I always find it funny whenever I hear about people thinking that people with dreads are dirty. I just started mine 35 days ago and I have washed my hair more with dreads than I did without. Reason: my hair is thick and naturally curly and the only way I could brush through it was when I would shampoo and condition it with loads of conditioner. I used to hate it because it hurt so bad getting out the knots that I would procrastinate washing it for almost 2 weeks (which of course made it worse , but now I actually look forward to washing because there is no more pain involved and I have to keep myself from over washing now. People are funny with what goes on in their heads.