Dreadlocks are rope-like strands of hair formed by matting or braiding. Its origins can be traced back to the mummies of ancient Egypt, the Indian deity Shiva, as well as biblical passages in the character of Samson whose strength comes from his seven locks of hair. But the term “dreadlocks” itself emerged from the religious movement called Rastafarianism. Dreadlocks for Rastafarians served as an identity and a symbol of spiritual resistance by an imperialist structure that had a history of oppressing people of color. They gained popularity among the black Jamaican community and played a major role in popularizing the look in Western culture. Bob Marley, as we all know, also contributed to the popularity of the style. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayDreadlocks have been adopted as a fashion trend over the years, overlooking its historical significance to a marginalized group. Considering its diverse origins, no one truly owns the style, but nevertheless I believe that adopting the look as a trend by bringing with it power and privilege and placing it in another context is harmful. The first point I will present is an irony. There are black people who are scolded for leaving their place while there are these white people who are praised for having “trendy” dreadlocks. The fact is that black people needed to straighten their hair because they were told that it didn't look clean and was less beautiful, while there are others who strive to achieve this hair for fashion. It seems like a small topic, but hair is not something small, it is part of their lifestyle and the impact it has on people is so significant. A better view on this point is an incident with the fashion police and Zendaya, a half-black American star. Zendaya wore her hair on the Oscars red carpet and was criticized for it with an insult saying she looked like she smelled like "patchouli oil or weed." She responded maturely by saying that successful people like Ava Duvernay and many other people of all races have dreadlocks and "none of which smells like marijuana." He further emphasized that his gesture of coming to the red carpet on site was to show African-American hair in a positive light, reminding the community that “their hair is beautiful enough”. This just goes to show that white people can claim locs and be praised for it while black people get so much criticism for something natural about them. Another case is how black people have to compromise their hair to appear professional. Most women need to do this to increase their chances of getting a job because dreadlocks are not suitable for the workplace. This is a case that black women still encounter today. It's actually reasonable if you think about what the norms are because the mentality today is that textured hair is messy and it only seems appropriate to fix it. But it's unfair when these dreadlocks are natural for women of color and require more effort than simply tying your hair in a bun to look professional. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom EssayFear of fashion becomes so evident when there is cultural appropriation, and in the fashion industry it has happened often. Dreadlocks, bindis, hijab, traditional geisha and many more have been adapted on the runway receiving so much controversy. I think it's better when there is a cultural exchange that gives priority to.