What do you think?
Rate this book
Dreads
Dreadlocks are a modern phenomenon with roots reaching as far back as the fifth century. According to ancient Hindu beliefs, dreads signified a singleminded pursuit of the spiritual. Devotion to God displaced vanity, and hair was left to its own devices. Dreads captures this organic explosion of hair in all its beautiful, subversive glory. One hundred duotone portraits present dread-heads from around the world, in all walks of life. Interviewed on location by the photographers, jatta- wearers wax philosophic about the integrity of their hair, and every stunning image confirms their choice. Alice Walker puts words to pictures, offering lyrical ruminations about her decision to let her own mane mat.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published January 10, 1999
7 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
January 13, 2009
Like others who've reviewed this book, I admit to being a little biased, since I wore dreads for almost 3 and a half years. However, what I really like about this book is the attempt to show dreads from a variety of cultural perspectives. Contrary to popular (usually Western) belief, Rastas do not own the patent on dreads (though some of the most amazing heads of hair belong to the many Rastas featured in this book), nor are they the only ones who tie dreads to spirituality. This is not a how-to book...unless you want to know "how to" break free from standard Western notions about hair and its form and function. Read these personal stories for some clues.
November 14, 2011
I absolutely LOVE this book!!
December 16, 2015
Gorgeous to say the least!
November 25, 2021
🔥✊🏾📚 Βook Review 📚✊🏾🔥
Dreads by Francesco Mastalia & Alfonse Pagano (Artisan Publishing, 1999)
How I Found It: Picture it. Orlando, 1999. my mother @braketimeevents has had locks off on since maybe 2001-02. She bought this coffee table book sometime during our Orlando years. I started my first set of locs in 2006 after reading it.
Synopsis: This large, coffee-table type book with black-and-white photographs looks at the wide diversity of people who sport this knotted, ropelike hairdo. Some display it theatrically, while others wear it to stress their individuality. Others have religious or political reasons. The author also looks at dreadlocks in history, including the priests of the Ethiopian Coptic Church who have been locking their hair since the fifth century and the Rastafarian movement, which began religiously in Ethiopia. There are 100 various photographs of individuals around the world with dreadlocks, an introduction by Alice Walker as well as a 20-page treatise on "Sacred Rites of the Natural Hair Revolution."
My Thoughts: I’ve read this book at least dozen times since 2006. I read it in 2007 after cutting my Locs the first time in order to align with the company dress code of Walt Disney World. I read it again in 2013 when I moved to Nashville (following the second time I would cut my locs ) in order to rebuild my career. I read it again in 2021 after growing my locs a third and final time. What I found was, this black and white coffee table is filled with stories that speak
To the global appeal that a hairstyle has had on Rastafarians, artists in NYC, scientists, and devout spiritualists in India, Japan and Trinidad. I am always drawn to the incredibly beautiful images of people who have taken their own individual approach to this hairstyle as ancient as time itself. It speaks to me, my various stages in life when I appreciated my locs and other stages when I knew it was time to let them go. I am finally in a place in my life where they don’t speak for me, but lend themselves to being a part of my story as an educator.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
IG: @thelit_blacklibrary
Dreads by Francesco Mastalia & Alfonse Pagano (Artisan Publishing, 1999)
How I Found It: Picture it. Orlando, 1999. my mother @braketimeevents has had locks off on since maybe 2001-02. She bought this coffee table book sometime during our Orlando years. I started my first set of locs in 2006 after reading it.
Synopsis: This large, coffee-table type book with black-and-white photographs looks at the wide diversity of people who sport this knotted, ropelike hairdo. Some display it theatrically, while others wear it to stress their individuality. Others have religious or political reasons. The author also looks at dreadlocks in history, including the priests of the Ethiopian Coptic Church who have been locking their hair since the fifth century and the Rastafarian movement, which began religiously in Ethiopia. There are 100 various photographs of individuals around the world with dreadlocks, an introduction by Alice Walker as well as a 20-page treatise on "Sacred Rites of the Natural Hair Revolution."
My Thoughts: I’ve read this book at least dozen times since 2006. I read it in 2007 after cutting my Locs the first time in order to align with the company dress code of Walt Disney World. I read it again in 2013 when I moved to Nashville (following the second time I would cut my locs ) in order to rebuild my career. I read it again in 2021 after growing my locs a third and final time. What I found was, this black and white coffee table is filled with stories that speak
To the global appeal that a hairstyle has had on Rastafarians, artists in NYC, scientists, and devout spiritualists in India, Japan and Trinidad. I am always drawn to the incredibly beautiful images of people who have taken their own individual approach to this hairstyle as ancient as time itself. It speaks to me, my various stages in life when I appreciated my locs and other stages when I knew it was time to let them go. I am finally in a place in my life where they don’t speak for me, but lend themselves to being a part of my story as an educator.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
IG: @thelit_blacklibrary
December 13, 2020
Gorgeous portraits. Amazing information about the different reasons people wear locks - and I thought the varied religious influences was fascinating.
There is one picture of a topless woman.
In the introduction the author muses what it would “what would it be like to make love to someone with hair on your head like that, and to be made love to by someone with his or her hair like that? It must be like the mating of lions, I thought. Aroused.”
One interviewee uses the word “horseshit”.
Lots of mentions of ganja and other drug use.
There is one picture of a topless woman.
In the introduction the author muses what it would “what would it be like to make love to someone with hair on your head like that, and to be made love to by someone with his or her hair like that? It must be like the mating of lions, I thought. Aroused.”
One interviewee uses the word “horseshit”.
Lots of mentions of ganja and other drug use.
January 14, 2019
Wonderful portraits of, you guessed it, folks with dreadlocks
Want to read
July 15, 2020Finally found a replacement copy!!
Want to read
December 23, 2016* Understanding Oppression: African American Rights (Then and Now)
Dreads by Francesco Mastalia | One hundred duotone portraits present dread-heads from around the world, in all walks of life. Interviewed on location by the photographers, jatta-wearers wax philosophic about the integrity of their hair, and every stunning image confirms their choice. Alice Walker puts words to pictures, offering lyrical ruminations about her decision to let her own mane mat. #activist
Dreads by Francesco Mastalia | One hundred duotone portraits present dread-heads from around the world, in all walks of life. Interviewed on location by the photographers, jatta-wearers wax philosophic about the integrity of their hair, and every stunning image confirms their choice. Alice Walker puts words to pictures, offering lyrical ruminations about her decision to let her own mane mat. #activist
December 30, 2017
i got this as a coffeetable book some time ago and slowly read it around the time i started to loc my hair again. the book starts out with an essay about the global histories of (dread)locks in different contexts. from spiritual leaders in south east asia to africa to the caribbean, most locks have deep cultural, historic importance to the people who wear them. the essay was fascinating, for sure. most of the book, though, is 2-page spreads: one page being a full page portrait and the other being a statement from the subject of the image. it was really eye-opening to see how so many different people from around the world and different traditions think about their locked hair.
ps - i'm not totally sold on the cultural pluralism taken by the authors (e.g. that people of all backgrounds, regardless of how they understand their identities, can wear locs without cultural appropriation). i feel like people who have a historic, spiritual or not, connection to the practice of locking hair, have a different relationship to it than people (especially people whose hair doesn't lock naturally and/or people who are prone to appropriate cultures) who just do it for the aesthetic.
ps - i'm not totally sold on the cultural pluralism taken by the authors (e.g. that people of all backgrounds, regardless of how they understand their identities, can wear locs without cultural appropriation). i feel like people who have a historic, spiritual or not, connection to the practice of locking hair, have a different relationship to it than people (especially people whose hair doesn't lock naturally and/or people who are prone to appropriate cultures) who just do it for the aesthetic.
December 29, 2014
What is hair and what does it mean to you? Hairstyling holds tremendous significance for many, from rites of passage to fashion statements, hair is in the forefront and being talked about. DREADS by Francesco Mastalia and Alfonse Pagano is a photographic book on dreads/dreadlocks.
Francesco Mastalia and Alfonse Pagano did an absolutely fabulous job in putting this book together. Behind each picture is a story. A unique and deeply personal account about why they chose to wear their hair that way.
Their influences run the gamut from Bob Marley to the Bible. If you are thinking about "locs," wearing "locs" or just curious, this book is a must read or a great conversation piece!! However you chose to wear your hair, understand and be comfortable with your choice.
Francesco Mastalia and Alfonse Pagano did an absolutely fabulous job in putting this book together. Behind each picture is a story. A unique and deeply personal account about why they chose to wear their hair that way.
Their influences run the gamut from Bob Marley to the Bible. If you are thinking about "locs," wearing "locs" or just curious, this book is a must read or a great conversation piece!! However you chose to wear your hair, understand and be comfortable with your choice.
April 4, 2008
Well, I know I'm biased. I have a set of Dreadlocks that reach my butt. I've been growing them for over 11 years now and they really define me in a certain way. This book is Beautiful and moving. It connects people across the world over something that may seem small to some, but to those who have locks it is something intimate and important. Hair may just be hair to most but for many it is the way the world sees us and it is our filter to the world. This book does a good job of construing that feeling through quotes and stunning black and white photography. It is really something!
May 31, 2009
Any person that held this book in there hands and browse through would surely know how beauitful the pictures are. The photos are showing people from different regions,culture and so forth with dread/ locks. BUt my favourite picture is the one with this white lady standing in the bush like by a old building and there are veins cripping all along the wall, this lady is so pretty and the background ohh ;) Lovely book
June 23, 2009
this is an amazingly beautiful book. it examined several different cultures... I learned a great deal about hair and as simple as it must seem hair can hold a significant place in spirtuality, life and decisions. It opened my eyes more to profound photography and journalistic litearature. This is a very close second away from being my favorite book. i admire its depth and knowledge
April 9, 2012
Everything about dreadlocks is found in this book. Undoes stereotypes, explains the religious significance not just in Rastafarianism but in Eastern religions too, scours meaning cross culturally, yes Asian's and white people can rock dreads, it's just harder to do and means something slightly different. Want to know what? Read this book.
March 1, 2012
A pretty coffee table book - collection of portraits of people (of diverse races and backgrounds) and their locks. Includes a brief history of dreadlocks as a style, and most portraits are accompanied by quotations from the subject, talking about their hair as an expression of personal style, rebellion, or religion.
January 25, 2016
I had this book on my sofa table and my daughter, who had locks at the time, appropriated it. She cut her locks and now has a curly afro since my granddaughter was born. I wonder if she'll give me my book back.
There is a photo of a brother who has a lock so thick and wide that it cascades down his shoulder like a shawl - simply stunning. I think I'll have to get another copy of it.
There is a photo of a brother who has a lock so thick and wide that it cascades down his shoulder like a shawl - simply stunning. I think I'll have to get another copy of it.
March 29, 2011
Beautiful pictures. I loved the introduction by Alice Walker, which delved into the origins of dreads in many different parts of the world, and how it morphed from a sign of spirituality, into a style made popular by icons like Bob Marley. Very interesting and beautiful coffee table piece.
Read
August 6, 2011This has a beautiful collection of dreadlocs all around the world of almost every race and culture. It does a great job of explaining the many reasons people choose this hair style and the journey it takes to get there. I love it and refer to it often.
January 19, 2012
Alice Walker's forward is what made me by this book, which I got at a steal for $3 from Goodwill. It's worth several times that for the pictures alone, but I actually learned a lot from the commentary, making this my favorite coffee table book.
July 3, 2012
"To some dreads represents a hair style, while to others it represents spirituality." Elaine
This is a wonderful coffee table book.
"Beautiful book,
beautiful hair,
beautiful people,
beautiful exhilarating spirituality.
I loved it and love my (our) hair."
Anne Lamott
This is a wonderful coffee table book.
"Beautiful book,
beautiful hair,
beautiful people,
beautiful exhilarating spirituality.
I loved it and love my (our) hair."
Anne Lamott
July 22, 2015
Despite the title, I loved this book! I kept it on my coffee table for years. It always sparked great conversation, which inevitably led to a lesson from me on why "dreads" is not the appropriate name for my hair. Nothing dreadful about my locs. Nothing at all.
August 14, 2007
This book is full of beautiful photography and a brilliant foreword by Alice Walker (reprinted/adapted).
September 26, 2007
Beautiful Photography and a forward by one of my favorites!
January 15, 2008
This book was on display at my library. Since my partner is letting his hair go natural, we both enjoyed this one.
February 13, 2008
Beautiful photos of different races who lock their hair, along with brief statements from each.
July 3, 2009
Loved this. Great photographs.
February 5, 2012
4 stars on photographic imagery alone. enlightening narratives. appreciated foreword by alice walker.
September 25, 2012
I love this book. I love locs. So, to have a book about locs? Ingenious.
September 14, 2014
This is a great addition to any loc lovers library. Fabulous images of locs across all cultures and the stories behind the faces. I never get tired of leafing through the pages.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews