What was your driving force?

Simply put, I thought dreads kicked ass and I still do. I'm a metal head and the way i saw it was "there be not a more brutal hair-do in all the land". So I backcombed my hair, bought into all the dreadhead HQ shtuff too. Stopped using it after i got tired of buying and using it, which was about 3 moths into the process. I remember feeling like EVERYDAY was a "good" hair day. I felt like a bad ass and it was a real ego boost to go to a concert and be the focus of every photographer when the music kicked up and my head started moving.Then I started down my carrier path. At the time I wanted to be a firefighter, and firefighters can't have dreadlocks. I combed them out for 3 (THREE) days straight getting almost no sleep. It sucked and turned out to be in vain, half way through an EMT course I changed my mind and decided to be a nurse. I could still work emergency, but id get paid a lot more, and if i got seriously injured i wouldn't be out of a job. Total plus side is, I can count on both hands the nurses I know who rock locks. In about a year I'm gonna start over again, and even my girlfriend is considering rockin em with me.
updated by @vinny: 07/18/15 11:47:37PM

my decision to lock was especially because of this change that is happening to the planet. a cosmic awakening in many people, and basic ascension principles. the practice of energy manipulation and of course (locking in energy) is definitely helpful for that, which is: the BIG picture.i wanted to eliminate superficiality from my life, superficial friends and superficial experiences.from my point of perception, that im either living in a self-concerned life (ie detoxing and focus on personal matters of the body such as health, diet, excercise)or, that i can be 'unconcerned' and continue to pile up as much "fun, sex, and drugs" and hanging out with people, but not really accomplishing much of "work--my purpose here on this earth"have we at one point forgot our mission, the work we came here to do on this planet? at what point do we re-align with universal sound?

Aww Alden... this made me cry. But, it was good tears(well, is, since I cant get myself to stop). I'm sorry for the loss of your brother... but its nice that you have something that makes you feel close to him, no matter where you go! Thanks so much for sharing that.. I, too always wanted dreads. I grew up in a small hick town in the mountains of Cali. You couldn't wear hats in school... unless it was a cowboy hat. People were very closed minded for the most part. One day, when I was young, a new neighbor moved in. They were totally hippies... and I was so drawn to them. I would always go straight to their house when I'd get off of school. They always had friends over who had dreads... and I was always so facinated by them. I would beg them to let me touch them. They were so different, like nothing I'd ever known before then. It amazed me... and from then on out, I kept begging my mom to let me dread my hair. The answer was always the same "no" but she would always add one of the many myths about dreads, "they stink", "no one is successful with those things in their hair", etc. But, the heart wants what the heart wants. I respected my mothers wishes as long as I stayed in her house. But, she always knew the day I got out they would start! It took a little longer than that, but I have finally started... and I am so excited for the journey!

That is fucking beautiful Right on!I did the math, I waste approximately 500 minutes a MONTH just brushing my hair.I've always wanted dreads, they're beautiful IMHO.They symbolize life, love, and the journey to getting where we are today.(IMHO)