The first known examples of the hairstyle date back to ancient Egypt, where dreadlocks appeared on Egyptian artifacts. Mummified remains of ancient Egyptians with dreadlocks have even been recovered from archaeological sites.
Some of the earliest depictions of dreadlocks date back as far as 1600–1500 BCE in the Minoan Civilization, one of Europe's earliest civilizations, centred in Crete (now part of Greece).
The first people to wear dreads were probably cavemen. We researched the first evidence of the use of dreadlocks: The first piece of written evidence dates back to 1500BC; it is brought to us by the ancient holy Hindu texts called the “Vedas”.
Historians and anthropologists have found evidence of the 'do in ancient Egypt, Germanic tribes, Vikings, Pacific Islanders, early Christians, the Aborigines and the New Guineans as well as the Somali, the Galla, the Maasai, the Ashanti and the Fulani tribes of Africa.
Dreadlocks have a long history in Africa. Victoria Sherrow, the author of the Encyclopedia of Hair, A Cultural History 1, named the priests of the Ethiopian Coptic Orthodox Church as some of the first people to have sported dreadlocks in Africa, as early as 500 BCE.
Dreadlocks are not unique to Jamaica and Rastafarians. The dreadlocks hairstyle originated in Africa and was worn by various tribes there. The earliest tribe this hairstyle can be attributed to is the Masai tribesmen of Kenya. Many of the warriors of this tribe wore this hairstyle.
Viking warriors usually wore long braids or dreadlocks to make them more intimidating to their enemies in battle – or perhaps, more simply, for the practical purpose or keeping their hair out of their eyes while fighting!
Rastafarians can often be recognised from the way they style their hair. Rastafarians grow their hair long, before coiling it into dreadlocks. The wearing of hair in dreadlocks by Rastafarians is believed to be spiritual; this is justified in the Bible: They shall not make baldness upon their head.
Improper care: If you don't wash and maintain your dreads properly, you can get a buildup of dirt and debris, causing your dreadlocks to emit an unpleasant odor.
To wrap up the locs vs. dreadlocks debate, the most important difference is their unique origin and history. Locs are often more defined with a distinguished root structure, while dreads don't part on the scalp and have more of a dry, matted look.
Dreadlocks aren't owned by any culture. Anyone can wear them.
Dreadlocks became increasingly popular and there are many reasons in various cultures for wearing them. They can be an expression of deep religious or spiritual convictions, a manifestation of ethnic pride. They can make a political statement, or simply be a fashion preference.
In ancient Egypt, bas-reliefs and other artefacts have been found to show Egyptians donning braided hairstyles (and even wigs). Furthermore, the first archaeological evidence of dreadlocks comes from there, where mummies have been discovered sporting dreadlocks still in good shape.
Dreadlocks are perceived as a connection to wisdom, and many believe that the head and hair are spiritual energy conductors. According to the Rasta views, the locs are believed to be a part of the Nazarite vows of Leviticus, which cautioned against shaving the head's four corners.
Well, I'm here to tell you, yes, dreadlocks can be combed out, especially ones that have been properly cared for during their life, including regular shampooing and conditioning. This is very important! If you decide to comb out your 'locks, it's critical that you approach the process with much patience.
Do Dreadlocks Ruin Your Hair? All in all, dreadlocks, like all protective styles, help protect your hair from environmental stressors. The only way locs styles will ruin hair, is if you don't dry them properly or retwist them too often.
One common myth about dreadlocks is that they are dirty. But dreadlocks — like any hair — are clean if properly washed and maintained. In fact, many people with dreadlocks keep their locs exceptionally clean because clean hair knots faster and better than dirty hair.
Extremely long and thick dreadlocks can become a heavy strain on your roots, causing broken root follicles or hair loss. You may need to trim your heavy and thick dreadlocks from time to time to mitigate this problem.
Though raised as a Catholic, Marley became interested in Rastafari beliefs in the 1960s, when away from his mother's influence. After returning to Jamaica, Marley formally converted to Rastafari and began to grow dreadlocks.
Last updated 2009-10-09. The role of Rastafarian women, who are called Queens, and the rules that apply specifically to women.
According to Old Testament scripture (Leviticus 19:27), Rastas believe one should not cut their hair because it is where their strength lies. Dreadlocks form naturally over time.
Depending on the origin location, the expression of dreadlocks differs. Among these are the indian 'Jata' as worn by shiva, the kenyan 'locs' as worn by the massai warriors, 'sisterlocs' as commonly called in Africa American communities, or the 'Elflocks' from the celts and the britons.
There is no question that the Vikings had dreadlocks that were different in texture from those of African and Indian origins (although recent studies and historical sources suggest that there were also Black Vikings, whose hair was likely of a different texture from those Vikings who were genetically Northern European) ...
While there is evidence to suggest that Vikings may have been more diverse than previously believed, including the possibility of Viking presence in Africa, the evidence for the existence of black Vikings is still extremely limited. We can therefore say that no, it is not likely that there were black Vikings.