So. I got this fresh and fly haircut a while back. I’ve since realized that my hair is just not something I want to deal with. What I want is the ease of dreadlocks….well, the ease of dreadlocks which are already in place. Let’s not talk about what my sad and sorry head of hair would have to go through to become a nice set of dreads, okay?

The problem with this is that I don’t live in the kind of place that would readily accept dreadlocks on someone who isn’t black. Now, while I’m generally all for doing whatever I want, regardless of what other people think, in this instance, I don’t want to be accused of cultural appropriation, nor do I much care to explain that dreadlocks have been worn for thousands of years by all kinds of people every time someone gives me “the look”.

I mean, it’s all good and well for me to know that the Rastafarians didn’t invent dreadlocks (although if I recall correctly, they’re the ones who named them dreads). It’s also nice that I know dreads were worn by some Celtic tribes and are still worn by Hindi holy men today. But none of that matters since our culture’s perception is that dreads are a “black” hairstyle. Although, I have to admit the white kids who’ve been sporting dreads for the past coupla decades have changed that quite a bit. Enough that I could get away with them in Stepford? Probably not.

So. What do you think? (Before you get started on how dreads are stinky or gross, go Google “dreadlock care,” wouldja?)