<p>I happen to like dreadlocks on anyone, but am stretching to see this from your point of view.</p>
<p>Why not let his summer employment search be his reality check on what’s acceptable and what’s not in your community?</p>
<p>In my lexicon, the most important thing would be that he find summer work. If he finds a new job that lets him work with growing/almost-dreadlock hair, then he’s found a pocket within the community that isn’t judging him but is employing him. </p>
<p>If he becomes frustrated and needs his old summer job back, he’ll be making his own decision to pick up scissors. </p>
<p>He can ask during any job interview whether he can keep his hair or must modify to work for them. He’ll hear their answers. </p>
<p>You won’t get triangulated in the middle.</p>