From the time I was a little girl, hair was my playground. I’d sit for hours, curling hair, cutting fringe, braiding and twisting, lost in the magic of creation. It was my escape, my joy.

Then one day, I saw my favorite singer with beautifully braided hair, and I was completely captivated. It looked so cool, and I knew I wanted that vibe. Middle school was full of rules. On top of that, braiding was expensive, and my parents never allowed me to get that hairstyle.

I carried my longing for braids into adulthood, only to realize that braiding wasn’t well-suited for straight hair. My hair grew too fast for the braids to last. That’s when dreadlocks caught my eye.

Living in Korea, though, made it complicated. Here, eyes follow you, whispers trail behind.

Dreadlocks? On me? I couldn’t shake the fear of standing out too much, of breaking the mold I was supposed to fit. So I didn’t. I buried under layers of “what will they think?”

Life moved on. I got married, left my parents’ home for Canada, and stepped into motherhood—two little kids now orbiting my world. Raising a child brings moments when the desire to live as my true self feels stronger than ever. I no longer wanted to live worrying about what others thought. I was done with it.

I love dreadlocks—for their look, yes, but more for what they’ve become : rebellion, my peace and my courage.

My kids see my hair—no big deal, just Mom’s style. That’s why I’m here, sharing my story, hoping to nudge dreadlocks a little closer to ‘normal.’ Not as a trend, but as a choice—one anyone can make without a second thought...

As I sit here, crochet hook in hand, I’m not just crafting dreadlocks—I’m crafting courage.

Bobae Joo