Things my dreads have taught me...
Introduce Yourself
Your post is lovely!
I've had dreads for a little over two years now and it's the longest I have ever gone without changing my hair 'style'. I used to get really bored with my hair and changed it every couple of weeks to change how I looked.
Since I dreaded my hair, not only am I not bored (it changes every day on it's own and I'm completely in love with that), but when I look in the mirror, I look like me. I've never had that before. I've always been looking for things to change. My dreads have made me realise that this is what I look like... and that if they can be beautifulyet not 'fit the mould', then so can I. (Reading that back sounds very cheesy, but I can't think of a way to reword it and for it still to say what I want it to... sorry...)
I've always loved them in private, but I tend to tie them up for work and try to fit in with the corporate image at work.Over the past few weeks I've decided to embrace my dreads more. I was finding snappage where my bobble (hair tie??) has been too tight to keep them 'neat'. I've wrn them down every day for three weeks now and have never had so much love for them (or so many compliments!!). Turns out the only person who was judging my dreads in a corporate environment was me...
My dreads have taught me that being yourself will make you happier, more healthy and less self concious. They've also taught me that people aren't as closed minded as you might think.
Thanks for the ivy analogy... it made me realise all of that. 
