Question Summary:
Are dreadlocks permissible?

Question Detail:

I’ve seen this question asked by a brother, but I am a sister and would like to know how this applies to me.

I am thinking about dreading my hair [permanent]. I don’t want to do it with the intention of imitating a group of people nor to imitate non-muslims. I simply believe it would be much easier to maintain my hair this way. I have done one before [just one dread] to test it out. I do not need to use any products [grease or waxes], rather just twist and keep twisting. As for maintenance, it would be washed regularly this helps hair dread.
Would this be permitted? Considering the fact that I will wash my –cleaning the scalp- and maintain it [clean]? I have seen one answer before, but I still prefer a second opinion before continuing.

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
 
We appreciate your concern on this matter.
In principle it would be permissible to dread your hair. However before you do this you should also consider other factors that could be a potential issue with keeping this type of hair. One is that when you have dreadlocks, the only way to get rid of them is by cutting them off. This is something a Muslim woman should seriously consider, since it is not permissible for a Muslim woman to cut her hair.
We advise you to seriously think about this decision. Choosing this hairstyle would mean that you would have to permanently stay with them. If in the future you ever had to cut your hair you would be sinful.[1]  
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mawlana Ali bin Cassim

Student Darul Iftaa

Los Angeles, CA (USA)

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Hussain Kadodia.
www.daruliftaa.net