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I have had my dreads for a few weeks now. I like them a lot, but take some getting used to. They demand a ton of maintenance work.
What's the weirdest though, is how screwed up people are in their views of 'people who have dreads'
- People have moved to other tables
- I get looks as if I have the plague. Or lice.
- My personal hygene is suddenly questioned and suddenly "ok" to talk about openly (???)
- I am asked if I can get people drugs
I knew I would get a few "looks" but this is across the board, nearly Everyone reacts poorly.
Silly because I know I wash my dreads more than they wash their hair.
I need to make a shirt that says "Yes, I wash daily. No, I will not sell drugs"
What's the weirdest though, is how screwed up people are in their views of 'people who have dreads'
- People have moved to other tables
- I get looks as if I have the plague. Or lice.
- My personal hygene is suddenly questioned and suddenly "ok" to talk about openly (???)
- I am asked if I can get people drugs
I knew I would get a few "looks" but this is across the board, nearly Everyone reacts poorly.
Silly because I know I wash my dreads more than they wash their hair.
I need to make a shirt that says "Yes, I wash daily. No, I will not sell drugs"
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Seattle
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Re: stereotyping.
Thu, July 3, 2008 - 2:15 PMdude, bum deal. I find that 99% of peoples reactions to me are extreemly positive, even people who i would have NEVER guessed would be into it. Not gonna lie, people do ask me if i can get them drugs a lot too. And the elderly often look at me like i am going to rob them, but i must admit, i do find great amusement in their completely unsubstantiated discomfort. -
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Re: stereotyping.
Thu, July 3, 2008 - 2:25 PMActually, the stereotyping that pisses me off most is when everyone you meet is like "yeah dude, rasta mon... bob marley, fuck yeah". I dont want to hear it. Its like seeing a bald guy and assuming he is a skinhead.
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Re: stereotyping.
Thu, July 3, 2008 - 3:47 PMYou know, I hear about people getting stereotyped all the time, and I feel terrible, but it hasn't happened to me yet.
I actually find that I get more positive attention now than I did before. The one silly thing someone asked me was if I smoked American Spirit brand cigs, as it's a 'hippy brand", but that's the worst of it. Most time I find people to be envious of pleasantly curious. Maybe i just tune out the bad stuff though. -
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Re: stereotyping.
Thu, July 3, 2008 - 7:54 PMI have gotten many questions over the years and most are just that, questions. This is one of the reasons I started my locks, to show people that you can "look different' and still be a productive, contributing member of society. I find that it has allowed many dialogs with people that may have never even have spoken to me.
I do get asked for drugs which sucks. I just laugh it off though, why let that rouse me? If that's the worst thing that happened to me that day...that's not a bad day! I have seen a few dreadie kids on tour with shirts that read, "Don't ask me to buy drugs". Pretty cute!
As much as I dig Bob Marley, it does get pretty lame having kids referance him. I guess he's a just an icon that people associate with. Luckily he was way cool and i guess if i get lumped in there too, that's not so bad either.
"Don't worry, about a thing. 'Cause every little thing's gonna be alright..." -
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Re: stereotyping.
Fri, July 4, 2008 - 4:16 AMMaybe it's because of my age but I get a lot of little old ladies wanting to know all about my hair...that and they want to also touch them.
The only stupid thing I've had ask of me is if the marina/ship store I work at sold rolling papers. I said no and the guy said well, they should because of your hair...duh...I follow your reasoning but how stupid was that??? -
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Re: stereotyping.
Fri, July 4, 2008 - 1:48 PM"Maybe it's because of my age but I get a lot of little old ladies wanting to know all about my hair...that and they want to also touch them."
Same here! I find it so funny to have little white haired old ladies wanting to play with my locks. it's a trip!
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Re: stereotyping.
Fri, July 4, 2008 - 4:17 AMSome idiot friend asked me 'How to I wash the FILTH on my head'.
And I didn't talked to him since then.
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Re: stereotyping.
Fri, July 4, 2008 - 10:12 AMI feel blessed that I haven't received much stereotyping…in fact, people often comment on how clean my dreads are and how surprised they are about that. I've had an old lady come up to me and say "You have the most beautiful hair" (what a wonderful woman. She had an accent too, Eastern European).
I do get the "Oh, you're a hippie, wanna smoke some pot?" "Do you do acid?" but I've had people assume I'm big into drugs since I was in high school, even though I'm not. The thing I hate the most is "Oh, well, if you don't do drugs, you aren't a real hippie". Not that I need to associate with a label, but I think it's dumb as shit that the most important thing people have taken from the hippie movement was the drugs and not the peace and love.
Hang in there Rowan, I don't think you're a dirty drug dealer…
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Re: stereotyping.
Mon, July 14, 2008 - 5:02 AMYeah, the hippie stereotype is kind of annoying. You have to admit, though, it's hard for anyone to be 100% judgment free about other people's appearances (even if it's a good judgment). Our vision and perception is part of being human. Just try not to take it personally and remember that people's comments can be an opportunity for constructive dialog. I live in the south and sometimes get blatant stares from clean-cut conservative-looking people. I just smile sweetly. I think it surprises them! Anyways, in the beginning, when I was first getting used to my locks, I felt a little insecure and wasn't sure how I felt about them. That is when the stares and comments really bothered me! With time that changes...
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Re: stereotyping.
Thu, July 17, 2008 - 8:41 AMUnfortunately, it sounds like you live around a bunch of close-minded people. People moving to other tables? That's the dumbest thing ever. I haven't had my dreads long enough (only a few days) to find out if people around here will really negative about them. But, some lady did seem REALLY surprised when I held a door open for her (something I do really habitually), she was like, "oh, thank you!" lol... Also, when I was on a walk, some dumb teenagers in an USV tried to splash me with a nearby puddle... Fortunately, they missed horribly. I can't say that has anything to do with my dreads or not, though, lol. But, if I do get a lot of weird stereotypes, I am so getting a shirt that says something like "Yes, I wash daily. No I will not sell drugs." I think that's hilarious! -
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Re: stereotyping.
Sun, July 27, 2008 - 8:48 PMpretty much all of the responses to me have been very positive. i install carpet for a living, so i get to go into peoples homes on a daily basis. i find that its a great way to adjust peoples perception a little... it opens the way to many a great conversation, with alot of people that i would consider very conservative... (having a dready on American Idol has added an interesting spin to things)
i get the drug thing a bit, but its more entertaining than anything... plus... if i or someone i know ever needs anything, its an easy problem to solve....
just keep a positive outlook on things, and stay positive with responses to things, and it'll all work out -
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Re: stereotyping.
Mon, July 28, 2008 - 4:34 AMLike you AE, I recently changed careers and now work with the public...it's amazing the number of "normal" main stream people who want to know all about my dreads; everything from how I got them that way to what happens when I get tired of them. Also, like the other comment I have already posted; I still can't get over that everyone wants to touch them. -
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Re: stereotyping.
Mon, July 28, 2008 - 2:34 PMI haven't picked up on any negative reactions since I got my dreads in March - however, I was bald for about 4 years prior to growing my hair out & dreading it, so I am kind of numb to vocalized insults or comments whispered loudly behind my back. And if you think having dreadlocks gets you looks, try being a bald girl.
One thing I have picked up on the the widespread myth about dirtiness. A lot of people ask how I keep them clean, but they're being curious not mean. They don't understand & are looking for answers. I simply explain that my hair is washed, and there is no grossness involved in maintaining them.
Sorry to hear you're getting so much negativity. I've had a positive public experience so far with my dreads. I hope things get better for you.
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Unsu...
Re: stereotyping.
Mon, August 4, 2008 - 7:04 AMOkay so I have run into both ends of the spectrum. I'm mormon and so it's pretty interesting when people assume I'm a stoner or something b/c I'm not into any of that. I've had lots of complements though, even right after I got them when they looked absolutely insane. Even older people have complimented them, which really shocked me because I assumed they would be the most judgmental group of people. I haven't really had any bad experiences with them. Except for some strange looks at church and around work just because a lot of people associate dreads with pot and can't get past that. But overall it's been a really great experience. -
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Unsu...
Re: stereotyping.
Mon, August 4, 2008 - 7:05 AMAlso, the people moving to other tables are not normal human beings as far as I'm concerned. That's the strangest thing I've ever heard of. Ignore them. -
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Re: stereotyping.
Mon, August 11, 2008 - 11:28 PMSlightly off the point of the threat here, and not trying to sound like a dread elitist or anything, but washing your hair daily might hinder the locking process. Obviously clean hair knots up faster, but part of the cool part of having dreads in the first place (presumably) is low maitenence. The longer you go without washing, the less you'll need to.
Also its very important to make sure its completely dry by the end of the day before you lay your head down on your pillow, mildew does not stereotype.
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Re: stereotyping.
Wed, August 13, 2008 - 6:37 PMI work with a girl who was complaining to me about dirty hippies…I couldn't believe she was actually saying all of that to me. I said "Laura, look at me!" and she said "Come on, at least you shower" and I said "Yeah, only once a week, do I smell? No, and neither do most hippies, and they're not all big stoners either!". I couldn't believe her attitude…people have such a skewed sense reality sometimes, and make judgments about others based on absolutely nothing. -
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Re: stereotyping.
Wed, October 1, 2008 - 2:32 AM^^Word to that! I bleach my dreads (retouch) every 6 weeks or so, so they are really dry, and hence don't need to be washed every day (other wise they get wayyy tooo dry)! Plus, I think that if you washed most dreads every day, that they'd be way gross from the constant moist environment (mold grows well in such wet places). People are pretty blatent with their stereotypes, I agree! I get "Blaze it" and "where's all the weed at?" often. Lame-sauce! But a lot of times its questions from old ladies (like already mentioned), which I don't really mind, as long as they are polite, and don't talk to me like I'm a degenerate scum monster :P LOL -
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Re: stereotyping.
Sat, October 4, 2008 - 9:21 AMYes, my being a degenerate scum monster has nothing to do with my hairstyle, or how often I wash.
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Re: stereotyping.
Wed, January 7, 2009 - 9:06 PMI find it interesting that you get such an adverse reaction to your dreads living in Seattle. I'm about an hour and a half north of there and it seems like every other person has them around here. The general Bellingham population has (mostly) accepted them, but there will probably always be some strange looks....or maybe their just returning the one I'm giving them.
