Gilly's got 32. They range in size really... a few are as big as a sharpie and some are much much smaller.... though she does still have a 4 year olds head so I'm sure are her head grows we'll end up with some different and no doubt interesting things going on!
Gilly's hair is similar. It'snaturally ratherfine and silky and her tips get whispy and loose especially after a good wash. Some times what I do if they are looking rather loose on the ends after they dry, i'll do a little roughing up of the bottoms and do a little twist/rip to sort of lock em into place.
So as a non dread-head myself, I use a decent amount of silly products in my hair and after a time you can really feel the build up. Well, a few times now I've used Gilly's nag champa shampoo bar to wash my own hair and then not combed it out after and just let it air dry.
I'm some one with normally very straight (SUPER processed... I've been dying it loads of colours for years) hair and I cant tell you how many compliments I get on those days I've washed with dread shampoo. It gets all light and curly and so so so soft and you can tell it's just clearing out all the gunk that builds up.
So spread the word to your non-dread friends!!!
Try aadding some essential oils to your baking soda rinse, they smell really lovely and help the balance of everything... as far as the greasyness goes, hopefully some one else will be able to help you there... the only thing I do know is that over time your scalp will produce less oil as it is washed and scrubbed less frequently. Your head sort of uses a supply and demand and when we wash away the natural oils from our scalp, it feels the need to produce more.
I dont know if there's an official rule on it, but if they hired you with dreads, I dont see how they could fire you for having em.
Hey all! I thought I'd chime in here too! You're right, kids are def not able to take care of on their own... and I think Gill's dreads get extra flat because of sleeping on them more than adults do (although this is is just my theory since I dont have dreads myself).
Stuff getting in dreads was deff on my mind! I take extra care to put Gill's (4) dreads up when she's eating (especially things like syrup!!! omg could imagine!?) and I plan having a wrap on her head at the beach... pondering how much sand will end up in her hair.
Gill's never been one to dump things on her own head, but you never know what other kids are going to do. So it is something to consider. Gill throws up in her sleep some times and I was quite worried about that... she def did it within the first week of having her dreads....
it was very very very gross.... Far worse than the normal, cleaning up a kid and a bed in the middle of the night, I had to wash her hair TWICE that night with BS rinse. I pulled a few loose to make sure everything was out of them. And had to let her sleep on wet dreads.
I still felt like a few dreads smelled in the morning and washed (and soaked 3 or 4) her dreads AGAIN in the morning.
We DO meet remarks from family, but my family at least knows to make the snotty remarks to me and not to my daughter.
We've talked to her about loving herself and her hair and I really have yet to notice nasty looks or stares from strangers... I just got my first nasty remark from a stranger on Facebook actually (i'll post it later)... but again... it wasnt to her and she is, at least for now, protected from the remarks of adults that are able to self monitor.
OK.... totally just wrote a novel. Sorry about that... just throwing in what I've encountered so far in my short amount of time with a dread child 
I also want to throw this out there.... Gilly's grandmother smokes and when we go to visit her, we all come back with the stubborn cling of cigarette smoke lingering on our clothes and in our hair. It's easy enough for me to hop i a shower, but since I dont want Gill sleeping on wet dreads, I've found it very helpful to put some of this gel in and make her locks smelling nice and fresh. I'm really glad that there is a light weight product that I can put in that I know wont leave build up of any sort
I'll admit, I wasn't in love with the scent at first. It seems a little strong in the jar, but once it's in Gill's hair I really love it! She had slept on the pillow next to mine and the next day when I was laying down I thought, "what is that wonderful smell?!?"
Tyler said:
I just got mine today and I can't say I like the scent. Definitely not what I was expecting. I did apply it on a few dreads,and I like it so far, so I'll give it a few days and I'll be sure to get it unscented next time.
ya know, I used it again last night and didnt have that.
The first time I also wrapped one of her dreads and now I'm wondering if some of the fibers from the thread just stuck to my hand and that was why.
