Talk:Dreadlocks

Etymology of the term "dreadlocks".
Is there no reliable source available for the etymology of the term? I know that in some circles the term itself is thought to be derogatory, mainly because of the 'dread' part but I have only heard the origin of this as a story and have never actually come across any real history on it. And, it's only been in the last decade or so that I have heard this. Up until recently we have always called them "dreads" not "locks" or "locs" (btw the term 'locs', short for 'loco', up until recently was used to describe a different hairstyle), and Rastas themselves were referred to as "dreads" and referred to themselves as such. Also, dreadlocks, as a term, seems to be of Jamaican/Rastafarian origin and perhaps should only be used to describe hair following that tradition and have another page about "matted" hair generally throughout history and in other cultures. I think separating these into separate pages might remedy the confusion of the racial aspect of it. I think dreadlocks as a term might be too culturally specific (assuming the term started with African descendants in Jamaica). 70.102.94.154 (talk) 02:49, 1 May 2018 (UTC)


 * I always saw “dredlocks” - like Dred Scott - in the 80s. I understood “Dred” to be a term of general address. The Caribbean dictionary (http://wiwords.com/word/dred) agrees. Can someone with some experience with language as it is used in Black Caribbean culture please advise? WemberlyChrysanthemum (talk) 04:29, 18 June 2023 (UTC)

I thought the word dreadlocks came from the era or piracy in the carribean, though I have not searched properly for a reference to this. I agree that this page really should address the etymology of the word. Llamageddon (talk) 15:13, 18 July 2018 (UTC)

Dreadlock definition is flawed
Platting and braiding is not a dreadlock. Dreadlocks are specifically and only the matting of hair into rope like strands. This entire entry is a joke with garbage citations of zero quality. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 101.177.30.46 (talk) 17:40, 4 June 2023 (UTC)

Extremely racially motivated page
This whole page is inaccurate and racially motivated. Rather than giving a history of dreadlocks it is written with the idea of attacking white people. Why race has been mentioned is beyond me. Wikipedia needs to fix up their policing. Cellius83 (talk) 02:57, 22 December 2023 (UTC)


 * Agreed. It does appear that the editor who has written most of the article's content has an agenda. There are far too many mentions of "White Americans", "White people", "White Hippies", and so on. This content is egregiously undue and should be removed. Carlstak (talk) 05:11, 22 December 2023 (UTC)
 * It should be removed. The page is about dreadlocks. These have been worn as long as humans have hair. The page should maybe stick to “What are dreadlocks?”. Then maybe have a section on the Rastafarian movement. Mainly due to dreadlocks being a major part of the belief. The page is just nonsense as all other cultures and races have worn dreadlocks. Most of this page is just agenda driven opinions with the odd bit of historical evidence that dreads existed. To make such claims about groups like the Celts or the Norse would mean the writer knows more than any archeologist. Cellius83 (talk) 19:05, 25 December 2023 (UTC)
 * As far as I can see, has addressed the concerns expressed here, and notes in the two edit summaries that she was "editing after reading the talk page". The text is much improved, and thanks to her for her responsiveness. Carlstak (talk) 01:18, 26 December 2023 (UTC)
 * Celts did such as coins depicting Cheif Vercingetorix and Cheif Cunobelinus as for Germanic people's like Norse Scandinavians they had braids I know that I haven't seen them sport dreadlocks or loc like hair Drecelto (talk) 21:29, 1 July 2024 (UTC)

Maintenance Tag
Seeing as Hoodoowoman has address their edits, does the maintenance tag still apply to this article? If so, it'd be nice to note where the article falls short, and what needs to be improved. Thanks! Sink Cat (talk) 03:04, 27 May 2024 (UTC)
 * I've removed the "disputed" tag, as the concerns appear to have been addressed. Carlstak (talk) 14:01, 27 May 2024 (UTC)

Looking to get my information put back up if it has to be retyped to the owners liking message me
I brought up Celtic Coinage that depict Dreads from iron age and AD. And explained how Celtic style dreads inspired Elflocks and Faelocks in medieval litterateur I used Greek litterateur as well about the Gauls. Which is 1st Century BC Locs have been in our culture sense the dawn of time like other cultures. That that part of history should be more accessible which is why I posted the Celtic Coinage with dates and scholarly reads included. And how it's preserved in Celtic culture today find it odd how everyone else gets mentioned but when a historian provides information from Universites and books and more. Y'all delete it. Yet keep the pictures of the Celtic coins showing dreadlocks... How will people know what they are? This should be away to make knowledge more available. Especially with Credible sources Drecelto (talk) 21:19, 1 July 2024 (UTC)