Dreadlock wearers brush off stereotypes

http://www.freep.com/article/20100503/FEATURES01/5030302/Dreadlock-wearers-brush-off-stereotypes

Crystal Bowersox rocks, it's plain to see. The folksy guitar-slinger from rural Ohio has dominated this lackluster season of "American Idol" with her vocal prowess and easygoing stage presence.
So why, then, are so many people hung up on her hair?
Via blogs and message boards, fans have issued proclamations on the long, blonde, ropelike dreadlocks that Bowersox, 24, sports. Some love them, but some deride them with a passion.
Venomous adjectives such as "dirty, filthy and trashy" have been used to describe them.
All this vitriol underscores the many stigmas and stereotypes attached to a hairstyle that dates back to ancient Egypt and, more recently, is often associated with reggae artist Bob Marley.
But even though such mainstream celebrities as Whoopi Goldberg, singers Lenny Kravitz and Adam Duritz, baseball star Manny Ramirez and author Alice Walker, have sprouted dreadlocks through the years, it's a hairstyle that remains highly misunderstood.
Loretta Green-Williams, 56, and Jordan Aiken, 23, have their own tales of dreadlocks woe. Green-Williams, a Pittsburg, Calif., resident, notices how people "talk down" to her and question her intellect -- never mind that she holds a master's degree from University of San Francisco. Aiken, a recent graduate of UC Berkeley, recalls how sororities and certain clubs shunned her.
Like others who favor dreadlocks, Aiken has seen them arouse curiosity in friends and strangers. A lot of people want to touch them. She has also dealt with what might be the biggest misconception about dreadlocks: that they're the unclean, unkempt byproduct of neglect.
"They're not dirty. I wash my hair. I really do," she says, laughing. "No one ever says they smell bad or anything."
Indeed, Michelle Robinson, who specializes in locking (or knitting) hair in her Oakland, Calif., salon, Naturally Yours Hair Care, insists that the hairstyle actually can be very high maintenance, with some dreadheads spending several hours a week on grooming and upkeep.
"There's a lot of ignorance out there. What we're basically talking about is just a larger strand of hair," says Robinson.
One issue concerning the hairstyle is tinged with tension: Who should wear them? For Rastafarians, dreadlocks are a symbol of inner spirituality. For many blacks, dreadlocks represent a vivid rejection of assimilation and an expression of racial pride. That's why some regard Caucasians with locks as "culture vultures."
For the record, Bowersox, who has had her locks for four-plus years, has said in various interviews that she has no intention of snipping them off just to please the "Idol" voters.
That sentiment draws a hearty cheer from Aiken, who has sported her blonde locks for a similar amount of time.
"It's a singing competition. They should probably focus on her voice," she says. "If she loves her locks, I think she should just rock them and ignore what the people are saying.
"They're probably just jealous anyway."

Bouncing Along the Bumpy Trail

So I've been doing a little maintenance on my dreadlocks and wow! A little bit of sewing can make a huge difference. I have a jumbo needle I used to use for plastic canvas. The eye is large enough to fit quite a few hairs through it. I thread it with the loose hair and sew it into the proper dread. Amazing. I finished it off with some diluted lemon and salt water juice. I blunted some of the ends too. I only have 4 wispy ends. Now if those loops would just go away....

Yeah my dinner last night consisted of curly fries. Totally not healthy at all. But what would I have eatten with them? pasta? rice? masted potatoes? So that was that.

Mr. B went to bed very early last night. I got up very grumpy and dried out this morning. I never sleep with air blown heat on. It does a real number on me- dries out me lips, sore throat, dry nose, toss and turn all night. Ever since I was a kid I just closed the vent at night. That is why I was grumpy.

Looks like tomorrow I'll be feasting with my friend at the Brewery downtown. YAY! We were trying to go ziplining but it doesn't fit in with our schedules. Maybe later....

Last night I sewed this awesome/hilarious looking sleeping hat. Its made of blue satin and could easily be mistaken for a chef or baker's hat. I made it because I was so tired of lint in my hair. This way the satin is light, lintless, and smooth. My loopy locks can slide all over each other! I also sewed a pretty scrunchy for my hair too.

Mr. b told me he'd make dinner. I wonder what is in store. We desperately need to go food shopping. Literally have no fruits or vegetables.

Well that is all.

Right In Your Loopy Face

So here I sit sniveling about how my dreads are no where near as pretty as the ones from compunction.org or G_U_D_U. They are in such desperate need of some maintenace. I've read both sides of the coin, maintain or don't touch them. But the not touching them is just making them icky. Loose hairs everywhere, loops out the asshole, etc. No they're not gross, I wash them every week sometimes more. But aesthetically they are seriously lacking. I really don't know how to maintain them. I've tried dreadballing, palm rubbing, clockwise root rubbing, some crochet hook and they still look like ca-ca. Ok, given that maintainance I mentioned was months ago. But I'm all in this on my own. I have no dreadie homies, my fiance is dread-inexperienced and no one around town to help. wahh!!! (pulls self together) I'm getting married soon and I don't want to look like a freak. I want them to look lovely and surprising. This weekend I am going to try my hand again and fixing them up. Its just the back is so difficult to see and do. I'm seriously considering consulting and flying Lish out here to help me fight this loose loopy battle.

On a brighter note: I'd like to share the joy of an old lady. Yesterday at the mall (where I work P/T) an old lady and her elderly daughter rolled up. No seriously, the mother was in a wheelchair. She kindly asked me how did I get my hair like that. I explained in basic terms how to created dreads. She clapped her hands and laughed when I told her I don't brush my hair anymore. Her daughter and she asked do I wash or how do I wash it? I explained basically its the scalp that gets all the soil so that's what I focus on. They were both amazed and looked thrilled. hahah! I was pretty happy after that. I'm so used to rude stares. This was a pleasant change.