The first two pics were taken during the early part of 2001.  I was still in the teenage phase of locking (less than one year old) and although the photo quality isn't that great, you can see the length a little better in the first photo.

Notice how straggley the ends of the locks are.  As you mature, you will begin to notice little balls of hair that sorta look like lint balls forming at the ends of your locks.  You will begin to ask yourself, "How do I get rounded ends?"  The answer to your question is demonstrated in the photo progression below...you just do.

The second photo is from 2001 also and demonstrates how frizzy my hair was.  You're not able to see the partings because truthfully, they weren't all that apparent.

I liked wearing my hair like this because it looked full and I could bunch my locks up so that I had a sorta untamed look.  Of course this was before my locks dropped and frizziness in locks is generally what most people attempt to avoid.  My hair looked fine (to me) but this is around the time when people start asking, "What are you doing go your hair?" or "When are you going to take those out?"

Remember, most people aren't aware that you can grow Dreadlocks from two-strands or braids.  Most people will begin to think something's wrong with you...you're obviously lazy if you've been wearing the same braided or two-strand style for months on end.

Again, it's not necessarily that your hair looks bad, they're just expecting you to get it redone.  From their perspective, dreadlocks are created by other means.  What "other" is...they may not even know.

Another reason why the first two pics are important is that, I washed my hair at least every 10-14 days...from the very beginning.  My lock look may not be your lock look but as you can tell from my dreadlocks progression, does the not shampooing ideology make sense?

Individual results may vary when it comes to dreadlocks.  How much maintenance you choose to put into your locks will as well but overall, if you feel the need to wash your hair, you can.  Frequent shampooing may result in a more frizzy look but hopefully these photos help you realize that frizzy isn't all that bad.  In fact, depending on your length and the look you're going for, frizzy can be cute.

2 Month Old Locks - March 2002
Now remember what I was saying about rounded ends?  Although not fully there yet, notice that the wispy ends of the first couple photos are no more.

How did my hair transform?  It just does folks.  I didn't do anything different.  I washed my hair every 10-14 days, twisted it after I shampoo'd and that be it.

So neos take a chill pill...you'll get there.  No need to rubber-band it or force rounded ends.  In time, your dreadlocks will do exactly what they're supposed to do.  How long it takes to achieve rounded ends, I can't exactly tell you.

I wish I had month-by-month photos to demonstrate how and when it occurred but I don't.  Just trust us here at naani, have faith and be patient.  Rounded ends will come.

This pic in the black dress was taken around the same time as the above one.  My locks in both photos had dropped by this point but I could still spritz them so that they stood out from my head a bit...that's the look *I* liked.

By "dropped" I mean that in the beginning, your locks will tend to stand on end or stick out.  A lot of people covet the look of locks because they like the initial, untamed, Lionesque look.

Most people who like the Lion look of dreadlocks refer to the popular image of Bob Marley displayed below.  If Marley isn't held up as the Gorgon, then many wish to imitate Lauryn Hill's locks.

Facts are, in this particular photo of Bob and Lauryn's locks on the cover of her first solo album represent dreadlocks that have not dropped.  They were not fully mature.

More importantly, look at the ends of Bob's locks, are they rounded?  Absolutely not.  Did he twist his locks or put bands on them to round them off?  Of course not.

When locks drop, they naturally fall and frame the face...kinda like braids.  Everyone's locks drop once they reach maturity.

If you look at the photo to the right where Bob's locks are older, you'll notice they've fallen...or "dropped" to the side and the ends are less wispy.

Sure, they're still full and sorta stand out from his head but the fullness is due to the fact that he was a freeformer/organic locker and didn't twist his roots...not to mention, his locks are larger.

If your locks never dropped, you'd look like a freak show.  Imagine having 24 inch locks standing out from your head like spikes.  Not cute.

Also let me add that the fullness at Bob's scalp is no different than the fullness that any person with naturally Nappy hair (mixed or not) experiences when we let our naps do their own thang.  The degree of nappiness largely depends on your Texture and your maintenance program.  If you wish to minimize the look of new-growth, you can via twisting, palm-rolling, Interlocking, etc... You can't however eliminate the new-growth altogether.

A lot of people write in asking how to keep their roots neat.  Keeping your roots neat is not the same as locking your hair all the way to the scalp.  No matter how old your locks are, no matter what texture your hair, the first 1-2 inches of new-growth will never lock.  It's not supposed to.

Finally, I choose this pic from February 2003 not only because it's forward facing so you can see the overall growth of my hair from year one to year three, but also because it marks the start of my using naani's naturals products.

I was a little shy in the beginning about discussing in detail why I like the products...maybe cause they're my own and despite contrary opinon, I am rather modest, but as I began to come across older photos and talk to wonderful customers and friends like naaniMODEL FanciFre aka CalishaShani, I began to realize there's no shame in truth.

Ironically, I think my hair looks softer now than it did back in 2002.  Back then, all I used was a bit of store bought shampoo, conditioner and oils and although I retwisted, my hair rarely, if ever stayed put.  It looked dry the majority of the time and although I had no shame in my locks, I know now that I could've done betta.

Today, even if you ignore the color changes, I feel my locks have come into their own.  They look softer, feel softer, look fuller and if I do say so myself, they're fabulous!