Most Kick-Ass Dreads in Jamaica

Walking down the streets of Kingston, you notice a young boy with dreadlocks flowing past his waist. Across the street, a woman sells fruit; the sunset creates a halo around the dreadlocks that she wears in a sweeping high bun.

Young, old, male and female: Dreadlocks are worn by many in Jamaica. While the hairstyle has been around for ages, and dates as far back as the world’s earliest civilizations, dreadlocks are deeply ingrained in the cultural DNA of Jamaica. While dreadlocks have become an increasingly popular hairstyle, they were once considered the mark of a rebellious social outcast. With the rise of reggae music and the Rastafarian movement in the early 1970s, the stigma associated with the hairstyle shifted and became more of a badge of honor rather than a symbol of defiance.

We took to the streets of Jamaica searching for the most badass dreads in town, and we found plenty: long, short, gray, blond—and all beautiful.

Icah Wilmot, Kingston

Billy Wilmot, Kingston

Chef at IBO Spice, Kingston

Brother Roy Taylor, Kingston

Ras Haile Makelot, Kingston

Lisa Binns, St. Ann

Horace Andy, Kingston

Ricky Chaplin, Kingston

Lion, Pantrepant 

Chris Binns, St. Ann