Dreadlocks can be beautiful if they are well maintained. It really depends on your hair type. I always feel they look better on people with really curly hair. I tried to loc my own hair, but it was hard to keep up. I may try again in the future with the help of a beautician. It's your hair. It doesn't hurt to try it and see if it suits you. If it is early enough in the locking process you can take it down; it just takes a long time.
I'm not necessarily checking for dreadlocks when I encounter a guy, but they look really good if well taken care of.
I like them and I was seriously considering them before I cut my hair short. My hair is so straight and stuck to my head, I'd love to change the texture. Plus, it's a cool style! I used to have 3 of them. With beads. I decided not to do my full head for 3 main reasons: 1) I read it needs thorough drying after getting wet. I always get out with wet hair and I love swimming, I can't take the time to dry it every time. 2) Many people consider it cultural appropriation (I'm white). I generally agree with the concept of cultural appropriation though I don't consider getting dreadlocks appropriating. Moreover, in the country where I live, there are virtually no black people, so there's no direct political context to this. The oppression of other groups (f.e. Roma people) is more of a issue here. Still, I wasn't 100% sure it would be ok to get them. 3) I'm already taking out my ear and nose piercings when looking for a job. My main field is education and parents give me strange looks if I present according to my taste. For the same reasons, at least for now, I'm not getting tattoos in places I can't hide easily. I am young and look even younger, so I already have a hard time being taken seriously. Next year I'm going to finish university and look for a more stable workplace, so... you get the point.
Yeah, agree on keeping them well-maintained. Some just end up with an infested carpet on their heads. Friend knew one girl who had dreadlocks... occasionally insects would crawl out of it and across her forehead *vomit* Just looks and feels really natural, laid-back and a little powerful.
Well-maintained is definitely key; as long as they're clean and kept up, they can look pretty cool. They work for some people and not others but you'll never know till you try.
They look good on some, but not all, people. A friend of mine used to have dreadlocks. He used some hair gel which contained silicon, I believe. He's losing his hair now because of it, just a warning before you try it.