We have received and responded to many questions and concerns regarding whether its a good idea to have locks when a thinning hairline or baldness is present or a potential. When facing thinning-related issues, from male-patterned baldness to simply fine, breakable hair, we recommend you consider carefully the fact that dreadlocks are heavy ropes of hair locked up with the thousands of hairs you normally would have shed and lost. This extra weight and added movement as they swing around is not going to do any favors to your already delicate hair-line. If you already have locks and aren't ready to say goodbye to them, but want to minimize the damage, its a good idea to protect the roots with a strong, stretchy dreadband, hair wrap or hat to prevent excessive yanking and snapping of the hairs at the roots. We also do not recommend skinning your locks back into a ponytail for this reason, as all that weight is now hanging off a few already-fragile roots around the hairline. For more information about dreadlock-related thinning and baldness, Google 'traction alopecia' where you will find a considerable amount of information about this hair-loss condition suffered by both women and men.