FOR years, Zimbabwe’s own mbira princess and poet Hope Masike was known for her dreadlocks that had become her trademark hairstyle for close to 10 years.
The dreadlocks were Masike’s signature look and she has never shied away from flaunting them.
She liked to rock them in different styles too.
While for some, dreadlocks, dreads or locks are a symbol of spiritual or cultural affiliation, for Masike, it was just a hairstyle.
With two months into the new year, Masike is now spotting a new hair style. She has decided to go bald and the locks are gone.
For the bald head new look, definitely her fans have to be accustomed to.
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Interestingly, Masike told NewsDay Weekender that she had no inspiration or reason, but just decided to remove her locks.
“It is not even a new look. I just removed them. Not in the brand or music business sense, there is no new look I have coined,” she said.
Here is what she has said about her beloved locks.
Spotting dreadlocks
In 2017, Masike told NewsDay Weekender that sporting dreadlocks does not mean she followed the Rastafarian culture, but prices being African.
Her trademark hairstyle had helped her define who she is in associating her with African culture.
Not Rastafarian
Although I would like to learn more about Rastafarian culture, as any other important culture, I am not Rastafarian. My locks are, of course, my hairstyle of choice, but they represent more. Beyond being a mere hairstyle, by default generally, they are also personal by design and by desire too.
Inspiration
Dreadlocks for me are convenient, less time-consuming and very cost-efficient once you can retouch them yourself, which is easy. They are also stress-free for people like me, who do not fancy putting chemicals on their scalps or plaiting their hair quite often.
No change to persona
Hairstyles come with personalities, but what is good is to have a hairstyle whose personality complements yours, then there is no discord. I guess that is where we belong. Locks complement the rest of me, they do not change me.
Rocking the locks
I like the rougher, more casual look of “unretouched” locks as opposed to the absolutely neat, tight look of recently retouched locks. Fortunately, I have a licence to rock my locks as I desire, being a creative and self-employed person.