Spring Break
Dreadlocks make their return on campus
Jen Cintora
Issue date: 2/22/07 Section: News
"Most of the people who have been negative are the older generation. They're not really open to new things, and dreadlocks have been given a bad stigma," she said. "It sucks that people are so closed-minded about (dreads), but are open to piercings."
Sizer said people think her three-week-old dreads are cool but agrees that the hairstyle is not for everyone.
"Dreads are OK if you can deal with people judging you," she said. "I've definitely been getting dirty looks."
There are different ways to get dreadlocks. Some choose the neglect method, where hair is literally neglected and uncombed. Others try a twisting method or go to specialty hair salons to get the process done for them.
For these CSU students, the road to dreads included backcombing and beeswax, the most popular method for amateurs today. Aden and Sizer purchased kits online that came with the materials necessary to start their own dreadlocks.
The process starts by sectioning relatively clean hair and securing the pieces with tiny rubber bands. The strands are then backcombed, a process that combs hair backwards from tip to root to create volume and knots. Special beeswax is applied and melted down with a hairdryer to form solid dreads.
At the three-week stage, hair is still relatively loose and a little more high-maintenance than fully-formed dreads. Despite popular misconception, dreadlocks still need to be washed like regular hair.
"My wash days are Mondays and Fridays," Aden said. "I have to make sure to use a residue-free soap. If I don't, the residues will cause water to build-up, which causes mildew.
Aden will keep "her babies" and is not particularly worried about what future implications her hair may have.
"I know people (with dreads) have a hard time finding jobs, because most people are really straight-laced. I'm not going to worry about it at this point in my career," she said.
And Taylor will continue to grow out her well-formed dreadlocks. In the meantime, she hopes that people will stop to take a second before judging someone with dreads.
Sizer said people think her three-week-old dreads are cool but agrees that the hairstyle is not for everyone.
"Dreads are OK if you can deal with people judging you," she said. "I've definitely been getting dirty looks."
There are different ways to get dreadlocks. Some choose the neglect method, where hair is literally neglected and uncombed. Others try a twisting method or go to specialty hair salons to get the process done for them.
For these CSU students, the road to dreads included backcombing and beeswax, the most popular method for amateurs today. Aden and Sizer purchased kits online that came with the materials necessary to start their own dreadlocks.
The process starts by sectioning relatively clean hair and securing the pieces with tiny rubber bands. The strands are then backcombed, a process that combs hair backwards from tip to root to create volume and knots. Special beeswax is applied and melted down with a hairdryer to form solid dreads.
At the three-week stage, hair is still relatively loose and a little more high-maintenance than fully-formed dreads. Despite popular misconception, dreadlocks still need to be washed like regular hair.
"My wash days are Mondays and Fridays," Aden said. "I have to make sure to use a residue-free soap. If I don't, the residues will cause water to build-up, which causes mildew.
Aden will keep "her babies" and is not particularly worried about what future implications her hair may have.
"I know people (with dreads) have a hard time finding jobs, because most people are really straight-laced. I'm not going to worry about it at this point in my career," she said.
And Taylor will continue to grow out her well-formed dreadlocks. In the meantime, she hopes that people will stop to take a second before judging someone with dreads.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 8
jarod lueker
posted 8/16/08 @ 12:22 AM MST
dude i just moved to fort collins and my dreads are only 5 weeks old, i never hear anything bad from people, only things like dude! that kid is sporting dreads or lets go say hi to that dude with dreads, my friends called me a fruit cake at first but they have more respect now that they are formed. (Continued…)
Craig Hawley
posted 8/16/08 @ 2:36 PM MST
To each his own. LOL! I have nothing against dreadlocks , I just think it looks like a rats nest.
I was born in India and they used to have holy men that sat on the side of the road , and they would put cow dung in their hair and it looked almost exactly like dreadlocks. (Continued…)
sk8rgurl13
posted 8/18/08 @ 7:55 PM MST
I liked the article. Cute. Jen Cintora's one of the best writers of the bunch.
Craig Hawley, you weren't born in India. Puhhhlleeeeeeeeaaaaazzzzze. (Continued…)
Bdygard
Craig Hawley
posted 8/19/08 @ 5:58 PM MST
Sk8gurl I see you are now having gay fantasy's. Of course I was born in India. Of course being the airheaded sk8 moron you are you would have no idea that a kid born to American citizen parents overseas must fill out a form at the embassy to get back into the United States. (Continued…)
Craig Hawley
posted 8/20/08 @ 10:02 PM MST
I am glad to know you know where to get head in Fort Collins , your mother must be so proud. LMAO!
Emily
posted 11/14/08 @ 1:11 PM MST
Can anyone tell me what stylists do the dreadlocks? Or if anyone local does them?
Thanks
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