Justin Bieber got dreadlocks this weekend. He first debuted the look on Instagram, then he showed off his (baby) dreads at the iHeartRadio Awards last night. What do you think? If I’m being completely honest, I already sort of liked the platinum blonde look on him, and I don’t have an issue with the dreads. I’ve known (and even loved) some white guys with dreads and while it’s an odd styling choice for some dudes, I do believe it’s just that: a styling choice. Some are already complaining that Bieber’s baby dreads are “cultural appropriation.” My take? He’s really just doing it as a hairstyle, he’s not pretending to be Rasta.
Honestly though… I think I’m fine with this look mostly because Justin Bieber now looks like every guy I made out with when I was 14-16 years old. This was totally the look in the mid-1990s. So many teenage guys looked like this. I do wonder… do you think he’ll keep the dreads for very long?
Also: Justin just keeps on winning at all of these awards shows. He won again at iHeartRadio last night, picking up Male Artist of the Year and Dance Song of the Year. It just goes to show you that 2015 really was Bieber’s comeback year. I wonder how long he’ll be able to make this last? I predict a massive f—kup by November.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Instagram.
He is an imbecile. He still looks like he’s 12 but tries to come across as a badass. I cannot for the life of me understand the appeal of this kid to the young ladies. Wake up Selena.
Totally agree. I would never have found him appealing even when age appropriate. The dreads look perfectly coiffed and he looks like an idiot. IMO accusing him of cultural appropriation gives him far too much credit.
Idk as mixed race (Irish, Jamaican) I don’t find it offensive in the least. He’s just having fun w his hair and I think it almost suits him??
I just realized Justin Bieber and I have the EXACT same tattoo behind our ears. When did this happen??? I got mine in 2009. I’m sure that was before he was even old enough to get one, so there.
It looks more like a head of kitten tails than dreads with the collective butthole underneath
“A head of kitten tails” – I like that.
😂 😂 this made me laugh so hard
Why is it that this little turd is allowed to “just do it as a hairstyle” but any white female who has tried dreads is guilty of cultural appropriation? I’m genuinely stumped. Why is he held to a different standard?
It’s just a hairstyle, whether it’s worn by a male or a female, and no matter what the person’s skin color is.
It is different depending on a person’s skin color.
‘Just a hairstyle’
That people lose jobs over, are pulled over more by the police for, are seen as drug dealers/users and other stereotypes.
The only time it’s just a hairstyle is if the person wearing dreads is white, and even then it comes with plenty of negative stereotypes too.
a hug to you Eternal, this is as far as i Scroll on this thread, I can’t do this to my sanity today
Robin, Shambles is correct in stating that he is getting a pass. I don’t think it is just a hair style for him.
I don’t think ANY hairstyles should be cultural appropriation, tbh. Dreadlocks originated in Ancient Egypt or India, they’re mentioned in the Bible and even the Ancient Greeks have statues depicting them…. so yeah, I don’t think they belong to one specific culture. If you’re going to call cultural appropriation about dreadlocks, then why can people not say the same about blonde straight hair? If you’re wearing a bunch of rasta clothing and dreadlocks, then sure, that’s cultural appropriation. But I seriously don’t think hairstyles themselves should be considered appropriation because EVERY culture has imitated and borrowed from each other as far as hairstyles are concerned.
@ Tegteg,
I agree. I don’t think anybody or any culture owns any particular hairstyle. I do agree with other commenters that people seem to be more offended when a female does it and we have seen it on this site. I also think it’s offensive to say that a white person gets dreads to look “ghetto”. That wasn’t you who said that but someone further down in the comments. I think dreads can be really beautiful and chic.
Very true! And an honest inquiry here. Why, when someone like Rihanna gets tattoos on her hands that mimic Indian wedding henna tattoos does this not get called cultural appropriation? Why when a black person get straight blond hairstyle is that not called cultural appropriation? Is it only cultural appropriation when a white person dresses in a way that is typically African American? Honestly trying to find out what cultural appropriation is because, as stated above, if you take a look at history you will see all cultures grow, change and borrow from one another.
Except several of those cultures you speak of Indian, Egyptian) were born from African migrants to the area, who populated the area and later became the indigenous population when ethnically was pushed out of power. So basically still an integral part of Black or African culture. Personally, my concern is that this look is not made for people with certain hair properties and textures. It does not “loc” and therefore, it is just faking it. This hairstyle had meaning and purpose in African culture
@amunet ma’at
Well, if you want to go back that far, we all originated from Africa so we all have the historic rite to wear dreads?
” my concern is that this look is not made for people with certain hair properties and textures. It does not “loc” and therefore, it is just faking it.”
And without a straight iron African American people would not have straight hair, so is that Cultural appropriation as well? This issue totally confuses me.
He’s harmless, so why get aggressive over him?
Drag racing, peeing on buckets, moping the floor with nacional flags, egging houses, making graffittis on walls… What an angel he is.
And don’t forget about that poor monkey he used to have.
What’s new?
White celebrity feels bored or wants to look ghetto, they get ‘dreads’.
Take your seat with Miley Cyrus and Kylje Jenner, Biebs, in the booth labeled “Fun for a Few Days” where your credit rating and job performance don’t take a hit.
What? “…or wants to look ghetto.” You did NOT just write that!!!? Not everyone who has dreads lives in the “ghetto.” Wow!!
I don’t think Eternal Side-Eye was trying to imply that everyone who has dreads lives in the ghetto, just that white celebrities get dreads to give them “street credibility” in a sense or seem hip and edgy. Could have been worded better, but I don’t think it was meant to be offensive.
@tegteg
Exactly.
@Bondbabe
Maybe it was unclear but this isn’t about realities, hence my finishing line. This is about the fact that whenever a white celebrity does this they’re attempting to hop scotch their way into some form of street cred and I listed two perfect examples for it.
Here we go again, Eternal.
I have made a pledge to myself to ask about racial issues if I’m confused. I am sincerely confused on this one. I know about the cheap insta street cred problem but isn’t it possible he just likes the look in an admiring way? I have known white guys with dreads who just liked to hang out in the woods in Vermont and smoke it out, while listening to reggae.
There were people who wouldn’t hire them for mainstream jobs but that was kind of the point.
I genuinely want to understand this better.
That’s awesome Magnolia, I can only answer from my own perspective and you can consider your own feelings as well.
For me Justin, Miley, and Kylie don’t fall from each other on this subject. If these were more genuine style choices that didn’t have a fairly obvious motive I’d probably ignore, but each one has done it at a time that they wanted attention or for a very specific ‘look’. There’s a long history of white singers adopting black cultural aesthetics the second they’re trying to aim for a more urban crowd which has been Justin’s music genre with this more recent album. Once the added financial benefit of these black features is gained they usually immediately ditch them in favor of a more wholesome clean cut appearance to regain/renew their old fanbase. The perfect example of this being Miley. When she was hosting some awards show she donned fake dreads and went to great lengths to talk about pot, act wild, and twerk.
When however she went to a more formal award’s show and was attempting to paint her image as wholesome the dreads were suddenly gone, her makeup and dress was clean cut and she was essentially right back to claiming the benefit of her ‘whiteness’ without any repercussions. Whereas whenever a black individual embraces these black aesthetics publicly they are usually bashed for it, because black cultural aesthetic is only acceptable when it has been ‘cleaned up and claimed’ by whites.
Example: Zendaya being mocked for wearing locks (proper term) vs. Kylie Jenner being oohed and aahed as fashionable and cool. Or Beyonce being threatened up and down for merely acknowleding police brutality among black audiences when a few years ago ‘Single Ladies’ was all the rage. Be black, don’t bring attention to your blackness, don’t make others uncomfortable with it etc. Hope this offers some perspective!
Ahhh okay. Now I understand it better. It’s white privilege and I do see your point. Use black culture for personal gain, but discard it when it’s no longer convenient. It is alright and cool if a white guy does it, but threatening when a black person does it.
It isn’t as if they are embracing and understanding the cultural significance, but are using it as a prop in order to get a response.
Put that way, there are so many culprits of this. Yikes.
Thanks for clarifying ESE.
I don’t think black guys with dreads living in the woods, smoking it out, would have been seen as harmless as the guys I’m referring to. They would have been seen as threatening and potential criminals. 🙁
Racism is very insidious and somethings are harder to understand than others.
Doesn’t matter what he does to his appearance — all I see is the massive tool within.
+1
world’s most punchable face
Ugh. If you gonna do a post on teenyboppers please do one on that zayn fellow instead. At least he’s pretty, tops the billboard 100 and is the first Asian mainstream teen idol which makes him more interesting than this giant toddler.
Looks more animatronic than ever. I wonder where the off button is.
Justin looks pale and unwell. Rarely looks happy, and sadly robotic. His hair should not be the main concern at this juncture.
Just when I think he can’t be more of a douche…
Yeah, still want to punch him (and it has nothing to do with the hair).
Justin is forever in the “never” column. I don’t care if he made an Indecent Proposal, he is, for eternity, a NOPE. Maybe under the threat of serious violence against my person, but otherwise NOOOPE!
Just wow… very dissapointed!
What year is it again???
He’s a goofus, for sure, but I don’t have a problem with white dreads. Remember LaLaLaHuman Steps? The lead dancer there rocked them.
Rhetorical question, yes?
Some people on here are comparing him to Kendall and Miley and that just seems wrong. He may have hit stardom young but his Mom was a single teen Mom working several jobs to make ends meet.. So not having had parents that were upper class and already coming from a place of fame and money. I’m not saying he doesn’t act like a typical spoiled star.I just think it’s different when you are born into a life of privilege.
Yeah, I liked the platinum blond on him and I don’t mind the dreads.