Best Locs Moments Throughout History

Hair history.

September 16, 2016

Dating all the way back to 2,500 BCE, dreadlocks, or locs, have rich and complicated origins; one that has no definitive timeline and identifiable birthplace. The style is a result of entangled locks that matte up after a long period of time of not brushing or combing out the hair. For carefully styled locs, it takes diligent upkeep and maintenance — and yes, that means regularly washing them.

The first mention of locs in literature can be found in India’s Vedic scriptures, according to Dr. Bert Ashe, author of Twisted: My Black Chronicles. Historians have found evidence of the style throughout various points of history including amongst a wide range of cultures including ancient Egyptians, Germanic tribes, early Christians, the Aborigines and the New Guineans, and many more, as reported by CNN.

The term "dreadlock" itself comes from Rastafarianism, a religious movement and set of conventions born out of Jamaica in the 1930s. At the height of the 1970s, locs were commonly seen in the black community as a symbol of cultural pride. Ever since, locs have become a mainstay in the mainstream. In celebration of dreadlocks and their rich history, here are some of our favorite locs moments in popular culture.

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Click through to see 13 moments that define the cultural appreciation of locs.
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1980s: Bob Marley
Quite notably, dreadlocks were popularized in the 1970s and 1980s by the one and only reggae icon Bob Marley, who sported them as a part of his identity and connection to Rastafarianism.

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1980s: Whoopi Goldberg
While Bob Marley promoted the beauty of locs a decade prior, Whoopi Goldberg is often credited for introducing them to the larger American public, making it a hairstyle to be revered.
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1990s: Lauryn Hill
At the height of her career, Lauryn Hill was well known for her free spirit and signature locs. This moment in particular was one to remember, after she won five Grammy awards.

The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
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1990s: Lenny Kravitz
No list of memorable dreadlock moments is complete without a mention of badass Lenny Kravitz, who showed just how impressive they are in the ‘90s.
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Early 2000s: Lisa Bonet
Former Cosby Show star Lisa Bonet has been wearing a slight variation of full-out locs since the ‘90s. Since then, she’s ingeniously made the style her own by wearing a few braids mixed in.

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2014: Ciara
Ciara piqued our interest when she was spotted on Instagram sporting faux dreadlocks, a relatively uncommon phenomenon at the time.
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2015 Golden Globes: Ava DuVernay
Beaming from the success of her film Selma, director and filmmaker Ava DuVernay looked radiant as ever at the 2015 Golden Globes in a floor-length blue dress with her signature locs in a structural high bun.

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2015 Oscars: Zendaya
Zendaya looked stunning at the 87th Oscars ceremony wearing faux dreadlocks in homage to people who have committed to the style, like her father. Unfortunately, she was unfairly berated by E! fashion commentator, Giuliana Rancic, who said they made her look like she smelled of “pachouli oil” or “weed.”
Immediately after, Zendaya took to Instagram and responded to the comment by saying,
“There is a fine line between what is funny and disrespectful.” “To say that an 18-year-old young woman with locs must smell of ‘patchouli oil’ or ‘weed’ is not only a large stereotype but outrageously offensive.”
Beautifully said.
FilmMagic
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2016: Meagan Good
Actress Meagan Good has been flawlessly rocking faux locs for a while now. More recently, she shaved the side of her head, making them much more punk.

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2016: Sasha Lane
Actress Sasha Lane may not be a household name yet, but we’re placing all of our bets that she quickly will be, with her daring looks.
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2016 Met Gala: Willow and Jaden Smith
Siblings Willow and Jaden Smith are always captivating us with their gender-bending, trend-transcending style, especially their relatively new choice of wearing locs.
Their appearance at this year’s Met Gala with matching outfits and stylized locs was one of our favorite moments from the two.

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2016 Met Gala: The Weeknd
Another amazing moment from the 2016 Met Gala was the performer of the night, The Weeknd, whose sculptural-esque locs always give us Jean-Michel Basquiat vibes.
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2016: Chloe and Halle
Dynamic R&B duo and Beyoncé’s protégés Chloe and Halle continue to blow us away with their creativity in the beauty department.