Why dreads?

I’ve been considering dreading my hair for several years but I never had the proper motivation to do it. Perhaps with time I grew a bit more self-confident and free to try new things without minding what others may think. This was the first step toward this "dreaded independence". I also found that getting married gave me the extra push on this road to the pro-dread decision. The hubby became a big fan of the idea and encouraged me to give dreads a try**. I love that I can say that my husband has been my most faithful supporter on this journey. 

 2 weeks with a dreadhead. No regrets so far, and hopefully none to come!

Here are a few of the reasons why dreads seemed so attractive to me as a hair style alternative.

1)   My hair had been too long for too long- and I wanted to try something fun and new to do with it.

2)   I consider dreads to be a form of art. They can express one’s personality through the way they are treated, embellished and worn in general, and I thought if could be a great new artsy outlet for me.

3)   It’s less work! Eventually. After the first month or two (for some people who don't care much for perfectly straight strands even immediately) the hair maintenance time reduces significantly. No expensive conditioners or shampoos are necessary, and combing is minimal- basically only to stimulate the scalp. The washing in my case decreased from every other day to 2 times a week, with a non-residue shampoo. I might bring it down to once a week, but for now my scalp gets itchy very fast and I need to soak it more often.

4)   Dreads look, smell and feel beautiful if well taken care of! That is my aim- to make them a pretty crown, not a messy bird’s nest, a hairstyle that I can feel comfortable rocking at work, school and elsewhere in public. Thankfully I work in a university environment where there are plenty of open-minded people who like my hair. The reaction from my church friends has been equally very positive - which I thought was surprising at first. There is even a lady nearing her 50s who is considering getting dreads now that she has seen mine! And those who don’t like my hair stay mostly quiet :)

**Though this wasn’t entirely selfless on his side. He’s been frowning at all my fallen hair located everywhere on the floor, furniture, clothes etc. On top of that, summer in Florida accelerated my hair falling out, and it started annoying me as well. So dreading it became a practical solution for the household as well. Less hair falling out = less mess!