I am going to close this post with a song by four white guys, none of which had dreadlocks: 10cc's Dreadlock Holiday

Your hair is amazing let it grow and do wonderful unique things. It is a blessing from Jah/Shiva!!! =)

---

Images courtesy of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

---

Jockey loves you All and your dreadlocks! Jah Bless! =)

---