Who Invented Dreadlocks?

If you wonder who invented dreadlocks, it may surprise you to learn that they have roots in Rastafarian culture. These people wear them as a symbol of their African identity and as a way to separate from Babylon. This historically white-European structure has oppressed black people since ancient times. Feminist writer and former lock wearer Feminista Jones doesn’t like to see dreadlocks on white people and is unsure if cultural appropriation is a case.

Rastafarians

Dreadlocks have religious and cultural significance and are a fashion statement. Rastafarians wear them as a symbol of the Lion of Judah, a figure that appears on the Ethiopian flag. According to the Rastafarian religion, Selassie is a direct descendant of the Israelite Tribe of Judah and was crowned king of Ethiopia in 1930. While gentle and cuddly animals, lions can be extremely fierce and unpredictable if provoked, making them the perfect choice as a symbol of power.

Dreadlocks have been worn by people of color in the Caribbean, Africa, and the Americas for centuries. However, they became popular in the Western world in the Seventies after Jamaican reggae star Bob Marley embraced Rastafarianism and adopted the hairstyle. Some non-Rastafarians even go to the trouble of adding substances to their locks to help them form dreads.

Although the origin of dreadlocks is obscure, they have a long history. In Jamaica, they were first documented in the 1950s. Rastafarians, or Rastafarians known in the West Indies, began wearing dreadlocks as a political statement against the establishment and were often beaten by police. Eventually, dreadlocks became synonymous with Rastafarianism.

Early cavemen

Dreadlocks are hair shaped into a rope-like structure by binding water and resin. The earliest depictions of such hair appear in the 1600-1500 BCE Minoan Civilization on the island of Crete. Researchers believe that these early humans naturally evolved the look, but we do not know. While the origins of this style remain a mystery, some scholars believe that dreadlocks were initially an expression of deep religious convictions and ethnic pride.

Today, the hairstyle is known as locs or dreadlocks. Early cavemen grunted about their dreads while sitting around a cave fire. Before modern hair salons and hair coloring products were invented, there was no way to maintain and style dreadlocks. Luckily, locs can be cared for in a salon and are available in almost every hair color and texture.

Draped hair is nothing new, but the origins of dreadlocks go much further back in history than the ancient troglodytes. The Vedas refer to them, and they have appeared in ancient Greek art dating to the Bronze Age. Early cave dwellers wore their hair in this way as a way to express themselves and channel their negative energy outside of their bodies. While the origin of dreadlocks is uncertain, the style was worn by warriors in Kenya and Nubia.

Germanic tribes

Despite the myth that dreadlocks originated from yogis, dreadlocks were likely invented much earlier than this. According to a study from the University of Nigeria, dreadlocks were originally created by Indian sages. Although the actual date of invention remains uncertain, the tradition of leaving knots in the hair uncombed is believed to be as far back as the mid to late 1500s. Despite widespread belief, archeological evidence does not support this theory. Some have claimed that ancient Egyptians, Vikings, and early Africans sported locs. Even Hindu holy men and yogis were believed to have worn them.

The earliest recorded mentions of dreadlocks can be found on ancient Egyptian artifacts. The ancient Egyptians were the first to discover dreadlocks. According to the Old Testament, the seven locks on a man’s head were a sign of potency. Other ancient cultures that are said to have had dreadlocks include the Greeks, Romans, and Vikings.

According to some scholars, dreadlocks were originally created by the Germanic tribes of Central Europe and northern Africa. In the Industrial Era, dreadlocks were rarely seen outside of India. But a socio-religious movement in Harlem, New York, led to a widespread craze in Jamaica. The movement took its influences from the Old and New Testaments, African tribal cultures, and Hinduism.

Early Christians

The tradition of growing dreadlocks is believed to have originated in the Middle Ages, when the Nazirites, followers of Jesus, voluntarily abstained from cutting their hair for the sake of God. The result of their abstinence was naturally-formed dreadlocks. Despite its association with Satan, the practice remains popular today. It has even gained religious significance for some Christians.

According to the Early Church Fathers, “Dreadlocks were first used by the Jews in the third century.” The word dreadlocks aren’t used in the New King James Version, but ‘dreads’ is.” The earliest reference to dreadlocks appears in the Bible. Several Bible texts mention the early Christians who had dreadlocks. As a result, the term’s origin may have been traced to the Jewish culture, where dreadlocks are a symbol of freedom.

In addition to the Jewish origins of the practice, dreadlocks are also believed to have originated in ancient Egypt. Evidence of dreadlocks in ancient Egypt can be found in statues and sculptures from the time. In particular, a fresco depicting a dreadlocking fighter from Santorini is thought to have been the earliest recorded appearance of dreadlocks. 

In addition to the Egyptians, other early civilizations and cultures of the Mediterranean and the Middle East have dreadlocks. In Egypt, dreadlocks are commonly confused with braids, as some bas-reliefs show the hair of a dreadlocked man with the same texture as a natural hairline.

Romans

Dreadlocks are an ancient style for men and are believed to have been first worn by the Romans. The style is derived from Eastern and Western traditions, which believe that dreadlocks keep bodily energies within the body. This, in turn, keeps a person healthy. While dreadlocks are a fashionable and attractive style, many have questioned whether or not they are spiritual.

In the Celtic era, dreadlocks were commonly worn by the Celts and the Romans. Later, the Celts were thought to have greased their hair to produce dreadlocks. According to Roman sources, dreadlocks were similar to snakes, and the Scythians, who invaded Europe during the Migration Period, wore dreadlocks on their faces. Modern-day dreadlocks are most common in Zaporozhian Cossacks, who descend from Viking Rus.

Though the Romans were not the first to wear dreadlocks, they had a tradition of braiding their hair. In the writings of ancient Romans, they sometimes referred to Germanic people as “snake-like” and meant to belittle their long hair. However, it is unclear whether or not the term was actually meant to refer to long or short hair, but rather to their practice of braiding.

Africans

If you think dreadlocks are a white man’s thing, you’re probably mistaken. Although they are becoming increasingly popular in black culture, many historians have not pinpointed their origins. While the trend began in Africa, it has gained popularity worldwide, especially among Christians. There are even theories that the style was originally a European invention. But dreadlocks have a long history, dating back to 500 BCE in Ethiopia.

There is no evidence to support the idea that the lion was the first to wear dreadlocks, but it is believed that black Africans first wore this hairstyle in ancient Egypt. While black is the most common color, Africans have had different skin tones throughout history. While the lion is the world’s oldest desert, its dark-colored skin is not always black. In ancient Egypt, dreadlocks were found in religious texts. The Hindu deity Shiva is also known to have dreadlocks. While Africans first popularized dreadlocks, the practice gained wider acceptance outside their native continent.

According to some historians, dreadlocks are a product of African religion. Rastafari religion, which originated in Africa, has some Christian elements. The word ‘dread’ refers to a deep respect for God. In addition, the Bible mentions locks of hair. Thus, Rastas often leave their hair uncombed and develop dreadlocks. There are even stories about the earliest African warriors infusing the religion with dread that influenced European colonialists.

Vikings

There are many theories about when and how the Vikings invented dreadlocks. They likely did, and the reason for this is as complicated as it is fascinating. The Vikings, as well as other Germanic tribes, wore their hair in dreadlocks. They favored this style because they felt it was masculine. Viking women were known to have had long hair and were more masculine than their modern counterparts.

The Vikings believed that dreadlocks had religious meanings and were not just for looks. Their hairstyles were symbolic of their status, and unmarried girls grew dreadlocks on purpose to mark specific occasions. This style was fundamental in battle, and the Vikings often wore matching accessories. 

Their hairstyles were also symbolic of their social status, with women locking their locks in various styles and shapes to show their social standing.

The hair locks naturally twirl around neighboring hair strands, forming coils without the need for detangling. However, you will need to use a locking tool to coax the coil pattern. Longer hair will require more patience, so you may want to start with a starter set first. A starter set may take several months. You may need to use a locking tool for thick, coarse hair.