Dreads vs Locs: Is There Any Difference Between the Two?

Locs, dreads, and dreadlocks. People have been using the terms interchangeably for a long time, but is there any difference? The dreadlocks hairstyle is one of the oldest and among the few hairstyles associated with religion. The Rastafarians, a small nationalist religious sect indigenous to Jamaica, have a spiritual connection to dreadlocks. But for you, maybe you are thinking about installing the hairstyle to look good. So, what should you tell your hairstylist when you visit the salon? Is it dreads or locs? An in-depth review of dreads vs locs and how the terms came into being would suffice to provide you with an ideal choice when looking for a new style.

One thing about hairstyles is that you must be exact when expressing yourself to the stylists considering the slight differences that make one look different. There needs to be more clarity between locs and dreads; people use either of the terms to refer to the other. But did you know that there is a difference?

Even though modern culture has intertwined the phrases to mean the same thing, their true meaning and the reason the names are different would give you a good idea. So, what does each word mean in contemporary society?

What are dreadlocks?

Dreadlocks are an excellent style that involves backcombing, braiding, or rolling without much effort to finish the strands. Therefore, when an individual prefers to wear dreadlocks, they must be ready to undergo a styling process.

Everything starts with combing the strands of hair into a rope-like structure. And you can create different types of dreadlocks depending on how you do this procedure.

Evidence shows that people have been rocking this style since ancient days. So, where did dreadlocks originate?

Some sources claim that dreadlocks originated from Egypt, while others state that the style has some Greek origins. There is even another hypothesis that states Indians were the first culture to wear dreadlocks. Unfortunately, this theory does not have empirical evidence.

The most substantial theory with credible evidence is of Egyptian origin. A French Egyptologist discovered the remains of a mummy tightly glued on a dreadlock wig dating back to 1400 BCE. This evidence indicates that the dreadlocks style has its roots in Egypt.

On top of this, the Old Testament recounts the tale of Samson and Delilah, whereby a man's potency is linked to "the seven locks on his head." Also, according to Roman accounts, the celts possessed "hair like snakes." Greeks and Vikings are also said to have worn dreadlocks.

On the other hand, Rastafarians started wearing dreadlocks for a different reason. Everything started in the 1930s when Ras Tafari was crowned the emperor of Ethiopia. However, he was forced into exile during an invasion, and the guerrilla warriors swore not to cut their hair until he was reinstated. And that is how the Rastafari religion started and resonated with the day's ideologies.

Dreadlocks became famous because of reggae music and the influences of one of the best, Bob Marley. He wore dreadlocks himself and created immense interest in the style globally. He also popularized the Rastafarian culture.

What are locs?

Since the terms are used interchangeably, it is hard to distinguish between them. Locs are visually like dreads. The hairstyle is of African-Nubian descent and looks like a rope. So, why are they called locs, not dreads?

Locs undergo the same locking process as dreads, albeit slightly different. One of the essential things for locs is the pleasing after-effect or polished appearance. The buttoning stage is a second process that gives the hairstyle its unique appearance.

The tighter the hair, the better and faster the hair will lock. One of the most significant differences between dreads and locs is that with locs, you can see the roots of the hair strands, while you cannot see anything with dreads.

Locs are hard to remove, considering the installation style, as one needs to unlock the hair, which is more challenging than plain braiding. Considering it is a polished style, people usually decorate locs with beads, different colours and other accessories.