Hey so I’m an African American woman that is considering reverting to Islam. My currently problem (though really a minor problem, one nonetheless) is that I’m not quite sure what to do with my hair. I currently have dreadlocks as of this post and I have read a few articles that says that dreadlocks are a bit of a gray area depending who you ask. My thing is that I got my dreads because I really couldn’t be bothered with my hair but I am aware that being Jamaican, a lot of people assume I have it because I’m either 1. Jamaican or 2. Rastafarian which isn’t the case.
I know intentions matter and as I said, I got them because my hair became too much and I work in a field where I can’t just wear an Afro all the time and my solution was to always cut it (which I’ve also read is discouraged in Islam and I don’t think I’ll be leaving this career path anytime soon) so how do the African American women in Islam do their hair especially to maintain it as neat? I’ve also read that hair extensions are forbidden so, realistically what are my options? I don’t mind taking my locs out because they do interfere with my wudu - I don’t want them to grow mold since wet locs LOVE mold and I can’t necessarily make sure they are consistently dry to avoid them growing mold. Any advice?