Dreadlocks also referred to as “dreads” or “locks”, have gone through a wide range of change over the past couple thousand years. Today, they’re mostly styled as a fashion statement; these “insta-dreads” are available in many salons. But some students and a Spanish teacher at CHS have stayed true to the roots (no pun intended) of this unique hairstyle.

“They’re everything old,” CHS Spanish teacher Micah Johnson said. “Locks are the natural state of hair.”
They’ve existed since the dawn of time. Cavemen shot arrows from beneath matted hair, and reggae singer-songwriter Bob Marley jammed to soulful tunes with a head of dreads. All it takes is clean hair, free of conditioner and no touching. That means you can throw away brushes. Within two years, you’ll have a set of dreads.
“You have to be willing to have ridiculous looking hair for months before they form,” Johnson said. “I had to go through a little of that in high school.”
After 13 years of without brushing, has developed a unique perspective on the hairstyle throughout the years.
“It’s been a long time,” Johnson said. “I’ve seen a lot of evolution.”
In an attempt to hide dread locks, a friend of Johnson’s wore bandanas to work every day. She was fired the day she took her bandana off.
“For a long time, there was prejudice,” Johnson said. “But we are definitely reaching the last era of discrimination.”
“Rasta” in Spanish translates as “locks”, forming the basis for Rastafarianism. With this hairdo having such deep biblical beginnings, it’s no wonder a great population of people have been sporting this hair style before it became somewhat of a fad.
After spending time in a remote village in Ethiopia, the homeland of Rastafarianism, Johnson was surprised with their reaction to his locks.
“They looked at me like I was from Mars,” Johnson said. “I have pictures of the natives swarming around my hair.”
The country where dreadlocks originate was struck with wonder by Johnson’s locks. He went on to say that this irony is something he’s come to love from having his hair.
Sophomore Antonio Wilson wears his dreads with great pride.
“I wanted to follow my brother,” Wilson said. “He had dreads first, and I look up to him.”
Wilson began twisting four years ago, and ever since then he has loved having dreads.
Junior Nia Charrington was also influenced by her sibling. With the help of a professional, Charrington has long locks.
“I started when I was eight,” Charrington said. “It’s sort of a lifestyle choice.”
Although these two CHS students and many others have other family members who share the hairstyle, Johnson was the first of his family to take on dreads.
At the age of 15, Johnson sat down and had a talk with his dad about his choice to have dreads. His father was reluctant at first since he believed the image of dreadlocks brought drugs.
“I felt challenged to prove the stereotypes surrounding locks wrong,” Johnson said.