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Dreads - Can Anyone wear them?

Printed From: HairBoutique.com
Category: Hair Talk
Forum Name: Hair Politics
Forum Description: The politics of Hair is a slippery slope...
URL: https://talk.hairboutique.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=8660
Printed Date: June 06 2025 at 9:29pm


Topic: Dreads - Can Anyone wear them?
Posted By: Tina
Subject: Dreads - Can Anyone wear them?
Date Posted: December 28 2000 at 9:14am
I am 24 and have been growing my hair for about 1 year. It is just past my shoulders. I decided to go ahead and do the dread look. Yesterday at work an African American told me that I was being disrespectful by wearing dreads because I am white. I blew him off but now I am wondering if that could be true or he is just being an ass about it? Comments? What would be the right thing to say to this in the future?

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that is a hair DON'T


Replies:
Posted By: DaveDecker
Date Posted: December 28 2000 at 11:39am
Reply to message: viewthread.asp?forum=AMB%5FAP121551672&id=3226&page=1#10.3226.1 - 10.3226.1
Hi Tina,

The fact that you were surprised about your colleague`s charge proves that it isn`t true. It`s your hair, wear it as you like it. If you want dreads, wear dreads. If you want dreads but don`t due to comments such as those of your colleague, the ONLY person you`ll be disrespecting is yourself.

Hope this helps!

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Posted By: phil
Date Posted: December 29 2000 at 2:12pm
Anyone can wear them. That`s not to say anyone should wear them. On holiday in Finland I noticed an alarming tendecy for a few light-skinned Nordic types to wear blonde dreads, and they looked awful! Only do it if you think you`ll still like yourself afterward.

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phil

Posted By: Jennifer
Date Posted: December 31 2000 at 5:39pm
Reply to message: viewthread.asp?forum=AMB%5FAP121551672&id=3226&page=1#10.3226.1 - 10.3226.1
>>Yesterday at work an African American told me that I was being disrespectful by wearing dreads because I am white.

I`d say he is being disrespectful to you by telling you what you should or shouldn`t do with your hair! And his comment is definitely racist. People like that feel that the world owes them a favor. I`d stay about as far away from people like that as I could!

>>What would be the right thing to say to this in the future?

A few suggestions:

1) Silence speaks volumes. You could stare him in the face, follow your eyes down his entire body and back up again almost in a confrontational manner. It`s a very strong and powerful statement. If he says something again, smile a little bit and **say nothing**. Your look will hit him harder than a slap across the face!

2) I had no idea you were so interested in Caucasian hair. I am, too!

3) Who are you? Then walk away.

4) Thank you kindly for your unsolicited comments.

5) Mange merde! (pronounced monj {rhymes with bones with a soft "g" at the end} mared {rhymes with "bared"}) [In French, it means, "eat excrement!"
And of course these words need to be delivered with a smile as if you were saying, "Why, I don`t speak a word of English!"

I`m afraid you hit my hot spot. Yes, we all have opinions on hair, and this forum is a perfectly acceptable venue for expressing them, but offering unsolicited opinions about someone`s esthetical appearance to his face is EXTREMELY rude, in my opinion.

Jennifer

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Posted By: dianefromcanada
Date Posted: January 01 2001 at 6:25pm
Reply to message: viewthread.asp?forum=AMB%5FAP121551672&id=3226&page=1#10.3237.1 - 10.3237.1
It totally surprises me how people react on certain things. For example over here it is not a big deal to wear dreads Tina. In fact many people find it refreshing and exciting especially when they come back from a trip and spents hours and money on having it done professional on their trips. I always found it an fascinating style.

special note for Jennifer lol lol lol lol

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dianefromcanada