No, I’m not a rasta, and no, you cannot touch my hair.

BY ONEIKA RAYMOND


While I love my hair, I am definitely not amused by some of the stupid (albeit innocent) questions I have gotten about my hair. I understand that dreads aren’t particularly mainstream, and for you non-black folk out there who haven’t got a clue (and heck, even some black folk), I respect that, well, you haven’t got a clue and may be curious. But, just to clear up any misundertanding I’ll answer a few of your questions and dispel any myths you may have:

Yes, I wash my hair.
How, you may ask? Exactly like you do. Wet. Shampoo. (Sometimes condish). Lather. Rinse. Dry. Style.

How do I get it to be “like that”?
Every 4 to 6 weeks I go to a hair salon in Hong Kong where a stylist (a Vietnamese girl who grew up in Toronto, no less!) takes a carpet hook to my hair and “latches” (basically knots) the new growth I have at the root. My head is a bit sore after, but my hair is oh so fresh and clean and you can see the parts and it looks fabulous, so yes, in this case, the beauty is worth the minimal pain.

How do I get it to be “like that”(Part two)?
I style my hair by doing a plethora of things to it. Sometimes I’ll throw in some bantu knots (Liebling refers to them as “balls” LOL). Other days I’ll do a couple of French braids. Still, on other days I’ll do some flat twists. On lazy days (of which there have been a number, lately) I’ll put my hair in two pig tails. Yes, I know my hair looks different on a day to day basis. That’s the way I like it.

No, I am not a rasta, and don’t know that much about Rastafarianism so if you wanna know more about it, get thee onto Wikipedia and stop bothering me. As one reggae song says, and I quote, “You don’t have fi dread to be rasta”, and conversely, the reverse is true. I’m a pure “fashion” dread, and my choice in hair is more reflective of my personal style than of any lofty, high-falutin’ belief or a value system (though, I believe that there shouldn’t be a stigma against people of the African diaspora who choose to wear their hair in its natural state/chemically untreated).

Yup, if I don’t want dreadlocks any more I have to shave off my dreads and start over
(though some people with locks have a looser texture which allows them to pick out their dreads instead of just cutting them off). Don’t gasp, I’ve shaved my head before (when I first did away with the relaxer), it’s really not that big of a deal.

Yes, I do indeed have dreadlocks. Not twists. Not braids. I have about 110 on my head (combined down from about 150) which is why it probably looks different from your friend/acquaintance/Bob Marley lookalike in the street who only has about 6 dreadlocks on his head. Dreads can come in different sizes (thick, thin, medium, gargantuan). It’s really about the look you’d like to achieve.


No, dreadlocks don’t “hurt”.
The hair that grows out of your head is dead already. My head is sore from styling and re-tightening the locks, but not because of the locks themselves.

I think that about sums up the most common questions I get about my hair (I seem to get them on at least a weekly basis). I’m really happy with my hair thus far and this hairstyle is one of the easiest to maintain that I’ve ever had. Thanks to all of you random people in the street for the compliments- but before you ask, no, you cannot touch my hair. Okthanksbye.

SHARING IS CARING

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin

52 Comments

  • haha, sounds like we meet the same kinds of people in Asia, breathe my dear, cute hair

  • Your hair is great. Uhm, people ask to touch my bloody hair also and I live in the GTA! 🙂

  • LOL this is great!!! Its funny b/c I just did my first BC 3 months ago (after about 20 years of having a relaxer), shaved my head bald. And I cannot tell you how many random people just come up and rub my head. Drives. Me. Nuts. Le sigh…

  • I love you hair 🙂 I've always wanted locks but I'm no quite ready for the commitment…so I'll stick with twist for now. It is strange that people think it's ok to touch our hair. My favorite question was when the Korean teachers at my school asked me if I used a machine to twist my hair

  • Hehe, I get people touching my hair too, but it's usually my students or friends. I don't mind though. There aren't many blacks here (there are about 4 of us females, and of those even fewer sporting natural hair), so I figure they don't get to see my hair texture everyday. Plus, all the comments I've received from them have been positive.

  • Yikes! Having people touching you out of the blue must be really annoying. I wish I could say I'm not guilty of that, he he, but I did it to a girl back in college. She was White, but she had dreads and I had never seen dreads in real life before, so I grabbed one and squeezed it like a little kid. Then she growled "please do not touch my hair", and I remembered I was 20 y/o, not 2 :).

  • @viajera- your hair is awesome!

    @kimvan, rhonalala and kourt- thanks for the compliments! i don't mind people being curious but i'm not a specimen in a zoo! i feel like (especially when i'm abroad) people permit themselves to touch me without asking and make ridiculous comments about my skin and hair… glad that they are comfortable enough with asking and want to educate themselves, but they can exercise a little more tact (and THINK a bit more) i would hope!

    @stacy- good for you! congrats! when i shaved my relaxed hair off even my family members thought i was crazy. when it started to grow out in a little afro ppl were touching my hair randomly all the time!

    @kourt- what! a machine?! too hilarious!!

    @aritul- i have to admit that i have also gotten nothing but positive feedback about my hair, so i perhaps shouldnt complain so vehemently. but all the foolish, brazen questions really get tiring after a while. i dont want to have to explain myself, you know?

    @marianne- that's so funny! but i guess it's natural human impulse to do that (regardless of age). i think i wouldn't mind about people touching my hair once in a while but it happens all the time lol…

  • LOL! If I could use larger font I would 'cuz I'm shittin' myself laughing…

  • Sound nice!

    I’ll sign up to that author and his publications.
    The post is well organized, reminded me https://notequaeler.ch/sheikh-rasheed-gambling/. I visit
    the writer has a true knack for this particular topic. I like that
    subject, and I’m in constant search of the
    most recent news and new bits. I enjoyed that one, because it is full of interesting facts and it’s a sort of article
    that was . I spent just a couple minutes reading and due I understand it completely.
    Thanks!

  • When someone writes an article he/she maintains the plan of a user in his/her mind that how a user can be aware of it.
    Thus that’s why this post is amazing. Thanks!

  • If some one wants to be updated with most recent technologies after that he
    must be visit this site and be up to date every day.

  • Howdy! Quick question that’s entirely off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly?
    My web site looks weird when browsing from my iphone 4.
    I’m trying to find a theme or plugin that might be able to resolve this problem.
    If you have any suggestions, please share. Thanks!

  • I don’t even know how I stopped up right here, however
    I believed this post was great. I don’t recognise who you’re but definitely you’re going to a well-known blogger in case you are not
    already. Cheers!

  • Now I am ready to do my breakfast, after
    having my breakfast coming yet again to read further news.

  • Great info. Lucky me I came across your blog by chance (stumbleupon).

    I’ve book marked it for later!

  • It’s very simple to find out any matter on web as compared
    to books, as I found this piece of writing at this web page.

  • Wow that was odd. I just wrote an incredibly long
    comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t show up.
    Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyways, just
    wanted to say excellent blog!

  • Heya i’m for the first time here. I came across this board and I to find
    It really helpful & it helped me out a lot. I’m hoping to provide
    one thing back and aid others like you aided me.

  • I do not even know the way I stopped up here, but I believed this post was great. I do not know who you might be however definitely you’re going to a famous blogger in the event you are not already. Cheers!|

  • It is truly a nice and helpful piece of info.
    I am satisfied that you shared this useful info with us.
    Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.

  • There’s definately a lot to know about this subject.
    I like all the points you have made.

  • Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Thanks, However I am having problems with your RSS.
    I don’t understand the reason why I am unable to
    join it. Is there anyone else having identical
    RSS issues? Anyone that knows the answer can you kindly respond?
    Thanx!!

  • Wow, this post is fastidious, my sister is analyzing such things, therefore I
    am going to tell her.

  • What’s up colleagues, how is all, and what you would like to say concerning this
    post, in my view its truly remarkable designed for me.

  • Please let me know if you’re looking for a writer for your
    site. You have some really good posts and I think I would be a good asset.
    If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d really like to write some material for your blog
    in exchange for a link back to mine. Please send me an email if interested.
    Thank you!

  • This site was… how do you say it? Relevant!! Finally I’ve
    found something which helped me. Appreciate
    it!

  • Excellent goods from you, man. I’ve understand your
    stuff previous to and you are just extremely fantastic.
    I really like what you’ve acquired here, certainly like what
    you are stating and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it sensible.
    I cant wait to read much more from you. This is really
    a tremendous website.

  • Fantastic items from you, man. I have keep in mind
    your stuff previous to and you’re simply too magnificent.
    I really like what you have got right here, really like what you
    are stating and the best way by which you say it.

    You make it enjoyable and you still care for to
    stay it wise. I cant wait to learn far more from you.
    That is actually a tremendous web site.

  • Unquestionably believe that which you stated.
    Your favorite justification appeared to be on the web the simplest
    thing to be aware of. I say to you, I definitely
    get irked while people consider worries that they plainly don’t know about.
    You managed to hit the nail upon the top and defined out
    the whole thing without having side effect ,
    people could take a signal. Will likely be back to get more.
    Thanks

  • Valuable information. Lucky me I found your web site by chance, and I am shocked why this coincidence
    didn’t took place earlier! I bookmarked it.

  • Thankfulness to my father who told me about this weblog,
    this blog is truly awesome.

  • No matter if some one searches for his vital thing, therefore he/she wishes to be available that in detail, thus that
    thing is maintained over here.

  • I was suggested this website by way of my cousin. I’m now not positive whether
    or not this publish is written by him as nobody else realize such specified approximately
    my difficulty. You are incredible! Thanks!

  • Hmm it looks like your blog ate my first comment (it
    was extremely long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I had written and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog.
    I as well am an aspiring blog blogger but
    I’m still new to the whole thing. Do you have any tips for beginner blog writers?
    I’d genuinely appreciate it.

  • Remarkable things here. I am very satisfied to peer your article.
    Thank you so much and I’m having a look forward to touch you.

    Will you please drop me a e-mail?

  • Unquestionably believe that which you said. Your favorite justification appeared to be on the web the easiest thing to be aware of.
    I say to you, I definitely get annoyed while people think about worries that they plainly
    do not know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and
    also defined out the whole thing without having side
    effect , people can take a signal. Will probably be back to get more.
    Thanks

  • WOW just what I was looking for. Came here by searching for health supplement

  • Hi friends, how is the whole thing, and what you
    want to say concerning this post, in my view its in fact remarkable in favor of me.

  • Hi! Do you know if they make any plugins to assist with SEO?
    I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some
    targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good gains.

    If you know of any please share. Cheers!

  • Nice post. I was checking continuously this
    blog and I’m inspired! Extremely helpful info particularly the closing section :
    ) I take care of such info a lot. I was seeking this certain information for
    a very long time. Thanks and best of luck.

  • My partner and I stumbled over here by a different website and thought I might as well check things out.
    I like what I see so now i am following you. Look forward
    to checking out your web page repeatedly.

  • I am curious to find out what blog system you’re working
    with? I’m having some minor security issues with my latest site and
    I would like to find something more secure.
    Do you have any recommendations?

  • Hi to all, how is everything, I think every one
    is getting more from this website, and your views are fastidious for new
    visitors.

Comments are closed.