Dreadlocks Male Head Silhouette

Dreadlocks, short dreads (from English dread, "fear"), also felt curls, are strands of matted head hair. They may develop by themselves if the hair is not combed, cut or shaved for a long period of time; however, the matting is usually artificially induced by tools. Dreadlocks can come in a variety of shapes, thicknesses, and lengths. There are also completely man-made dreadlocks made of wool, known as silky dreadlocks. Some dreadlock wearers (so-called dread heads) additionally decorate their hair with various jewelry such as beads made of wood, metal, Fimo or even other materials. In Europe and the USA, dreadlocks are usually worn as a fashionable hairstyle. In some cultures, such as the Rastafari, they can also have religious or spiritual backgrounds.