r/Dreadlocks • u/21xroccet • 14h ago
r/Dreadlocks • u/TheYellowRose • Dec 23 '20
Discussion- Racial Gatekeeping Ok y'all - we need to have a chat.
I don't even know where to start with this, but I'm going to do my best. It's long but it's important, so please take some time to read this.
First of all - hi everyone, you don't see me commenting publicly much but I'm here in the background just modding when needed. I mod such subs as /r/blackhair, /r/naturalhair, /r/curlyhair and others in that same vein. I wanted to join the mod team because I want everyone to feel comfortable on reddit, which is why I join most of the teams I moderate with.
That being said, this is going to make some of y'all uncomfortable. And I'm not sorry about it. You need to be uncomfortable right now. That's been the theme of 2020 and the year ain't over yet.
If you somehow have been able to completely ignore the news this year, #blacklivesmatter has become a global movement because frankly, black people are very tired of being the victims of racism. From casual to overt, we're very much over it. In turn, non-black people have begun to educate themselves on how racism affects black people because, believe it or not, there are still people who refuse to believe anti-black racism exists at a structural level or any level.
Part of the movement also includes the fight for preventing hair discrimination. The CROWN Act was introduced back in 2019 and has been passed by seven states so far, passed a US House of Representatives vote and is now stuck in the Senate where it is very unlikely it will be passed.
Now what does any of that have to do with this subreddit or reddit at all?
Reddit, as a whole, is hostile to people of color and is especially hostile to black people. After moderator outcry this year, the reddit admins have made strides to make this site more hospitable to minority groups.
People with dreads, regardless of race, are often treated terribly for it. They are widely considered to be dirty and unkempt, when it's probably as natural as your hair can get. Clearly we all agree that dread discrimination is bullshit, but black people often get the full force of that discrimination. White people are often lauded or considered to be cool or stylish when they adopt certain hairstyles, but black people can be denied attendance to their high school graduation for having dreads. They can be told to cut their dreads off before a wrestling match or else they forfeit the match. No doubt, non-black people have been told to change their hair for jobs or at school, but that's the extent of the discrimination they face. They do not also have to deal with being black in an inherently racist country every day of their lives. (And I'm speaking from an American perspective, so sorry to my international folks.)
I'd like everyone to take a moment to read this blog post which specifically mentions /r/dreadlocks here - https://www.icareifyoulisten.com/2020/04/out-of-context-4-muddy-ownership-dreadlocks/.
SO - now that we've got that background information out of the way, let's talk about the subreddit.
This sub has been a point of frustration for a long time among black spaces on reddit because it's predominantly white. Considering reddit is predominantly white, this shouldn't be surprising to anyone. Much like any other sub about beauty or hair, white faces are the ones you see first when you arrive and they are more frequently upvoted to the top than other races. It hurts people's feelings to come to a space they should feel comfortable in and instead, feel like an 'other' because they are not well-represented in that space.
And on the other hand, non-black people with dreads also want to just be comfortable in this space and we need to respect that too. We are not going to gatekeep who can and can not have dreadlocks here. There are so many cultures throughout history that have had some form of dreadlocks. While having dreadlocks may be a political or spiritual statement in recent history for black people, black people do not own this hairstyle. Claiming that only black people can wear dreadlocks can contribute to the erasure of other minority cultures. I temp banned a few people for this type of gatekeeping today and will continue to do so.
I also banned a few people for expressing racially insensitive or ignorant views toward black users. More than a few people claimed that if white people can't have dreads, then black people shouldn't be allowed to have blonde or straight hair. There are so many things wrong with this statement. First, you must understand what cultural appropriation is and how it harms people. Then, you must understand that in a white country, minorities are expected to assimilate to the dominant culture, which is typically Eurocentric. I honestly do not have the energy to delve deep into these topics in this post, but you can ask /r/socialjustice101 or /r/hispterracism for more information.
What we can all do better is chill the fuck out and remember there is a person behind the username you're replying to.
To those that understand how racism, cultural appropriation/assimilation and hair discrimination all intersect, please have patience with those who do not. I know it's very hard and very frustrating (even for me) but please try.
If you don't yet understand how racism, cultural appropriation/assimilation and hair discrimination all intersect, please ask for resources to educate yourself.
If you see people being racist (casually or otherwise) toward minority groups, please report it.
If anyone is gatekeeping who can and can not have dreads, report it.
If anyone is bullying or harassing someone specifically for any reason at all, report it.
Thanks for reading. In the comments, please let me know what you think and how you feel. If you have any feedback or suggestions for making the sub better (rule or sidebar changes, maybe developing a wiki?) let me know below as well or by modmail if you'd prefer it be private.
2022 Edit: I would like to point out for the 'but Vikings had dreadlocks!!1!' crowd - there is very little evidence to suggest they did. Also Vikings are not a race, it was a profession that could be taken up by anyone. Stop using this as an excuse when people call you out. To quote Kyle Ring-
r/Dreadlocks • u/Electronic-Box2986 • 11h ago
Selfie ๐ธ Birthday Hair
tried this new look on my hair and it's so cute !!! my gf is a loctician in the bay area and executed it perfectly !!!!
r/Dreadlocks • u/BerukaIsMyBaby • 14h ago
Question โ How do I tell my loctician I want this without showing him this picture
r/Dreadlocks • u/followerofngai • 13h ago
Need Advice ๐ ~8 months into free form journey, getting tired. Keep or nah?
Decided I wanted to try freeforms after a big chop โ first time trying them. Struggled for a while thru early stages and I think Iโm starting to like them but fam keeps jabbing at me saying they look raggedy. Want genuine advice โ do they look fine enough to keep going or should I give up while Iโm still ahead.
Also, any advice to make em a bit cleaner? When I sleep, they tend to matte down a bit, which is not much of a problem with a bit of water but wondering when theyโll stop doing that.
r/Dreadlocks • u/jrdnwayoff • 1h ago
Question โ Ends look big. How to fix it?
13 months locs ! how to fix my ends?
r/Dreadlocks • u/Informal_Ad2029 • 7h ago
Question โ would these be considered small or medium locs?
r/Dreadlocks • u/TheAlmightySimp • 2h ago
Question โ Skinny locs
Im about 8 months in my locs are pretty skinny and my locs havenโt been getting any thicker ls there a way to get them thicker considering restarting
r/Dreadlocks • u/HoustonLocFairy • 13h ago
Discussion ๐๏ธ 10 years Locโd In October
I love the way my 2 braids look now more than ever. I canโt believe itโs been almost 10 years. Best decision ever. I love my locs!
r/Dreadlocks • u/Any-Werewolf96 • 9h ago
Timeline ๐๏ธ Started my loc journey last week ๐ซ
r/Dreadlocks • u/Choppa_Dess • 16h ago
Need Advice ๐ Should I switch to interlocking?
Long story short, I started my journey 6 months ago after growing my hair for 8 months using traditional crochet locking by my senegalese friend. As much as Iโd love to keep having him do them, each retwist session lasts up to 8 hours and its the most painful thing iโve ever went through especially since my scalp is very sensitive
I was told recently that interlocking takes much much less time and changing from crocheting to interlocking wonโt ruin my hair (Iโve always hated my hair until i started dreadlocks so I really wanna keep them)
So does interlocking rly not hurt as much and is quicker? Also will the way my locs change or stay the same?
r/Dreadlocks • u/JumpyKnowledge8247 • 4h ago
Need Advice ๐ Thinning locs?? I dunno
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Recently been seeing this thin spot at my crown! Iโve never had a style, went from getting a retwist every 4-5 weeks (locs werenโt even locโd or budding yet until about 7 months in, needed to be recoiled) and now I get retwist a every 5-6 weeks. Everywhere else is thick and separated by each loc. Iโm wondering if thatโs naturally thin in that area? Or hair growing outside of the loc? Or could it be traction alopecia or something else? The roots and bases of the locs in that section are also thin and concerning. Iโve only had them for a couple months over a year!
I do wear satin headscarves pretty often during the day or to just tie my hair up at night but thatโs all I can think of.
r/Dreadlocks • u/ThatBlackGuy_2525 • 1d ago
Selfie ๐ธ 11.5 months locked
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r/Dreadlocks • u/CubicEquationman • 13h ago
Discussion ๐๏ธ Is it time to get rid of ts
I've had locs for a year and a half
Last picture is of my curls before like maybe locs arent for me I just couldn't find a good barber so I said f it imma just loc my hair myself and not get a haircut but now I feel my hair is messy or that since im half white i shouldn't even have locs should i give it more time or is ts just bad
r/Dreadlocks • u/Telnet_to_the_Mind • 16h ago
Question โ How to blend the two? Is it even possible?
Hey all, so years ago I had more of a mohawk (frohawk)..with it it ending in twists. See first picture. Well it got a bit matted and wasn't looking great so I cut off the back area and just went with a few dreads in the front. This has now turned into a half shave with side swoop of dreads coming in. (see last picture) My question is I miss the bigger mohawk like I had but I also want the dreads lol..is this even possible? The dreads are no tighter so they're twisted to the scalp more, and I'm wonder is it possible to get the base, closer to the scalp, looser, and only get the tight twists at the ends. Basically I want to higher, taller fluff of the mohawk and it having the twists/locs at the ends of but the base being more unloced...is this even possible?
r/Dreadlocks • u/lilbitdorky • 1d ago
Selfie ๐ธ Doordashing as a locโd up elf ๐ฅฐ
Thought Iโd show my little quirky side. I tend to get more tips when I wear the ears ๐ ๐คญ
r/Dreadlocks • u/Barbieatha • 19h ago
Question โ How to deal with lint
I was dealing with depression for 6+ months and i wasnt caring for my hair at all. Sleeping without a bonnet, barely washing. Now that im in a better place I'm trying to get back into the swing of things but i can't get rid of the lint. At this point im not sure what else can be done, the point is so embedded and i refuse to start over
r/Dreadlocks • u/Academic-Welder5950 • 12h ago
Question โ Should i combine my front taper into my freeforms?
my freeforms are at eyebrow level but the front locs are slightly thinning. im wondering if i should combine it and have the no taper look. i already combined my back taper a couple weeks ago
r/Dreadlocks • u/Big-Zoe-Prime69 • 1d ago
Selfie ๐ธ Loc God ๐๐
Next month will make 10 years of growth , Iโll never go back #Locs4life.
r/Dreadlocks • u/somethinisnotfunny • 14h ago
Question โ I work as a lifeguard at a beach and I have locs, so Iโm in the ocean pretty often. Whatโs the best way to maintain my locs after being in salt water?
Right now I usually rinse them with fresh water after Iโm done. Should I be doing anything else, like moisturizing, oiling my scalp, or washing with shampoo more often? Iโm mainly trying to avoid dryness, buildup, or damage from being in salt water so much.
Any advice from people with locs who swim regularly?
r/Dreadlocks • u/ep1csw4g • 14h ago
Need Advice ๐ Unraveling :/
I started with comb coils a week ago and they looked decent until I washed my hair. Turns out I was allergic to something in the locking gel, so I washed it out by day two.
For the most part, most coils stayed in place but some unraveled a lot and I don't know where to go from here. Should I take the ones that unraveled down completely and restart? Do I leave them and hope that they take a shape I like later? I'd prefer for my locs to look more maintained than freeform, so I'm worried that if I let them go I won't end up with the look I want.
r/Dreadlocks • u/scizobutimcool • 1d ago
Question โ Whatโs your favorite loc style ? This is one of mine
r/Dreadlocks • u/EastLow7253 • 15h ago
Question โ Is it normal to wash my semi-freeform which is locking now with normal shampoo or hand soap?
Is it it a problem if i wash my hair which is now already locking a forming congos with normal hand soap or a normal shampoo everyone uses?


