BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IN recent years, dreadlocks, referred to as ‘dreads’ or ‘locs’, have become a popular chosen hairstyle for many citizens and residents, both males and females, in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Globally, dreadlocks have long been affiliated with the Rastafarian culture. However, there are many people of diverse cultures and ethnicity who also wear dreadlocks.
In the Caribbean region, there are many islands which population consists of many people who have dreadlocks, such as in Jamaica and Trinidad, among others.
Bob Marley, the late Rastafarian Reggae icon, was lauded worldwide for popularising dreadlocks.
Among those who wear fashion dreadlocks are bank tellers, teachers, lawyers, politicians, models, singers and musicians.
The decision for many people to grow dreads, for whatever reason, continues to be met with negative criticisms in many societies by persons who see such a hairstyle as being unkempt or they misconceive some wearers to be Rastafarians. But in contrast, many others see it as embracing the naturalness of one’s hair, having a cultural and spiritual affiliation, a healthy hair growth regime or a fashionable statement.
One of such individual who has decided to grow locs because he likes the hairstyle, is national Hip Hop artiste SMI from Sandy Point, whose birth name is Gustave Smith.
He informed SKNVibes that he had started his locs journey in May, 2012.
Asked about his inspiration in choosing locs, SMI disclosed that he always wanted to have such a hairstyle.
“I like how it looks. From my mature standpoint…as a man, having locs is better as opposed to plaiting my hair. That’s my opinion.”
“I like the idea of growing my hair. I always wanted to grow dreads. This is actually my third or fourth attempt”, he added.
SMI recalled that his first try at the hairstyle “some years ago”.
SMI’s said his first attempt in getting locs was cut short because of the “rough stage” his hair was going through in the its matting process. He however noted that sometimes he had to attend a certain event or do a photo shoot without wanting to wear a hat and his “head looked nappy”.
He informed that because of the soft texture of his hair, the matting process had been a little challenging but this time around “I’m toughening it out”.
SMI highlighted that he started growing his hair from while at school in the Fifth Form in 2008, and from 2009 to 2011 he had a wave cut. But it was in 2012 when that he “started growing back my hair with the intension of having locs”.
A former student of Charles E. Mills Secondary (formerly Sandy Point High) shared that he was frequently sent home during school hours for not having his hair cut as required.
“I always used to grow my hair since high school. I always used to get sent home for not cutting my hair.”
For SMI, growing dreads has resulted in both positive and negative attention from individuals. He however encourages others who want to grow locs to do so despite pessimistic attitude or adverse comments from others.
“Do it…it’s your life! Some people would have bad things to say but it’s your decision. In everything you do people would always have something to say, but once you are comfortable with it…that’s all that matters.”
SMI informed this media house that he is currently working on an album called ‘Forever King’ which, “hopefully”, should be out in June.
