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Should white people have dreadlocks?
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Dreadlocks are unhealthy for your hair

Over time, having dreadlocks causes extensive damage to a person's head.

The Argument

Dreadlocks can be difficult to care for and their required maintenance is often overlooked or under-researched. This results in damage to the person's hair and/or scalp. If a person combs out their dreads, they usually have to cut their hair off due to the damage it sustained for being dreaded for a long period of time.[1] People with dreadlocks often experience scalp pain because their hair grows too heavy and weighs down their scalp. When the dreads are wet is when the dreads will be the heaviest. The hair can get caught and pulled, which causes soreness or bald patches from the hair ripping out.[2] As dreadlocks grow they become denser and therefore more likely to absorb odors. Smoke and other strong smells will be absorbed by the hair and stay on the person. The only way to ensure clean and pleasant-smelling hair is to wash the dreads frequently.[3]

Counter arguments

Dreadlocks are only unhealthy if the person doesn't care for them properly. Often, they are able to begin the hairstyle at home but don't research how to maintain it once it's finished. Yet, if the person properly washes, dries, and cares for their hair, it will be healthy. One of the most common issues with dreadlocks is the development of mildew due to how difficult it is to dry thick dreads. This issue can be fixed by rinsing your hair in vinegar, tea tree, and grapefruit seed extract.[4]

Proponents

Premises

[P1] Maintenance for dreadlocks is often overlooked. [P2] People with dreadlocks often experience scalp pain. [P3] Dreadlocks are likely to absorb smells. [P4] Therefore, dreadlocks are unhealthy.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P3] This can be fixed with proper hair washing. [Rejecting P4] Dreadlocks are only unhealthy if the person doesn't properly care for them.

References

  1. https://www.spiritualresearchfoundation.org/spiritual-living/trends-behaviour-influenced-negative-energies/how-to-not-get-dreadlocks/
  2. http://howtogetdreads.com/what-to-expect-in-the-first-month-with-new-dreads/
  3. https://www.leaf.tv/articles/how-to-retwist-dreads/
  4. https://lovelocsnatural.com/how-to-keep-dreads-healthy/
This page was last edited on Friday, 30 Oct 2020 at 14:44 UTC

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