A few months back I was chatting with naaniMODEL jOjo.  I was explaining how frustrating my locks had become.  My dreadlocks are about 8 years old and beyond the fact that I've had to do a little doctoring on them (cutting) to even them out (one side grows faster and is/was about 6 inches longer than the other...yeah, I know...WEIRD) and colouring a few years back, I haven't done anything special to them.

I maintain my locks with naani's naturals products, I don't have any issues with build-up or dryness.  I had seborrhea (a dry scalp condition) back in 2002 prior to switching to naani's naturals but that issue has all but disappeared as the result of using milder, natural products and my scalp is now healthy.  Despite the fact that my hair is healthy, I've always had a problem with EXTREME frizzies.  When other folks would talk about how frizzy their locks were, I thought we were speaking on the same level.  Some years ago I realized that the majority of people with locks don't get and probably never will get what I'm putting down.

So this article is for my Frizzy & Fuzzy brothas and sistas (I shall call them Fruzzies) who love their locks, who would never cut them, but at times want to scream from the roof-tops because the frizz won't stay at bay.

The photo to the left is of Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley.  I recently developed a major crush on him so I'm posting this photo not only because he's HOT! but also because he is a perfect example of the FF Crew.

Notice the extreme amount of loose hairs at his scalp and down the length of his locks.  It's important to note that these loose hairs originate FROM THE SCALP, not the locks themselves.  This isn't a matter of cutting the loose hairs away because doing so would result in bald patches throughout the Fruzzy's scalp. 

The false assumption would be that the loose hairs are the result of free-forming.  I can't tell you how many individuals with locks and locticians themselves are unaware of the issues concerning Fruzzies.  Imagine having masses of hair that refuse to lock.  I myself tried to lock some of my fruzzy hair.  I braided the fruzzies together.  What I'd been doing prior was braiding the frizzies down the locks but after each and every shampoo, the fruzzies would free themselves and I'd have to start all over again.

There's a certain ethnic hair type that's resistant to locking.  People with this hair type generally have thick, ultra-soft hair with a loose curl pattern.  For those of you stuck on stupid, they're hair isn't quite "good hair," but it's not the typical cottony, tight coil pattern associated with people of African descent.  These individuals can wear their loose natural hair in curly styles with a little prodding.  Where someone with a very loose curl pattern ("good hair") can wash and go and end up with wavy coils, Fruzzies can obtain a similar look with the use of products such as  No More Frizzies Alcohol Free Aloe Vera Jelly or Styling Gel or Curly Custard. 

The following photos demonstrate the difference between Fruzzies and those who have "typical" dreadlocks. Allow the page to completely load before clicking an image in the photo slide show.  Once the page loads, click any image.  To proceed, click the top right corner to proceed or left corner to go back.  Photo descriptions are at the bottom of the slide.

Where Fruzzy men and Fruzzy freeformers tend to not have issues with the amount of frizzy hairs that surround their locks, those of us who opt for salon or manicured dreadlocks find caring for our hair to be extremely frustrating.  In short, Marley looks sexy as hell...and his locks look great too :-) but he's a man.  The Fruzziness gives his locks character and style.  I, on the other hand, most women and those individuals who work in professional settings that opt for salon/manicured dreadlocks find that the fruzzies make us look HOT! as well...a HOT MESS!.

I mentioned that my locks are 8 years old. I took this picture about a year ago.  This is what my locks look like after shampooing.  Early on in my lock journey naani participated in a trade show in the DC area.  A friend of mine with locks tagged along to help with the venture.  We both fell in love with some hemp hats that we'd be retailing.  She put on a hat, I put on a hat.  We'd both done our hair the day before.  We both removed the hats at virtually the same time and that's when I knew I was a Fruzzy.

Her locks looked just as they did before she put on the hat.  Mine on the other hand instantly had a halo of fruzzy hair.  The motion of lifting the hat upward caused the frizzy hair to loose  from my locks and voila!, instant Fruzzy. 

The hat incident aside, my fruzziness is also apparent anytime my locks are in the presence of moisture.  Whether it be a humid day or working out at the gym, the attack of the fruzzies is a constant battle.  I used to work out (I'm truly a "tubby" now) about 4-5 days a week.  Day by day, the fruzzies would increase in number. The past couple of years has been increasingly difficult for me.  When I do other people's hair, the result is absolutely beautiful.  I can turn dirty, crusty, dry locks into a masterpiece, but my own is another story. 

The photo to the left was taken about a year ago.  I braided my locks and then undid them braids a few days later.  If you look at the above photo, you'll notice that the fruzzies have been minimized.  Thus, in terms of technique, I know how to incorporate the loose hairs so that I achieve the salon locks I desire.  Only problem is, it takes me about 9 hours to do my locks.  That includes shampooing, deep conditioning, twisting, braid/roller setting but 9 hours is a bit much wouldn't you agree?...especially when you do your hair every two weeks.

A while back I discussed my frustration with naaniMODEL jOjo.  He questioned whether it was due to over-twisting.  We argued over it for a while until he showed me a picture he took from a Damian Marley concert.  When I looked at the photo I felt an instant connection with Marley. Then I remembered I was supposed to be looking at his locks and not at how HOT! he was and I felt an even greater connection.  I told jOjo that Marley's locks were like mine and given that Marley was a free-former who infrequently twists, the issue can't be that I over-twist.  The issue is my hair texture, not my technique, not my products...

I'm writing this article to let other fruzzies know they're not alone.  I'm also writing it because if you ever see me round town with frizzy locks, you'll know why.  My hair is what it is.  Sometimes I just want to wash and go like everyone else.

Despite my frustration, my saving grace has been naani's naturals products.  Lock'd Down Dreadlocks Butter enables me to get through to my next shampoo.  The products along with the braiding frizzies technique means that even a Fruzzy like myself can achieve the salon dreadlocks look as evidenced in the photo to the right.

Finally, I'm writing because I want folks who visit this site to understand that the people who make naani's naturals products USE naani's naturals products.  The information on this site is written from a personal perspective.  The advice we give is learned from personal experience.  We've been there, done that and when we say something works, it works. 

So the next time you ask, "what products should I use on my hair or skin," I would hope that the answer would be apparent.  Unfortunately, for some it's not so I'm saying it now.  I wouldn't be in this, I wouldn't have made this site my life's work if I was just in it for the fame or the money.  I'm not famous, nor am I wealthy.  I do this because since I went natural and subsequently grew dreadlocks, I've had to work my ass off to make my hair look its best...naturally.  Sure, it may take me a little longer than most but in the end and thanks to naani I'm lock'd for life!

much luv,
tubby

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