Bob Marley, the legendary reggae musician from Jamaica, was well known for his distinctive dreadlocks hairstyle. But why did Marley choose to wear his hair in this unique fashion? There are several reasons behind his iconic look.
Religious and Spiritual Reasons
One of the main reasons Marley wore dreadlocks was religious and spiritual. Marley was a Rastafarian, a member of the Rastafari movement that began in Jamaica in the 1930s. For Rastafarians, growing dreadlocks is much more than just a hairstyle. Dreadlocks have deep religious significance.
Rastafarians believe in the biblical Nazarite vow, which states that one should not cut their hair. So for devout Rasta believers like Marley, dreadlocks are a symbolic way to show devotion to their faith by avoiding ever cutting or combing their hair. Rastafarians also point to several verses in the Bible that suggest locks are part of the intended natural state of one’s hair.
Beyond the biblical reasoning, Rastafarians view dreadlocks as conferring spiritual power and strength. They see the long tangled strands of hair as resembling a lion’s mane, representing courage, authority, and virility. Dreadlocks are seen as signifying the “natural” state of Black hair and a rejection of Eurocentric standards of beauty.
Cultural and Political Statement
In addition to religious motivations, Marley’s dreadlocks also made a strong cultural and political statement. In the 1960s and 70s when Marley rose to prominence, growing dreadlocks was a form of symbolic resistance and empowerment for people of African descent.
After centuries of colonialism and slavery, dreadlocks represented a reclaiming of African heritage and pride in one’s Black identity. The hairstyle allowed Marley and other Rastas to reconnect with their roots and make a stand against Eurocentric cultural norms.
Marley considered his locks a revolutionary political symbol of solidarity, independence, and dissent against an oppressive establishment. His conspicuous dreadlocks sent a message of spiritual liberation and defiance of Babylon, the Rastafarian term for the corrupt Western system.
Fashion and Self-Expression
Aside from religious and cultural motivations, Marley also wore dreadlocks simply as a fashion statement and form of self-expression. Always a rebel at heart, Marley enjoyed having a hairstyle that shocked and stood out from the crowd.
Locks allowed Marley to cultivate a unique look that matched his artistic spirit and energetic stage presence. Over time, his distinctive flowing dreadlocks became an iconic part of his image. Fans soon came to immediately recognize Marley by his prominent locks.
By boldly wearing his hair in an unconventional manner, Marley made a personal statement about his individuality. His locks became part of his identity as a musician and served as a projection of his carefree soul.
Practical Reasons
There were also some very practical motivations behind Marley choosing to grow dreadlocks. Firstly, maintaining locks required little upkeep compared to other hairstyles. Marley was a busy, often touring musician with limited time for haircare.
Locks conveniently allowed his hair to naturally knot and tangle into strands without the need for visits to the barber to get haircuts. The low-maintenance nature of dreadlocks suited Marley’s laidback personality and active lifestyle.
Additionally, since dreadlocks do not require any heat styling, Marley could avoid applying damaging chemical treatments or hot irons to straighten his naturally kinky hair. Keeping his hair locked in its organic state prevented breakage.
When Did Bob Marley Start Wearing Dreadlocks?
Marley began growing dreadlocks as a teenager in the early 1960s. While working in a US auto plant after moving to Delaware from Jamaica, a friend helped Marley twist his hair into early locks.
However, it was upon returning to Jamaica around 1965 when Marley fully embraced the Rasta lifestyle and grew full flowing dreadlocks as we know them. His locks then grew wild and free for the rest of his life, eventually stretching down past his waist at their longest.
How Long Were Bob Marley’s Dreadlocks?
In the early days of Marley’s musical career in the mid-1960s, his locks were only chin to shoulder length. But as the 1970s progressed, his hair grew several feet long at its peak.
Estimates of the exact length of Marley’s dreadlocks during the height of his fame vary. Some sources claim Marley’s locks grew to nearly 2 feet (24 inches) in length at their longest point. However other accounts suggest they may have dangled down to almost 3 feet (36 inches) long!
Whatever the precise measurement, it’s clear Marley’s bundles of matted hair were incredibly long. When performing on stage, he would whip his flowing dreadlocks around energetically as he sang and played guitar.
Did Bob Marley Ever Cut His Dreadlocks?
No, once Marley began growing his hair into dreadlocks around the mid-1960s, he never cut them short again. Trimming off dreadlocks would have gone against the Rastafarian Nazarite vow Marley followed, so he kept them intact.
However, Marley did occasionally have the tips of his locks snipped once they grew extremely lengthy. This minor trim allowed his hair to remain thick rather than becoming overly wispy at the ends. But he never shaved his head fully or dramatically cut the overall length of his iconic dreadlocks.
How Were Bob Marley’s Dreadlocks Maintained?
While dreadlocks require less styling than many other hairstyles, Marley did have to put some degree of regular maintenance into his locks to keep them in good condition.
He would wash his hair once a week with Dr. Bronner’s pure castile soap, which cleansed his scalp without stripping away too much natural oil. Marley sometimes used beeswax or butter to smooth stray hairs back into his locks and reduce frizz.
Since Marley preferred to avoid trimming his hair, he occasionally had split ends clipped off the tips of his dreadlocks. But other than that, he typically wore his locks in their natural state without much intervention.
Did Bob Marley Wear His Dreadlocks Every Day?
Yes, from the mid 1960s until his death in 1981, Bob Marley wore his trademark dreadlocks virtually every single day. His locks became such an integral part of Marley’s image and identity that it would feel unnatural for fans to see him without them.
Marley did occasionally cover up his dreads under a hat or scarf, depending on his outfit. But he never fully shaved his head or changed to a short hairstyle. Once Marley began growing his famous dreadlocks, he proudly displayed them as part of his signature look for the rest of his life.
What Products Did Bob Marley Use on His Hair?
Marley kept his haircare regimen simple and natural. According to his former manager Don Taylor, Marley washed his locks weekly with Dr. Bronner’s castile soap. He alternated between peppermint and lavender scented versions for cleansing and freshness.
Marley also nurtured his dreadlocks by oiling them with shea butter, coconut oil, olive oil, or beeswax. These natural products conditioned his hair without using harsh chemicals. They replenished moisture and sealed in nourishing emollients into his locks.
In addition, Marley occasionally applied honey to his dreadlocks as a hair mask. Honey contains enzymes and antioxidants that boost shine and hydration. Vinegar rinses were also used to remove buildup and maintain his locks’ strength.
What Did Bob Marley’s Dreadlocks Smell Like?
Several people close to Bob Marley have commented on the distinctive herbal aroma of his dreadlocks. This was likely due to his regular use of natural botanical oils and soaps on his hair.
The vegetal and floral fragrance of coconut oil, olive oil, and Dr. Bronner’s Castile soap gave Marley’s locks a mildly earthy, organic scent. The subtle whiff of honey, beeswax, and natural vinegars also added to the overall mellow smell of his hair.
However, his locks did not emit too strong of a smell since Marley washed them regularly. The natural fragrance was subtle enough to not be overpowering.
Did Bob Marley’s Dreadlocks Contain Marijuana?
Bob Marley was known for his frequent marijuana use as part of his Rastafarian lifestyle. This sometimes leads to speculation that his dreadlocks may have been infused with cannabis botanicals.
However, there is no definitive evidence that Marley added marijuana flowers or leaves directly into his locks. His hair was more likely fragranced by natural herbal oils rather than actual cannabis.
Though Marley smoked marijuana regularly, he tended to apply clean botanical products to maintain his hair rather than treating it with cannabis. So while his clothes and surroundings may have carried the scent of marijuana, his locks were more strongly aromatized by fragrant natural oils.
Did Bob Marley Ever Have Short Hair?
In his younger years as a teenager in Jamaica, Bob Marley did wear his hair in short afro styles before growing dreadlocks. There are a few photos of Marley from the late 1950s and very early 1960s with cropped hair.
| Year | Hairstyle |
|---|---|
| Late 1950s | Short afro |
| Early 1960s | Chin length strands |
| Mid 1960s | Early dreadlocks |
| 1970s | Fully formed long dreadlocks |
However, once Marley began twisting his hair into dreadlocks around 1964 or 1965, he never again cut it all off. The only exceptions were occasional minor trims to the ends of his locks. So after the mid-1960s, Marley wore his signature long dreadlocks for the rest of his life.
What Did Bob Marley’s Hair Look Like Under His Dreadlocks?
Underneath his famous bundled dreadlocks, Bob Marley had fairly coarse, kinky hair typical of many people of African descent. His natural hair pattern would have been classified as Type 4 hair using the common hair typing system.
Marley’s hair grew out into tight spirals or zig-zags with a dense, wiry texture. This naturally textured hair lent itself well to twisting up into thick, tightly packed dreadlocks. If Marley had ever shaved off his locks, his hair would have appeared similarly curly to how it looked in his youth before growing his iconic dreadlocks.
Could Bob Marley’s Dreadlocks Be Unraveled?
Technically, it would have been possible to untangle and unravel Bob Marley’s dreadlocks since they were not permanently locked. However, it would have taken an extremely lengthy process to loosen and unwind his thick, knotted bundles of hair.
Given how long and well-formed Marley’s mature dreadlocks were, it’s unlikely anyone ever completely picked apart his locks all the way down to the roots. It took years of growth for his hair to mat and bind into long dreadlocks, so untangling them would have been very tedious.
Marley also presumably would never have allowed his iconic locks to be completely undone since that would go against his Rastafarian beliefs. So while not permanently locked, Marley’s flowing dreadlocks remained bundled together his entire adult life by choice.
Could Bob Marley’s Hair Grow Back After Cutting His Dreadlocks?
If Bob Marley had ever shaven off his dreadlocks very short, his natural hair would have been able to regrow. Hair follicles are still active underneath dreadlocks, so cutting the locks does not prevent new hair from growing in.
However, completely shaving off mature, long-standing dreadlocks can damage hair follicles from the stress of it. This can lead to some temporary hair loss immediately after removing locks.
So if Marley’s iconic waist-length dreadlocks were cut extremely low, he may have experienced a period of hair loss or slower regrowth. But eventually his natural curly hair would have grown back, although the regrowth process may have taken months.
Did Bob Marley Ever Talk About His Dreadlocks?
Yes, Bob Marley occasionally discussed the spiritual significance of his dreadlocks in interviews when questioned about his hair.
He is quoted as saying “My hair is I, man, my hair is I. Jah gave I hair and I grow it as the way Jah inspired me to grow it.” This reflects the Rastafarian belief that dreadlocks are a gift and spiritual manifestation.
Marley also stated “We don’t cut our hair, because it is part of our body. We don’t believe in circumcision, we don’t believe in altering the body that Jah created. We are not defacing our body, are we? So likewise we are not defacing our head.” This further emphasizes dreadlocks as natural and not to be tampered with.
When asked if his locks gave him power, Marley replied “The power is in Jah, in the spirit. The hair is just a symbol.” He saw his prominent dreadlocks as an outward expression of his inner spirituality.
Did Bob Marley’s Family Also Wear Dreadlocks?
Yes, many members of Bob Marley’s immediate and extended family also wore dreadlocks. This includes his wife Rita Marley and several of his children such as Ziggy Marley, Stephen Marley, and Rohan Marley.
Other relatives with locks include Bob’s mother Cedella Marley, his sister Bunny Wailer, his brother Anthony Marley, and children born since his death such as Ky-Mani Marley. Bob’s commitment to the spiritual symbolism of dreadlocks clearly passed down through his family line.
However, Bob’s daughter Sharon did not wear locks while some sons like Julian Marley have alternated between locks and very short hair. So while many Marleys favor dreadlocks, it is not universally adopted by all members of the family.
Why Do Some of Bob Marley’s Sons Cut Their Dreadlocks?
Although Bob Marley never cut off his iconic long dreadlocks, some of his sons such as Ziggy, Julian, and Stephen Marley have worn their hair in both short and locked styles over the years.
They sometimes explain this by noting they are only half Jamaican by blood, with their mother being from England. So Rastafarian dreadlocks may be less of abirthright to them. Their musical career also differs from their father’s spiritual journey.
Additionally, with Marley’s hairstyle so distinctive, his sons may have desired their own identity. Their changing hairstyles allow them to reinvent themselves stylistically. So for Bob’s biracial sons, dreadlocks are more fluid symbol than lifelong commitment.
Conclusion
In summary, Bob Marley chose to wear dreadlocks due to several overlapping factors related to spirituality, culture, politics, fashion, and convenience. For Marley, dreadlocks held deep religious meaning and made a statement of Black pride and dissent against the establishment. His flowing locks also became an iconic part of his image as a musician. Once Marley began growing dreadlocks as a young Rastafarian, he continued to wear them with pride for the rest of his life, even as they grew several feet long at their peak.