The Evolution of J Cole’s Locs and Dreads: 8 Iconic Hairstyles

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Key Takeaways:

• J. Cole’s hair journey is a testament to his evolution as both an artist and individual, reflecting his personal growth and creative expression. From his early days with short, clean-cut styles to his current signature freeform locs, each hairstyle marks a different phase in his career and life. These evolving looks not only highlight his versatility but also resonate with his fans, symbolizing his commitment to authenticity and self-expression.
• Throughout the years, J. Cole’s hair has become an iconic aspect of his image. His transition from neatly trimmed styles to embracing natural, freeform locs signifies a deeper connection to his roots and heritage. This hair evolution showcases his willingness to break away from conventional norms and embrace his true self, inspiring others to do the same. In this exploration of J. Cole’s hairstyles, we delve into eight distinct looks that chronicle his journey, reflecting his growth, resilience, and unwavering authenticity.

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Jermaine Lamarr Cole, or J Cole as he is popularly known, is a rapper that’s been nominated multiple times in different award-winning bodies like the Grammy Awards and Billboard Music Awards.

This 37-year-old rapper and producer began his journey by producing hip-hop mixtapes at 15. With patience and a love for mellow-aggressive lyrics, he crafted his unique sound and style, which became evident in his music videos.

J. Cole’s rapping skills and keen ear for music have solidified his dominance in the industry. However, it’s not just his chart-topping hits and catchy lyrics that define him, but also his evolving hairstyles over the years. To offer a different perspective on his journey, we’ll explore and discuss eight distinct J. Cole hairstyles and their evolution.

When Did J Cole Get Dreads?

J. Cole, the renowned rapper and producer, began his journey towards growing dreadlocks around 2016. This marked a significant transformation in his appearance, coinciding with a deeper evolution in his music and public persona. The process of growing dreads is gradual, and for J. Cole, it symbolized a period of personal growth and introspection.

By the time he released his critically acclaimed album “4 Your Eyez Only” in December 2016, his hair had already started to lock and form the early stages of dreads. This change in hairstyle was not just a fashion statement but also a reflection of his evolving identity and artistic direction. Over the next few years, his dreads continued to grow and mature, becoming a distinctive part of his image.

Cole’s decision to grow dreads can be seen as part of a broader cultural and personal statement, embracing a more natural and authentic look that resonates with his introspective and socially conscious lyrics. His dreads have since become iconic, representing his journey and growth both as an artist and an individual.

What is the J Cole hair name?

He parades the J Cole dreads characterized by semi-freeform locs. The semi-freeform locs is a styling technique for Afro-textured hair that entails less manipulation while promoting natural hair growth.

Nonetheless, semi-freeform can also be called cultivated locs and has been recognized as one of the protective hairstyles for people of African descent. [1]

Yet, these are not just made to protect the strands from environmental damage, as semi-freeform locs are also known to be a cultural hairstyle, embodying the struggles of black people during the period of slavery.

Importantly, these hairstyles stood out and became a foundation for justice in court cases, such as with Jackey Wright and Redish McPherson. [2]

What is J. Cole’s hair care routine?

J. Cole’s distinctive hairstyle isn’t just about the look—it also requires dedicated care. Maintaining healthy locs involves regular washing with residue-free shampoos to avoid product buildup, conditioning to keep the hair moisturized, and using natural oils like jojoba or argan oil to nourish the scalp and locs. Regularly retwisting the roots helps maintain the shape and prevent locs from merging.

What are the 8 J. Cole hairstyles that showcase his hair evolution?

The J Cole dreads have deep roots that are not just for aesthetics but are also used for paying respect to history. With this, we give you 8 iconic Cole hairstyles and his hair evolution!

What is the significance of J. Cole’s dreadlocks?

J. Cole’s dreads are a signature aspect of his look, representing his journey and personal expression. He began growing his dreadlocks in the early 2010s, opting for a freeform approach that allows his hair to naturally mat and lock without much interference. This method gives his dreads a distinctive, organic appearance, with varying thicknesses and lengths that evolve over time.

The best way to start this list is through the J Cole dreads. J Cole’s dreads are tied in a pony with different sections of strands in front to achieve a picture-perfect look for interviews that closely shows off his facial features.

This thick hair growth of J Cole’s dreads is beneficial to protect the strands from shredding and harsh breaking (and lessen your worry, too!) because it does not need much manipulation.

What type of locs does J. Cole have?

J. Cole is known for his distinctive freeform locs, which are a natural and organic style of dreadlocks.

Another J Cole’s hair in the article is the locs. These thick Afro locs closely resemble dreads, and in the ordinary eyes, they are of a similar look.

Yet, for the locticians, the former vary from thick dreads because of the parting system, making the locs’ sections tidier.

Moreover, the loc is a good hairstyle addition as it suits individuals from every generation in either casual or formal events (e.g., interviews, document signing).

What is J. Cole’s approach to freeform locs?

How did J. Cole achieve his iconic freeform locs? His journey began with embracing a natural and unstyled approach to locs, allowing his hair to lock and form without manipulation. Freeform locs are characterized by their organic, irregular appearance, contrasting with more controlled and uniform styles. This method celebrates the natural texture and growth patterns of Afro-textured hair, aligning with cultural and personal expression. J. Cole’s freeform locs reflect a commitment to authenticity and a unique aesthetic that resonates with many.

Freeform locs grow organically without much manipulation, and their result is impressively similar to J Cole’s image above.

Aside from its simplicity, freeform locs provide healthy hair because there will be little to no buildup of toxic chemicals on the head, which can cause itchiness and irritation.

Did J Cole Ever Have Short Hair?

J Cole’s hairstyles have varied significantly throughout his career, with short hair being a notable part of his early image. Before adopting his iconic long dreadlocks, he often sported shorter cuts, including buzz cuts and neatly trimmed styles. These shorter hairstyles reflected a polished and clean look that contrasted with the more intricate freeform dreads he later became known for. J Cole’s experimentation with different hair lengths highlights his evolving personal style and artistic journey, making each hairstyle a distinct element of his public persona.

Before growing dreads, Cole emphasized the beauty of natural coils in Afro-textured strands through a short hairstyle which he also sported by Cole in his music videos (e.g., Apparently released in 2014).

REMEMBER: Short styles are an essential foundation of healthy dreads.

What is the story behind J Cole’s long hair?

J Cole’s long hair has become a significant part of his image, reflecting his personal style and growth. From his early days in the music industry to his current look, his evolving hairstyle has captured attention and sparked curiosity.

With his creativity in his music journey, Cole surely knows how to incorporate his style and personal integrity, just like in this long J Cole’s dreads.

Long J Cole’s dreads explain freedom from oppressive forces as it lays beyond the shoulders. This is closely similar to going beyond the bars that have been holding you back from future success.

His long dreads have also been upkept using headbands and ties, especially during a basketball game when he was still a part of the Rwanda Patriots Basketball Club.

As a type of styling, the thickness of these long dreads entails high-maintenance with longer wash time and tons of moisturizing.

FUN FACT: He was released from the Rwanda Patriots Basketball Club for family obligations in 2021. [3]

What’s the reason behind J Cole’s decision to have no hair?

J Cole’s hairstyle evolution has intrigued many fans, from his iconic locs to his more recent looks. Curious about his journey to a no-hair look? Here’s a closer look at his style changes and the reasons behind them. The best way to adapt to hot weather is to go for a bolder look in a buzz cut, which Cole has done before having the popular dreads and locs, he has sported a buzz cut

Having a buzz cut (along with proper combing) before and after dreads and other protective styles can protect your Afro hair by letting the roots and strands breathe.

Yet, before doing this, ensure you have your hope and patience intact because it takes four to six months before your hair grows to get another round of J Cole dreads evolution.

What is the story behind J Cole’s nappy hair?

The nappy hair type is characterized by tight coils prone to drying. Yet, this style is an excellent opportunity where you can elevate the hair care game for a prominent J Cole dreads evolution

It makes the following much easier to do:

• Proper J Cole’s dreads sectioning
• Hydrating J Cole’s hair for dreads

What are J Cole’s hair twists?

J Cole’s hair twists are a defining feature of his iconic look. Known for their freeform style and natural texture, these twists reflect both personal expression and cultural significance.

Last in this list of J Cole dreads evolution are his twists which became a foundation of semi-freeform locs, done by literally twisting the sections of the hair in a parting system.

Before twisting, deep clean or condition your roots to eliminate product buildup that can hinder the naturally beautiful growth of your J Cole dreads evolution.

How to get hair like J Cole?

Getting J Cole’s dreads is easy. But first, you need to have all these materials ready before diving into the whole J Cole’s dreads and locs process, especially when you want to DIY:

• Grow Your Hair: Start by growing your hair to at least 6 inches to give enough length for dreadlocks. The longer your hair, the better the dreads will look.
• Hair Type and Texture: J. Cole has naturally curly and coarse hair, which is ideal for dreadlocks. If your hair is not naturally curly, you can still get dreads, but it may require more maintenance and care.
• Sectioning: Divide your hair into sections. The size of each section will determine the thickness of your dreads. Use small rubber bands or clips to hold each section in place.
• Twisting or Backcombing: For the dreadlocks method, you can either twist or backcomb each section.

How Long Does It Take To Grow Dreads?

Growing dreads typically takes between 6 months and 2 years, depending on hair type, growth rate, and the method used. Methods like backcombing or crochet can speed up the process, while freeforming takes longer as the hair naturally mats. Consistent maintenance and patience are essential for achieving fully matured locs.

What are some tips for maintaining locs?

For those looking to achieve and maintain J. Cole’s iconic locs at home, here are some tips:

1. Start with Clean Hair: Always begin the locing process with thoroughly cleansed hair.
2. Sectioning: Use a rat-tail comb to create even sections, which will help in forming uniform locs.
3. Twisting: Twist each section tightly and secure it, using a natural gel or locking cream if necessary.
4. Drying: Ensure the hair is completely dry after washing to prevent mildew.
5. Routine Care: Maintain a regular washing and retwisting schedule every 4-6 weeks to keep the locs neat and healthy.

How can you achieve a J. Cole hairstyle?

If you have all the materials needed, then you are ready to proceed with this step-by-step guide to getting J Cole’s hair:

1. First, wash and lather your strands and scalp with the Jamaican Mango & Lime Tingle Shampoo & Protein Conditioner to remove prior product buildup on your scalp. Rinse.
2. Second, dry your strands using the 50sacks Microfiber Hair Towel Wrap for Curly Hair and Thick, Long Wavy Hair or the Bed Head Curls-in-Check 1875W Hair Diffuser Dryer for easier sectioning.
3. Third, section your strands with the Louise Maelys 2pcs Wide Tooth Tail Comb for Curly Hair Styling according to your preferred thickness or thinness.
4. Fourth, twist or roll each section of your hair using your palm to create a base for the J Cole dreads similar look.
5. Lastly, be patient and let the hair grow organically and shape independently.

FYI: As we noticed, other individuals create a dread using back-combing as they explain it to be a more straightforward process in achieving matting.

How much does a J. Cole hairstyle cost?

A J. Cole-inspired hairstyle typically ranges from $75 to $200. The cost can vary based on several factors, including:

• The specific style you choose
• The skills and materials required to achieve the look
• The fees charged by the barber, loctician, or stylist (if you’re not doing it yourself)

FAQ

We know how much of a fan you are, so we catered to some of your frequently asked questions in this section:

Final Words

J Cole’s hairstyles varied in length and size throughout his journey as a rap artist and mixtapes and video producer, which fans and media did not fail to notice.

Nevertheless, this article is a testament that his style is easy to recreate if you have suitable materials and if you follow the step-by-step method above.

Now that you know how to do the 8 hairstyles in this list, it’s time to get the dreads you’ve always wanted (and hope you can pull them off)!