Hair means a lot, not just to females, but males as well. When we get a bad haircut or hairdo, we tend to feel self-conscious about it. Nonetheless, we are always reassured that “It’s just hair,” so we have nothing to worry about. Right?

I feel like you should already know that it is not as simple. Hair means a lot more than looking good for a special occasion or having a bad hair day. Hair can carry stigmas and can even cost people respect.

For example, many children are facing the consequences of getting kicked out of school for wearing their hair in afros or braids. Professionals are being turned down from jobs for wearing their hair naturally, like in an afro, or even dreads.

Certain aspects of their lifestyle are being used to judge their character, yet there is no correlation on how a person manages their hair and how they perform. So to say “It’s just hair” negates the trials people have to endure, simply for choosing to wear their hair naturally.

Of course, there’s always the counter arguments, the most ignorant, being, “Why can’t they change their hair to be ‘normal’?” Then there is usually some remark about how a person can’t expect to get a job when they have powder blue hair, simply being that it is unprofessional. Two comments about that:

1) Hair color does not affect how a person behaves.

Simply because one has a different hair color does not mean that they are not going to take their responsibilities seriously. It is a reflection of style, just like the way someone has a signature scent he/she/they always wears or a favorite color they incorporate into his/her/their outfits, only more permanent and noticeable.

2) Afros and dreadlocks are natural.

Yes, you read that right: dreadlocks are natural. They have been around for a long time, and they are more than just a trend. They have a long history, one that goes far deeper than Bob Marley (Rest in Power!) and Rastafarianism. People who dread their hair are simply accelerating the process of the natural tangles that would occur anyways, if left uncombed. On a separate, but very relatable note, dreads actually have a sacred origin, going way back to ancient times. (Note: there is a wonderful and vibrant culture and history of the origins of dreadlocks, which even spreads as far as India, but for the sake of argument, we are going to keep the topic of dread culture in the present.) Afros are natural tight coils. These are natural hair styles, of course which can be modified in style, but at the root of the follicle, this is a person’s hair. Telling someone that they are not to be considered for a position is like telling someone they are not qualified because of reasons that are beyond their control like, for example, their skin color (Hm, does that sound familiar?).

I don’t know where the stigma of dreads being dirty came from, but it has stuck. Dreads have become linked to lack of hygiene and bad behavior, such as drug use. No, correction: dreads, on certain people have become linked to a lack of hygiene and bad behavior, such as drug use. Now, “certain” people is not to be discriminatory at all. It really isn’t. However, I cannot ignore the inequality that lies in the stigma for some people, yet exempt from others. For example, Kylie Jenner has benefitted from dreadlocks, being deemed as “edgy” and “cool” for rocking them. Now, I know she is a household favorite for being called out for appropriation, but think about it this way: You, a proud dreadhead, are constantly being pressured to get rid of your locks. You can’t advance in your career because you are seen as unprofessional; you are being labeled as a thug and miscreant; you are seen as dirty, even though you take the time to maintain your dreads and make them look neat; your dreads are an essential part of your identity, so cutting them off is like erasing a piece of yourself. You are juggling these dilemmas, and then you see the pictures Kylie Jenner donning dreads for a photoshoot, and she is receiving accolades upon accolades. She is praised for being edgy, and here you are, being criminalized.

Still not relatable? Alright, well in a similar fashion, Zendaya sported faux-locks (they look like dreadlocks, but they are temporary), on the red carpet. Now we have two well-known celebrities, both sporting a temporary dreadlock style, so they are on an equal playing field. Zendaya is normally known for her edgy style, but when she had faux-locks, she was not given the same praises from media outlets like Kylie Jenner did. Giuliana Rancic, of Fashion Police, commented that her faux-locks “probably smelled like Patchouli oil and Mary Jane.” A link to weed to Zendaya versus a praise to Kylie Jenner are not equal treatment. Rancic’s ignorant comment was insensitive, giving into stereotypes that have no strong correlation. There are many established people who wear dreadlocks, and yet remain essential and vital to their communities and societies. There are some people who wear dreads and do drugs; there are some people who wear drugs and do not. Stereotypes normally do not define the majority.

Even more recently, TMZ had made recent inquiries about the Weeknd’s hair, assuming that he never washed his hair, which is why his hair is the way it is. Now, dreads can be washed whenever because the hair is locked in. However, this raises another issue on hair care: not every hair type can get washed every day, and that does not make them dirty. For a lot of black people, coily hair type dries really easy. Shampooing every day would strip hair of essential oils, leaving the hair incredibly dry. This does not mean they never wash their hair; it is just at a lower frequency.

Stigmas are not the way to define people. Hair is extremely personal to people, especially when someone takes effort into maintaining a look. Messy buns are really popular, since it is an easy way to keep hair out one’s face, yet no one is criticizing their lack of neatness. Why not do the same thing for afros? For dreads? More care goes into maintaining these looks; these styles are deliberate. Keeping an open mind about people’s different personal style will remove the stigmas that people face today.