DREADLOCK interviews still needed for book

Hello fellow dread wearers.

I am still working hard on my book "Don't Dread Dreads: The People Speak." Help me to get the word out for those who may be willing to participate by answering a few simple questions sharing their decision and journey to wear dreads.

By sharing your story, and hopefully a picture if you like, you will be part of something that will last forever in print. You will also be helping people to understand the hairstyle and its wearers better. Sharing is caring.

You can e-mail me (rizerfall@yahoo.com PLEASE put HAIR in subject line) with your questions and concerns and also if you need more information on exactly what type of book my book will be. If you know people of different ethnicities with dreadlocks, please tell them about this project.

I am thanking you all in advance for your support, help, and encouragement.

Don't Dread Change

I started my day as a red head, but I will end it with dark night emo hair.

I stood in front of the mirror and grabbed two handfuls or long red twisted dreads. I released the locks letting them cascade back down to the sides of my face and the edges of my shoulder blades. "I can't do it!" escaped my lips before I had time to form the thought of trepidation in my mind. Change is scary.

I have worn shocking red hair for over six years. It was my signiture. People in restaraunts would turn to look aT my tresses as I passed their tables. On more than one occasion, I have been asked "Who does your hair. I love the color." The children at my kids school think my kids have a cool mom with red dreads.

WHO AM I WITHOUT MY RED DREADS?

People always say it is "just hair." No it's not. Its who I want the world to know me as. For me my red dreads say I am a free spirit; fighting against the establishment. I am one with nature and all of the arts. I gravitate towards the unusual and root for the estranged underdog. I am a voice in constant communication with word, motion, and presence. I am the one who refuses to be ignored.

I shook the two bottles of dye, took a deep breath and began. Minutes later I rinsed away a past; realizing when I came up out of the water I would be a different person. I wrapped my hair and my mind preparing to face the new me.

In front of my bathroom mirror I unvailed deep, dark, rich, sensual, jet black hair. Beneath the damp straight twisted dreads was me with a smile.

I went from a blazing mane of red to an arresting classic black crown. There was still power there. There was still strength there. There was still me there.

My hair is such a large part of me. It makes a statement before I ever say a word. But, my hair has power because its origin has power. If I were a sexy person; I would have sexy hair. If I were a humble person; I would have humble hair.

Change is not easy. It makes you question "who you are." Knowing who you are is scary because you may not like yourself. But, this does not have to be a permanent condition. If I would have hated the black hair I would have eventually changed it to something I did like. But, it was the process of changing that was revealing, not necesarily the end product. Getting out of a comfort zone leads to growth.

I learned that I am willing to change, I am capable of change, and I am strong enough to change.

DON'T DREAD CHANGE.

American Idol Dreads

Crystal Bowersox can sing and she rocks her dreads to boot.

American Idol Season 9 contestant Chrystal Bowersox has her own style which she does not seem to want to alter. Her voice is soulful. She is the type of person you would expect to see wearing dreads.

In a previous post, I wondered aloud was it cool for ther ethnicities to wear dreads other than African Americans. People have strong feelings against people who are not black wearing the hairstyle. I on the other hand think hair is a personal choice that cannot be dictated.

I find her dreads as interesting as she is. I do not believe the ordinary or run-of-the-mill type person can or would even choose to wear dreads. Crystal is my pick to win for this season.

Good luck Crystal.


Bowersox was born in Elliston, Ohio. She is a single mother and has a son. She also has a fraternal twin brother. During her days as a struggling musician, she played as a busker at several train stations.


Bowersox auditioned for American Idol in Chicago, Illinois. She sang "Piece of My Heart". Ellen DeGeneres commented that she had "raw natural talent" and Simon Cowell continues to compliment her voice every week.

On March 2, Bowersox was hospitalized because of an unconfirmed illness, forcing a last minute switch in scheduling to give her extra time to recuperate. The men competed that day instead of the women. She sang the next day and impressed all of the judges. The illness was later reported as a problem with diabetes.

The following week, her strong performance prompted Simon Cowell to state, "Right now, you are the one everyone has to beat".

Her performances are usually accompanied by her guitar except for her rendition of "Midnight Train to Georgia" in which she played the piano.

The Mende Tribe of Sierra Leone

The Mende people was one ethnic group out of ten brought to the America's during the years of slave trade. Regional warfare throughout the 19th century led to the capture and sale of many Mende speakers. This proud and strong group of people are most famous for their fight for freedom and overthrow of the slave ship Amistad in 1939. The leader of the rebellion was a man named Sengbe Pieh, a role played by Kimora Simmon's new husband, Djimon Hounsou, a native of Benin, Africa. It would be wrong to assume that once the African left the safety of his homeland, that all cultural practices were relinquished. Even though the slave assimulated to his surroundings, some element of his culture had to be practiced in the privacy of his home. The old addage: "You can take the girl out of the country but you can't take the country out of the girl," rings true no matter which way it is said.

Here is a look at some of the rituals and engrained philosophies of life practiced by the Mende people. Try to see if any threads of this culture is still present in the African American community today, especially in the South.

One of the greatest sins a Mende man can commit is to give away the secrets of their tribe. The Poro society is the male equivalent to the Sande society. When inducted into this society, Mende boys are initiated into manhood. Many of their rituals parallel those of the Sande society.

In the black, male, community today in America, The Masons are the secret society that captures the male's imagination. There is much regard for the man who is a Mason. Men tend to have more secret societies with secret handshakes and codes.

The Poro prepares men for leadership in the community, so they might attain wisdom, accept responsibility, and gain power. It begins with the child's grade of discovery, followed by extensive training and service. During the seven-year initiation period, the young men converse with each other using a secret language and passwords, known only to other Poro members. The member always knows and understands what is being said. This is part of the mystery of this secret society.

At the beginning, young men aged 20 are called into the society and are trained by the group above them, along with a few elders. There is much work to be done during the initiation process. Dancing the masks is part of this work, but not the most important part. Only through work does the dance of the mask become meaningful.

Can you imagine the sense of loss the new male slave must have felt in the new world unable to go through the rituals and teachings of manhood? Never being able to be pronounced a man by peers had to have been heartwrenching.

All Mende women when they reach puberty begin the initiation process into the Sande society. The goals of this secret society are to teach young Mende women the responsibilities of adulthood. The girls are taught to be hard working and modest in their behavior, especially towards their elders. Sande influences every aspect of a Mende woman's life; it is present before birth and still present after.

Sande is the guardian of women; their protector and guide through life. It is Sande that grants a woman with an identity and a personality. The Sande society is concerned with defining what it is to be human and of discovering the ways of promoting love, justice, and harmony. It is a moral philosophy that focuses on the perpetual refinement of the individual. Sande leaders serve as models to women in the community. They exemplify the highest of Mende ideals, and they have the duty of enforcing positive social relationships and of removing any harm that might come to women in their community. "This is Sande; women together in their womanhood, in a free exchange of words and actions among sisters. Where ever two or three women are gathered together, there is the spirit of Sande."

Sande groups conduct masked performances that embody the Sande guardian spirit, who is associated with water and rivers. Descriptions of the society and its masquerade events have been made by visitors since the seventeenth century.

A woman's hair is a sign of femininity. Both thickness and length are elements that are admired by the Mende. Thickness means the woman has more individual strands of hair and the length is proof of strength. It takes time, care and patience to grow a beautiful, full head of hair. Ideas about hair root women to nature, the way hair grows is compared to the way forests grow. The vegetation on earth is the "hair" on the head of Mother Nature in the same way the hair on the head of a woman is her "foliage." (Boone) A woman with long, thick hair illustrates a life force, she may be blessed with a green thumb giving her the ability to have a promising farm and many healthy children.

Hairstyles are very important in Mende society. A Mende woman's hair must be well groomed, clean, and oiled. Hair must be tied down under strict control and shaped into intricate, elegant styles for the sake of beauty and sex appeal. Dirty, disheveled hair is a sign of insanity. A woman who does not groom and maintain her hair has neglected the community's standards of behavior. Only a woman in mourning can let her hair loose. The Mende finds unarranged "wild" hair immoral and connects it to wild behavior.

No one knows why the black woman puts so much stock into their hair adding to the billion dollar a year industry. When the discussion turns to hair, their is laughter and a sense of sisterhood. And we all know how a woman feels about other women who "let their hair go." I find it curious that we always believed that the slave woman tying her head in a rag while she worked was just something she did to keep the sweat out of her eyes or to keep the scorching sun off of her scalp. Maybe it was something she had done in her home land of Africa.

***In an upcoming section I will go into more detail about how the American slave woman viewed her hair.

First Impressions are often Lasting Impressions

On any given day, do the clothes you choose to wear insight fear in others? If you knew for sure- the way you walked, the way you talked, or the way you wore your hair intimidated others- would you choose to make it a part of your lifestyle?

Throughout history, youths have taken seemingly innocent, mundane items and used them as symbols of rebellion, aggression, and outright intimidation, i.e. leather jackets, slicked back jelled hair, white T-shirts with a pack of smokes rolled up in one of the sleeves over a bicept. The guys wearing these styles were tough street kids ready to rumble with rival gangs or ready to drag race at a moments notice to settle a score back in the late 1950's and the best known rebel without a cause, James Dean.
Today we have another group marking their territory with a hairstyle, particular dress code and the desire to settle a score with anyone they believe has crossed them. History repeats itself with deadly accuracy and pinpoint precision. It is never enjoyed. Voices rise up against it. But the rebellious youth will always find something to rebel about and to have street fights about. There will always be a rebel without a cause.

Enjoy the article below on today's youth and the dreadlock hairstyle.

"Naughty Dreads: Some Inner-City Youngstas Get It Twisted"
Pacific News Service, Commentary, Charles Jones, Posted: Sep 25, 2003
Editor's Note: Once a hairstyle associated with consciousness and spirituality, dreadlocks have become the style of choice for youngsters more concerned with hustling than healing.

OAKLAND, Calif.--When I moved back to Oakland nearly three months ago, I was taken aback by a trend that had swept through the streets of "tha town" since I'd left in 2000: Dreadlocks.

No matter where you are in Oakland these days you'll see them. Long, short, natural, flowing locks. It should be a beautiful thing. It should be, but it's not. It's not even cute. Because under the visual beauty of so many black men being dreadlocked is the ugly reality that these are the same cats out sellin' dope, robbin', and driving up the body count in Oakland.

These young men who wear their locks with such pride and ignorance have no idea about the historical or spiritual significance of dreadlocks. No, to them it just makes them look "harder." Like gold teeth or puff coats, locks are now worn as an accessory to make you look more menacing.

Before I go on, let me put this out there for those who don't know: For centuries people have worn dreadlocks as symbols of a natural lifestyle, spiritual identity, or covenant with GOD (read: Samson and Delilah). Don't get it twisted, young Oakland: DREADLOCKS ARE NOT JUST SOME "HIP-HOP" HAIRSTYLE!

I realized it was a problem when, here at Youth Outlook magazine, we received an essay from a teenaged girl explaining how she saw dreadlocks as a warning sign. When she saw dreads on a black man's head, she said she knew that he had sold or used drugs, or was a gun-toting gangsta.

Now, when I first saw this I was pissed! Assuming the writer was white, my initial reaction was, "Stupid yuppie." But it turns out she was a young black girl from Oakland.

I felt sick.

How could any black person not know that dreads have historically been a part of our peoples' connection with the divine? How could anyone black equate dreadlocks with drug-selling, gun-toting thugs? Walking home from the subway, though, I saw the example she was working with. I was forced to swallow my delusions about dreadlocks.

Revolutionaries like the Kenyan liberation fighters, the Mau Mau, wore dreads. Conscious, intelligent rappers wore dreads. Bob Marley, the crown prince of reggae music and a devout Rasta, wore dreads. In the Bay -- back in the day -- brothers with dreads were considered corny by the ghetto. Not anymore. Youngstas sport the style, but they're ignorant of the history and culture associated with it.

The other day, as I was walking to my North Oakland home from the local store, a young man with dreadlocks asked me for a cigarette. While rummaging through my shirt pockets I noticed him staring at my shirt, which sports a bold print in the image of his imperial majesty, Hallie Selassie (a former Ethiopian king who is recognized in the Rastafari religion, the folks that popularized the dread look, as the second coming of Christ), so I asked him if he knew who it was.

"Is it Jesus?" he offered.

I handed him his cancer and retired to my home in silence. I woke up the next morning thinking, "Jesus?!"

Look, here's a list of books and other dreadlock-related Web sites for any youth who got locks and don't know what they mean. While some of these resources focus strictly on the grooming and maintenance of dreadlocks, others delve deeper into their spiritual and social meanings.

Web sites:

-- www.rasta-man.co.uk/religion.htm
-- www.howtodread.com
-- dreadlocks.hypermart.net

Books:

-- "Dreads," by Francesco Mastalia and Alfonse Pagano
--- "The Rastafarians: The Dreadlocks of Jamaica," by Leonard Barrett
--"Dreadlock," by Lew Anthony
-- "Hairlocking: Everything You Need to Know About Hairlocking, Dread, African and Nubian Locks," by Nekhena Evans

Read up, but be warned: Studying the historical significance and spiritual properties of dreadlocks may change your life. It should change your life. If not, at the very least it should change your choice of hairstyle.

PNS contributor Charles Jones is a senior writer for YO! Youth Outlook (www.youthoutlook.org), a magazine by and for San Francisco Bay Area youth, and a PNS project.

I have contacted Mr. Jones in hopes of interviewing him. I wanted to give him and opportunity to reflect upon what he noticed in 2003, the time of his initial article, and now in 2010 when the number of dreadlock wearers have increased exponentially.

Being a dread wearer myself, I did not like the young men associating a hairstyle with any type of deviant behavior. I feel absolutely protective of dreadlocks and do not want anyone paraded in front of a camera on television, head dropped down, dreads swinging freely, in handcuffs being carted off to jail for robbery or being caught selling drugs. I did not feel this way about cornrows when I wore them nor my permed hair and I do not know why I feel this way about dreadlocks, but I do. I value the article by Mr. Jones and hope I will have the opportunity of incorporating it in my project.

Origins of Dreads Part 3

To love dreads is to understand dreads. Discovering the origins of the hairstyle is complex. Just as the once new religion of Christianity spread by small groups holding on to the belief in Jesus, holding this faith close to their hearts even when under threat, slaves held on to their tie to their unique culture through their grooming practices.

No matter where they were taken, in what was a new and scary world to them, daily grooming practices were implemented once they reached their final destination of servitude. They were not given classes in European etiquette. Base tools were used to make what was once considered standards of beauty: large noses, dark shiny skin, maticulously and often times elaborate hair, acceptable to the new society in which they now lived.

Slave owners had no interest in the African being attractive; only productive. Being viewed as beasts of burdens caused alot of African hair grooming skills to be lost. Bare fundamentals of braiding and twisting hair remained, but fell far short from being a source of the pride in which they were once veiwed and cared for.

So where in the world could the African techniques of grooming the kinky coarse hair be seen? There are numerous countries where the African brought with him his skills in the maintainance and care of his hair.

There were eight principal areas used by Europeans to buy and ship slaves to the Western Hemisphere. The number of slaves sold to the new world varied throughout the slave trade. As for the distribution of slaves from regions of activity, certain areas produced far more slaves than others. Between 1650 and 1900, 10.24 million African slaves arrived in the Americas from the following regions in the following proportions:
Senegambia (Senegal and The Gambia): 4.8%
Upper Guinea (Guinea-Bissau, Guinea and Sierra Leone): 4.1%
Windward Coast (Liberia and Cote d' Ivoire): 1.8%
Gold Coast (Ghana): 10.4%
Bight of Benin (Togo, Benin and Nigeria west of the Niger Delta): 20.2%
Bight of Biafra (Nigeria east of the Niger Delta, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon): 14.6%
West Central Africa (Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola): 39.4%
Southeastern Africa (Mozambique and Madagascar): 4.7%

Below are 29 nation states by country that actively or passively participated in the Atlantic Slave Trade: There have been a number of African Empires of varying size and influence throughout recorded history. ...
Senegal: Denanke Kingdom, Kingdom of Fouta Tooro, Jolof Empire, Kingdom of Khasso and Kingdom of Saalum
Guinea-Bissau: Kaabu Empire
Guinea: Kingdom of Fouta Djallon
Sierra Leone: Koya Temne
Cote d'Ivoire: Kong Empire and Gyaaman Kingdom
Ghana: Asante Confederacy and Mankessim Kingdom
Benin: Kingdom of Dahomey
Nigeria: Oyo Empire, Benin Empire and Aro Confederacy
Cameroon: Bamun and Mandara Kingdom
Gabon: Kingdom of Orungu
Republic of Congo: Kingdom of Loango and Kingdom of Tio
Angola: Kingdom of Kongo, Kingdom of Ndongo and Matamba

The different ethnic groups brought to the Americas closely corresponds to the regions of heaviest activity in the slave trade. Over 45 distinct ethnic groups were taken to the Americas during the trade. Of the 45, the ten most prominent according to slave documentation of the era are listed below.
1. The Gbe speakers of Togo, Ghana and Benin (Adja, Mina, Ewe, Fon)
2. The Akan of Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire
3. The Mbundu of Angola (includes Ovimbundu)
4. The BaKongo of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola
5. The Igbo of Nigeria
6. The Yoruba of Nigeria
7. The Mandé speakers of Upper Guinea
8. The Wolof of Senegal
9. The Chamba of Cameroon
10. The Makua of Mozambique

DISTRIBUTION OF SLAVES (1450-1900)
Destination Percentage
Brazil 35.4%
Spanish Empire 22.1%
British West Indies 17.7%
French West Indies 14.1%
British North America and future United States 4.4%
Dutch West Indies 4.4%
Danish West Indies 0.2%(www.statemaster.com/encyclopedia/Atlantic-slave-trade)accessed 01/17/2010.

Slave traders had to cut off the hair of the African so that their scalps would not become infected from the unsanitary conditions aboard the slave ship. The slave's head would become matted and caked with vomit, urine and feces creating sores and a breeding ground for lice and other pests.

Slavery lasted from the 16th -19th century with slaves shipped from West Africa and Central Africa. The first slaves brought to Portugal came in 1444 from Northern Mauritania. Countries involved with slave trade and receipiants of slaves were Scotland, Holland, France, Spain, England, Denmark, Brazil, Haiti (1502), Cuba 1513), Dominican Republic, Honduras, and Guatemala (1526), South Carolina (1526), El Savador, Costa Rica, Florida (1541, 1563, 1581), and Belize (1655).

Brazil has the largest population of people of African descent outside of Africa. The African American populatuion in the United States is only second to Brazil.
Deise Nunes, first black Miss Brazil 1986
Prized slaves came from the Gold Coast (Modern Ghana) and Whydah (modern Oidah in Benin). Most of the African who were captured and enslaved came from the West African coastal region that stretches from modern Senegal in the North to Angola in the south:Wolof, Sierra Leone, Assante Dahomey, Elmina, Oyo, Benin and Luanda (Slavery in America, Dorothy Schneider & Carl J. Schneider, 2001,p. 8).

It is clear to see that dreads traveled far and wide throughout the world as the African slave was sold to various countries. The hairstyle's original significance to the wearer lost at sea and in fields of labor.

Vanessa Williams, Miss USA, 1984
In the next installment on the origins of dreads we will meet some of the tribes and look at their hair styles to truely uncover the origins of dreads.

Origins of Dreads Part 2

Africans and people of African descent are known to wear this (dreads)hairstyle. Members of various African ethnicities wear locks and the styles may change from one group to another. The warriors of the Maasai nation of Kenya are famous for their long, thin, red dreadlocks. Many people dye their hair red with root extracts or red ochre. In various cultures what are known as Fetish priests, sangomas, or shamans, spiritual men or women who serve and speak to spirits or deities, often wear locks. In Benin the Yoruba priests of Olokun, the Orisha of the deep ocean, wear locks. The Hemba people in the southeast of Congo-Kinshasa also dye their locks red, but their style is thicker than that of the Maasai. Other groups include the Fang people of Gabon, the Mende of Sierra Leone, and the Turkana people of Kenya.

Africans brought the hairstyle with them to the Americas during the African diaspora. As a result of this the style can still be seen on people of African descent in North America, South America and the Caribbean. Well-known Black artists who wear or have worn locks include musicians Bob Marley, George Clinton, Rosalind Cash, Bobby McFerrin, Tracy Chapman, Lauryn Hill, Lenny Kravitz, Eddy Grant, Lil Wayne and members of the band Living Colour; authors Alice Walker and Toni Morrison; and actors Whoopi Goldberg, Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Keith Hamilton Cobb.

Because hairstyles of Africans were so significant: showing status, religion, tribal association, and culture, one of the first thing slave traders did to captured Africans was to shave their heads. This served to erase the slave's culture and alter the relationship between the African and his or her hair which gave them identity because hair was a social, aesthetic, and spiritual identity for the African. Given the importance of the hair to an African, having the head shaved was an unspeakable crime. Frank Herreman, director of exhibitions at New York's Museum for African Art and specialist in African hairstyles states, "a shaved head can be interpreted as taking away someone's identity" ("Hair Story" Byrd & Tharps, p. 10).

Once a person is stripped of his own sense of self and ties to others, it then becomes easier to mold them into what you would have them to be. This is also seen in spousal abuse cases. The person is stripped of self, who they are, and who they can be. Isolation from family ties is also a piece of the puzzle. In a state of nothingness-no connection to any other person other than the abuser, the abuser is able to manipulate, control, and mold the abused person into the person of their choosing. No one has been able to understand why an abused spouse does not break free or rebel. No one understands why once the abused person if freed, they often return and sometimes protect the abuser. Remember, sense of self has been dessimated, family and community ties have been severed, the abuser is now family, social tie, and connection with life. In most cases freedom is destruction of that one tie in the form of murder and the abused person is left traumatized for severing their last tie to family. In the attempts of the African slave to seek freedom, there was violence. The freed slave was then faced with no identity and no tie to community.

The African community has never been able to repair what was lost in the "shaving" of their heads. A new sense of self and community never fully came to fruition. An identity was substituted for the slaves along with a new way of life, culture and what was considered a correct, acceptable hair style. A positive identity with hair has been a struggle for African Americans once they were freed. Who am I now? I am neither African or European. How am I suppose to look? Do I look like a race I have never seen with my own eyes or the caucasian people whose hair is nothing like mines? This question continues to be debated. African American is the category designated for blacks to check on official forms. But what do the American Black know about Africa? What does the American black know about America? And finally, what does our hair have to do with it?

Dreads in the NFL

With the Super Bowl soon to be played out on the big screen, there is one thing that is for sure; THERE WILL BE DREADS ON THE FIELD.

It is amazing to see the dangling tendrels dashing across the fields. People almost watch to see if someone will grab the locks to bring a runner to the ground. Can you imagine the pain of having your hair yanked in an attempt to bring you down? I would go down in an instant. Yet, with this painful threat, men of the NFL continue to let their locks hang.

I don't exactly keep up with the pro football teams. I notice them on the t.v. as my family watches and I always stop to ohhh and ahhh at how long the dreads are. You can tell they are full and healthy from camera distance.

Dreads have added to the mystic of raw and confident; a force to be reaconed with. I wonder why these atheletes chose this hair style. Do they feel pwerful with their manes flapping in the wind? Are they channeling their ancestors, like the Ashanti Warrior who was known to be strong and proud and headed the resistance on the Amisted causing their captors to give them a trial and later set free to return to their homeland of Africa from America? Or is it just as simple of liking the hair style?

No matter the reason, they are a true force on the playing field.

Some of the atheletes include:
Mike McKenzie New Orleans Saints #34
Laurence Maroney New England Patriots #39
Marshawn Lynch Buffalo Bills #23
Langston Moore Detroit Lions #60
Devin Hester Chicago Bears #23
Josh Cribbs Cleaveland Browns #16
Bob Sanders Indianapolis Colts #21
Al Harris Green Bay Packers #31
Chris Brown Tennessee Titans #29
Larry Fitzgerald Arizona Cardinals #11
Since I do not have a clue as to who is who, I decided you would have to figure it out too.

Origins of Dreads part 1

Mullet hair style
Emo hairstyle
If you were to ask the everyday person about the origins of dreads or what they know about dreads; they would begin with Jamaica and the Rastafarians. Dreads are mostly associated with Jamaica and their political struggle. But, after careful investigation, the origins of Dreads can clearly be traced back to Africa. There are several other countries that have an association with dreads such as India and Egypt, but the hair style was an intregal part of the African culture.

Early in Egyptian history plaits were a part of life. Lycinus (an Olympian)is being described as a young Egyptian and his preferred hair style: "This boy is not merely black; he has thick lips and his legs are too thin...his hair is worn in a plait behind shows that he is not a freeman." Another man in history, Timolaus, is quoted in a rebutal about the description of Licinus not being a freeman and the way men wear their hair as saying: "But that is a sign of really distinguished birth in Egypt, Lycinus, all freeborn children plait their hair until they reach manhood. It is the exact opposite of the custom of our ancestors who thought it seemly for old men to secure their hair with a gold brooch to keep it in place." (Lucian, Navigations, paras 2-3).

A recently discovered papyrus from Egypt informs us that Myron the Greek scultor of the middle 5th century B.C. made statues of the athlete Timanthes, victorous in Olympia in 456 B.C.and Lycinus, victorious in 448 and 444 B.C.

There is no other continent in which you can see a diversity of beauty than in Africa. It is from this physical and genetic diversity that all the worlds differing ethinic groups spring from. Africa boasts a full speectrum of skin tones, hair textures ranging from the deep kinky hair of the Mandigos of Sierra Leone to the loosely curled flowing locks of the Ashanti people. The Qua-qua people wear their long locks of hair plaited and twisted which they daub with palm oil and red earth. Many of the people of Africa hair styles are rich in religious and cultural practices.

African hairstyles could also signify status within each tribe. Masai warriors tied the front of their hair into sections of tiny braids while the back hair was allowed to grow to waist legnth. Africans brought their hairstyles with them to the Americas and other countries as they were captured and sold into slavery. As a result of this, the hair styles can still be seen on people of African descent in North America, South America, and the Caribbean.

Hairstyle can be an indicator of group membership: Metalheads can often feature long hair for headbanging, although long hair is commonplace for many men and women outside of heavy metal (ex: Indian sadhus, the hippie subculture, etc). Mohawk haircuts are often associated with punk rock and the punk subculture along with Skinhead haircuts, where the head is often shaved completely bald, or "buzzed." The Mullet hairstyles, has stereotypically been portrayed as pertaining to rednecks. Deathhawk a larger, fuller, back combed version of a mohawk - is popular in the gothic sub-culture, and heavily featured in deathrock and gothic rock bands in the 1980s. The undercut, where the sides and back of the head are shaved short or bald, and the top hair is allowed to grow long is common among so-called "cybergoths" and followers of Industrial and heavy electronic music scenes. This is especially true of women in these subcultures, although the undercut is accepted as a unisex hair style. The Fascinator, is a hair style where the hair is short at the back and long at the front and the front forms itself into a point, similar to a mullet in reverse (also known as a frullet) or a devil lock. Hair that is usually short with a long side fringe [American: bangs] is a cut often associated with emo music and its fan basis. It is often dyed black or vibrant and contrasting colors such as pink or blue. It is considered a unisex haircut and often appears similar to the mop-top (source wikipedia).

Even though hair style choice is individual and as of the 21st century viewed as a personal statement not necessarily tied to any spiritual, political, or group association, the origins of the hair style is not negated. There will always be an acknowledgement of its origins whether they are adhered to or not by its wearer.

Black Hair Superstitions

New Year's Eve is a time when new beginnings are contemplated. A reaccessment of the old year is in the forefront of our minds. We are sifting through memories and actions in which we would not like to carry into the new year. What is hoped for the most on the eve of a new year, is a new year filled with good luck. Some will just cross their fingers and hope for the best, some will employ superstitious rituals to give them an advantage, and others will formulate a plan of action not relying on good or bad luck.

Superstitions seem to follow the African American tradition and culture in many aspects of life. New Year's Day many will be eating black eyed peas with hog jowls for luck, carrying a shiny new dime in their pockets to ensure money for the new year, and other such superstitions. In the world of hair there remains elements of superstition and here are a few for you to check out:

1. Always burn the hair in your brush or someone could use it to put a hex on you.
2. Never comb, brush, or cut your hair outside because if a bird comes and collects a stray lock for its nest you will:
a. Feel it pecking at your head
b. Get headaches
c. Lose your mind
d. Suffer the same fate as the bird's babies
3. Always wear your hair covered when menstruating
4. If you allow more than one person to work on your hair at a time:
a. Your hair will fall out
b. The youngest worker/helper will die
5. Don't let a pregnant woman do your hair or you'll become pregnant too
6. After someone finishes working on your hair, it's bad luck to say thank you. Instead say "More hair."
7. Never cut a boy child's hair before age one or:
a. It won't grow
b. It will be kinky and nappy
c. It will make the child weak
8. After you cut your hair, if you place a lock in the Bible it will grow back faster
9. It's bad luck for a woman to cut a man's hair, especially if she's menstruating
10. If you want your hair to grow back, only cut it when there is a full moon
11. If you get gray hair when you're youn, it means you were a good baby
12. If you get gray hair when you're young, it means you will have a lot of money when you are old

Even though I found these hair superstitions in the book "Hair Story, Untangling The Roots of Black Hair In America" by Ayana D. Byrd & Lori L. Tharps, my family repeated these same superstitions when I was young. Superstition 7c and 12 were added to the list from the book from my family superstitions.

I would be interested to hear how many of these same superstitions are a part of your family history? Please leave a comment

Creamy Crack, the hair addiction

Creamy Crack is the word my young cousin used to describe hair relaxers. I must agree, perming the hair for some, has become an addiction. My sister would not contemplate giving birth to one of her kids if her hair was not freshly permed. A male friend of mines in the military said his wife would not receive visitors in their home if her hair was in need of a touch-up. Women avoid rain, wind, sweat, and other natural occurrances if their hair will be messed up. They are willing to sit for hours on end for their appointment for the creamy crack to be applied. Is this truely the new addiction for African Americans? What legnths will they go to get their hands on the creamy crack? If it was proven that it was harmful to their health, would they still search it out?

Hair relaxing, or lanthionization, can be performed by a professional cosmetologist in a salon, or at home with relaxer kits purchased from discount stores and pharmacies. As with hair dye, the treated portion of the hair moves away from the scalp as the new growth of untreated hair sprouts up from the roots, requiring periodic retreatment (about every 6 weeks) to maintain a consistent appearance.

The relaxer is applied to the roots of the hair and remains in place for a "cooking" interval, during which it alters the hair's texture by a process of controlled damage to the protein structure. The hair can be significantly weakened by the physical overlap of successive applications or by a single excessive one, leading to brittleness, breakage, or even widespread alopecia.

When the relaxer has worked to the desired degree, the hair is rinsed clean. Regardless of formula, relaxers are always alkaline to some degree, so it is prudent to neutralize or even slightly acidify the hair with a suitable shampoo immediately afterward. The prompt use of hair conditioner is also important in order to replace some of the natural oils that were stripped away by the process

Alkaline relaxers were informally discovered in the United States during the 19th century when Garrett Augustus Morgan, an African-American, observed that it is possible to change the basic structure of the hair shaft when certain chemicals penetrate the cortical layer. Hair relaxing products often require washing and combing with soap which had been made with excess lye.

A lye relaxer consists of sodium hydroxide (also known as NaOH or lye) mixed with water, petroleum jelly, mineral oil, and emulsifiers to create a creamy consistency. On application, the caustic "lye cream" permeates the protein structure of the hair and weakens its internal bonds, causing the natural curls to loosen out as the entire fiber swells open. No special deactivation step is required after washing the lye cream out, other than the routine pH adjustment and hair-conditioning.

Manufacturers vary the sodium hydroxide content of the solution from 5% to 10% and the pH factor between 10 and 14.

Relaxers chemically altar the composition of the hair. The ingredients in relaxers are harsh to natural hair. The January-February 2001 FDA Consumer magazine warns about the possible dangers of chemical straighteners. In the article Heading off Hair-Care Disasters: Use Caution with Relaxers and Dyes, author Michelle Meadows states that “according to the Food and Drug Administration's Office of Cosmetics and Colors, hair straighteners and hair dyes are among its top consumer complaint areas.” Ms. Meadows then details how relaxers can cause bald spots, scalp irritation, and hair breakage. And worse, 2nd degree chemical burns can result when relaxers are improperly applied directly to the scalp.

The main ingredient: Sodium Hydroxide has other interesting uses:

Solid sodium hydroxide or solutions of sodium hydroxide will cause chemical burns, permanent injury or scarring, and blindness if it contacts unprotected human or animal tissue. Protective equipment such as rubber gloves, safety clothing and eye protection should always be used when handling the material or its solutions.
Dissolution of sodium hydroxide is highly exothermic, and the resulting heat may cause heat burns or ignite flammables.
It is used as a Paint stripper, Drain cleaning agent, to make paper, to make soap, used as an additive in drilling mud to increase aldalinity, added to poor crude quality oil to remove sulfurous impurities, and used to produce aluminum metal.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE'S hair

    To say African American hair is unique would be an understatement, yet we treat our hair as if it is not special. To love your hair is to understand your hair and to form an intimate relationship with it. As in any successful relationship, both participants must be willing to give in order to receive. Give your hair what it needs and it will do the same for you.     Approximately 12 million Africans were shipped to the Americas during the Atlantic slave trade from 1492 to 1888. Today their descendants number approximately 150 million, most of whom live in the United States, the Caribbean and Latin America, including Brazil. Many have a multiracial background of African, Amerindian, European and Asian ancestry. The various regions developed complex social conventions with which their multi-ethnic populations were classified.     The texture of hair in people of Sub-Saharan African ancestry is noticeably different from that of Eurasian populations, as was already noted by Herodotus, who described the peoples of Libya (the "western Ethiopians") as wooly haired. Such "afro-hair" texture is denser than its straight counterparts. Due to this, it is often referred to as 'thick', 'bushy', or 'woolly'. For several reasons, possibly including its relatively flat cross section (among other factors), this hair type conveys a dry or matte appearance. It is also very coarse, and its unique shape renders it very prone to breakage when combed or brushed.(Wikipedia)

  The specific characteristics of the natural afro-hair form are unique among the rest of the races. Evolutionists, not Christians, attribute the character of the hair texture to an initial need for all mammals to have a protective fur barrier against weather. There are those that attribute the hair texture to the proximity of the African American to the equator. Whatever the specific reason, our hair texture does not retain moisture. 

 Armed with a better understanding of our hair, we now can move to becoming friendly with our hair and eventually embracing and loving our natural hair. African-Black Hair Care Tips A healthier lifestyle will result in healthier hair. Massaging your scalp on a regular basis will stimulate oil production, which will help reduce the dryness of your hair. 

     Daily shampooing is not recommended, ethnic hair is dryer than other types of hair, shampooing strips away the oils from your hair so try shampooing once every 3 to 7 days instead. If you engage in daily activities that cause you to sweat, it is recommended that you rinse your hair out with water and only use shampoo on occasion, but if you feel the need to use a mild shampoo, go ahead and do so. Use a mild moisturizing shampoo with a low PH level when washing your hair. Don't use a 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner, use a separate shampoo and conditioner, 2 in 1's aren't suited as well for dry hair.

     When washing your hair rub only in one direction to avoid tangling. Shower with warm water, hot water can dry and/or irritate the scalp. Oil your scalp after shampooing, with your hair still moist, massage the oil into your scalp and brush out to the ends of your hair. Use a conditioner when you shower, it'll moisturize your hair, give it extra protection, add shine, reduce static, and makes it easier to untangle. Use a leave in conditioner, it'll hydrate and protect your hair. A leave in conditioner on your hair is the equivalent of moisturizer on your face. Don't rub your hair dry with a towel, instead blot the water out of your hair, when you rub, it'll cause your hair to tangle and you'll also risk breakage. Limit your use of "hot" items on your hair such as blow dryers. Use a wide toothed comb or pick to comb your hair. It makes it easier to comb if your hair is slightly moist so the comb can slide easier across your hair. Using a leave in conditioner will also make your hair easier to comb. If your hair is very wet, wait until it dries more, hair is most fragile when it is wet. If you encounter a tough knot or tangle use your fingers to loosen it and then continue combing. Comb your hair to remove any tangles before brushing it, using a brush to detangle your hair will stretch your hair and may cause your hair to break off. 

     Use a soft boar hairbrush on your hair daily which will distribute the oil at the root of your hair and scalp to the rest of your hair. Dampen the brush slightly before brushing. Get a hot oil treatment once a month which will remoisturize your scalp and hair. Hair can get caught on cotton pillow cases and break when you are sleeping especially if you toss and turn a lot when you sleep. Using a satin or silk pillowcase where your hair will make it so that hair will slide across the pillowcase without getting caught. An alternative to the silk pillowcase is to wear a silk or satin scarf over your hair before your sleep to prevent breakage. Avoid hair products that contain alcohol which dry out your hair. 

These tips are a baseline, each individual's hair has its own quirks, and no one knows your hair better than you do. As with permed hair, the hair is healthier when split ends are cut. If your natural hair is split it may benifit the integrity of the hair shaft to get a little trim of the ends.

Look back to look forward

    Has the African American community embraced their natural hair as a thing of beauty, or will the natural kinks and wooliness of our hair continue to cause shame and self-loathing? Madam C. J. Walker (December 23, 1867-May 25, 1919) an American businesswoman, hair care entrepreneur, tycoon, and philanthropist, marketed beauty and hair products for black women. She was the first female to become a millionaire. She was born Sarah Breedlove in Delta, Louisiana and was the first member of her family to be born free. Her parents had been slaves.     When she began to lose her hair from extreme dandruff and scalp disease from washing her hair once a month, which was customary during that time period, she designed her own line of hair care products. By 1917, she had the largest business in the United States owned by a black person. "I am a woman who came from the cotton fields of the South. From there I was promoted to the wash tub. From there I was promoted to the cook kitchen. And from there I promoted myself into the business of manufacturing hair goods and preparations...I have built my own factory on my own ground.'' An estimated 75% of American black women continue to perm or relax their hair. The award winning 

    Whoopi Goldberg often has members of her own community tell her that her dread locks are disgusting and that she should "take those nappy braids out." A generation earlier, actress Cicely Tyson was told by members of the black community that she may be a gifted actress, but her short natural hairstyle was detrimental to the image of black women.

     "As the twentieth century closes, I believe that Black women have come to better appreciate the array of beauty we portray, despite subtle, and not so subtle, pressure from the media, the workplace and the larger society to conform to their standards of attractiveness. Yet, I am sometimes troubled that too many of us still make snide and cruel comments about the politically, professionally, or socially acceptable way to wear our hair. We would be a lot stronger as a people if we used that energy to support each other economically, emotionally, and spiritually." Quote by A'lelia Perry Bundles, Great-great-granddaughter of madam C.J. Walker, black hair care industry pioneer. Information source: Article by Russell K., Wilson M., and Hall R. (1992) Hair: the Straight and Nappy of it all, "The Color Complex: the Politics of Skin Color Among African Americans" NY: Anchor, 81-93.

I want the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

When it comes to dreads, there are some serious myths floating around. When people do not understand something or it is new, not what they have been use to, they are apt to be fearful. Just look at the amount of fear having a black president has caused within a year. When someone is fearful or unsure, the tendency is to make the unknown into a MONSTER. The president and dreads have succombed to the falacies of fear.

Here are a few well known myths and their corrections

1. Only Black People can have dreadlocks.
Anyone can have dreadlocks, though it is easier to achieve this look with some hair textures than with others. It's very possible to lock caucasian hair. To see many ethnic groups rocking dreads go to dreadheadhq.com.

2. Dreadlocks represent rebellion or drastic opinions.
There is no doubt that dreads seem to be the mane of a powerful person. The person wearing them looks bold, confident, and secure in self. These are characteristics one would associate with a mover and shaker in society. If being proud to wear my God given hair is a political statement, then there is a lot of rebellion going on in every ethinic group. I guess India Arie is the one who said "I'm not my hair". Some people have dreadlocks because they love the hairstyle, others as a tradition due to where they come from while others are just experimenting.
(me sight seeing in Texas)

3. Dreadlocks should be left dirty and should never be washed.
Locks like any other hairstyle needs to be well maintained and part of that maintainance includes washing. Locks are on your scalp and involve your hair, meaning, the sweat on your scalp accumulates in the hair together with all the dirt from the environement leading to the locks stinking and looking really horrible.Dreads are not dirty; the person wearing them may be.

4. Dreadlocks drain out your body weight.
I don't know where this could have originated. But, if dreads did help to control weght, then every nationality in the world would wear them. There is no direct connection between body weight and length of hair. Of course when you are healthy you have healthier hair but it doesn't mean you will never grow fat because you have dreadlocks.

5. Locks are for Rastas only.
Locks are like any other hairstyle and considering it's a free world, anyone can have them. But there is a rich history behind Rastas and other groups wearing locks and it would be nice and informative to check out the history of dreads on wikipedia.

6.Mayonnaise, Honey, Toothpaste, Glue, Rubber Cement, Mud, Chewing Gum, Peanut Butter, Shea Butter,and Candle Wax all work great for starting dreadlocks.
This is just plain wrong. What will your hair smell like with all that stuff in it? Please do not try this at home. Have mercy on your beautiful hair.The more junk you put on your hair the more you are apt to have build-up and moldy hair. Remember, your hair is still hair; only the style of wearing it has changed. o people with perms apply such drastic products?

7.Locks damage your scalp.
Quite on the contrary. Locks are very natural, you just wash and twist, meaning you never damage your scalp with relaxers, or pulling hence relaxing your scalp. Just give your head a massage once in a while and you will be surprised at how relaxing it is compared to perming and braiding.

8. You have to cut your hair to get rid of locks.
Today with the amount of products in the market, you can undo the locks anytime and maintain the wonderful length attained during the locking stage, just soak the locks in V05 conditioner and comb them out. This will of course depend on the texture of your hair. Since my hair is coarse, it would take me days and probably a considerable amount of hair loss to undo my dreads. The best option for me would be to cut them all off. I did it once when my hair was permed and so I would not be adversed to doing it again.

Whatever the myth on locks, they only can survive with people refusing to educate themselves on this exotic hair style. Be informed so you can inform others.

Hair care tips

How do I deep condition my hair?
A good hot oil treatment or deep conditioner is essential. Hair Repair Products Apply the conditioner or hot oil treatment to the hair and scalp, cover with a plastic cap and sit under a dryer for 15-20 minutes. Alternatively, you can wrap your head in a towel. Then wash the hair thoroughly. This is very important for dry brittle hair.

Which oils should I use (and avoid)?
Oils, pomades, daily moisturizers, leave-in conditioner and creams will make the hair feel more soft and flexible. They are particularly important to be added to permed hair which has been stripped of some of its ability to oil itself. Mineral oil and petroleum use should be minimized or avoided. These products can tend to clog the pores, are not easily absorbed into the hair and attract dust. If you use products with these oils, try to use the ones that have the least amount. Generally, the further down the ingredient list, the less there will be in a product. So, try to use products where these are listed near the end.

Some natural oils to try are shea butter, jojoba oil, olive oil, and sunflower oil. We have a great selection of oils, pomades and moisturizers for every hair type and style.

Oils are best applied to wet hair to help hold in the moisture already there. Creams or leave-in conditioners can be used on days when you don't wash or wet your hair. The type of oil or cream you use in your hair is going to depend on your hair type and may take a little it of experimenting to find what works best for you. Also, the time of year and your hair's exposure to the elements will vary your routine. Back to top


How often should I wash my hair?
This will depend on your hair type and how prone your hair is to drying or becoming oily. As we said earlier, not all African Americans have the same type of hair. Generally speaking, our hair tends to be dry and shampooing too often will worsen that. Rinsing your hair with plain water every day and washing once every week to ten days works for most of us. Bi-racial people may want to wash their hair more often as it may tend to be more oily. BTW, when you dry your hair, do not rub it. Rubbing your hair can cause breakage. Blot it with a towel.

Natural hair not just for the young

Doesn't she look great? Who wouldn't like to look that good? Her hair can be considered professional and stylish for her private life. This is a winning look.

Many comments have been made that dreads are dirty looking and smell. Well, that is just not the truth. Any hair style will look messy and smell if good grooming practices are nt maintained. In this era of the internet, there is not a viable reason for anyone not to be able to maintain healthy and happy natural styles.

In my dread journey and even before, I have found my scalp to be extra sensitive to any grooming product. I have severe allrgic reactions to perfume, certain oils, you get the picture. I can use a new product for about 2 weeks and then my scalp becomes sensitized to that particular product. Even with my delicate condition, I wash my dreads more-so. In the warm months I wash my hair at least twice weekly and during the cold months I do notgo over 10 days without washing my hair.

This is not a regimine that will work for others, but it is the haircare I must adhere to. I do hot oil my hair once a month. Do I have the healthiest dreads in the world? Probably not. Do I have clean hair? Yes I do. Am I happy not being burned to a crisp by chemical and forced to use permed hair products even with my sever allergic reactions? You bet I am happier with my product free relieved scalp.

For others with severe alergic reactions to chemicals, please let me know of products that have worked for you. I'm sure there are tons of people with the same problems.

From Texas to Alabama

I love traveling and seeing the sites. I had the opportunity to visit Houston, Texas last week and Mobile, Alabama this week.

The first thing I looked for in the Texas airport (Bush International) was an authentic cowboy. To my dismay, I did not see one. WHERE HAVE ALL THE COWBOYS GONE? Has the stereotype for a Texan changed without my knowledge? My ears were perked up to hear a Texas accent which I also did not find.

To my delight I found some outstanding bar-b-que at a wonderful restaraunt named Pappa's. The earthy smoky flavor of their shredded beef sandwhich was to die for.

The second thing I looked for in Texas was dreads. There was not one person to cross my path with dreads. I saw french braids and not so nice wigs, but no dreads.

In Mobile, I found heavy heads filled with rope like wonders of various thickness. I also found the infamous southern accent. I was pleased to see natural hair being sported. The people that were actually sporting the dreads, boys. I saw one young lady, who dressed more like a boy, with dreads.

In both of our fair states that make up the union, I met curteous, helpful people. My stay was very pleasant to say the least. In Texas I met a very helpful gentleman who told me the lay of the land to help me sightsee. I have forgotten his name, but he was very nice.

I hope to travel more this year and meet and greet others with natural hair. I asked two young men in Springdale Mall (Alabama)to participate in my book project.

More to do and more to see. I continue to do research on numerous projects. I will be heading to Birmingham, Alabama next week. I hope to post some pictures of my escapades.

WOW! That is a head of dreads!

Longest dreadlocks-world record set by Asha Mandela

DAVENPORT, Fla., USA -- Asha Mandela, of Davenport in Polk County, has an impressive hair: the longest of her locks 8 feet, 9 inches long-setting the world record for the Longest dreadlocks.

Photo: Mandela's dreadlocks, which she started growing 20 years ago, are longer than she is tall. She cradles her locks in her arms like a baby. She wraps it around her neck like a scarf. She lets it hang down her back and trail behind her like a bridal veil. / Photo by George Skene, Orlando Sentinel (enlarge photo)

Asha Mandela, who is originally from Trinidad, said she first cut all of her hair off and began growing the 20-year dreads while she was living in New York.

She said she occasionally considers cutting the dreadlocks but she has become too attached to the style to let it go.

"As much as I love it, I get frustrated with it," she said. "But then I realize I'd feel naked without it."

Ryan Spinella, executive assistant to the city administrator of Longwood, Fla., was one of the witnesses on hand to verify the measuring of Mandela's locks. "I couldn't say what to compare it with. Just a lot of hair," Spinella said. "You don't believe it until you measure it, really."

Originally from Trinidad, Mandela started growing her dreads when she decided to stop using chemicals on her hair while she was living in Brooklyn, N.Y.

She cut it all off and, as it grew back, began corkscrewing it into curls that in turn were twisted together into dreadlocks. Before her dreads were long enough to hang down, they stuck out from her head like long black fingers.

Mandela's hair is her pride. It is much like a child she has raised from infancy for 20 years. She even calls it her baby. But like a child, eight feet of hair is both a blessing and a burden.

She wrings out the water as you would a wet beach towel. When the days are hot, and she takes it out by the pool in the backyard, it takes two hours to dry. When it's humid and cloudy or cool outside, it might take all day for her wet hair to lose its dampness. "I try not to have any errands that day," said Mandela, 46

Mandela says she "used to wash it three times a week. Now I do it once a week. It's very tiring. Sometimes I don't have the energy." It takes one bottle of shampoo and one bottle of conditioner every time she washes her hair.

My hair is just now brushing the top of my shoulder blades and washing it is a chore. It is hot most of the year where I live and my hair air dries quickly. I use tons of shampoo and conditioner, but not as much as Mandela. I don't know how long I am going to let mines get, but I don't want to carry them around.

Living and Loving the Natural Way

Hello, fellow dread lovers.

It must be said we natural hair wearers are a rare and special breed. We take command of any space we enter. There is a sense of mystery about us and a confidence that runs deeper than mined ore. There are many sites which feature our uniqueness and boldness when it comes to hair styles.

I encourage all of you out there to live as unconstrained in your life as your hair is unconstraied. Don't compromise or let any negativity stop your flow. Love as caring and attentively as you do with your hair care. Show the world tat you are more than superficial beauty, which you can do well also, but a body that embodies a passionate individual voice that can grab your attention and hold it for more than a few minutes.

On this site, show me who you are and why you are living and loving free. What do your dreads mean to you and what do you think they mean to others around you?

Chris Rocks movie spoke volumes but you have your own story. Post pics and comments for all to view. I know there are some divas out there and I say, I'm lovin it.

Look forward to your posts and tell a friend.