Everything you're describing is normal... you should have seen Knotty Andrew's hair when he first locked up at 3". Not only was it sticking up everywhere, but also it was in these crazy Medusa curly-dread things cuz he has really curly hair. It was WEIRD. Anyway, it took a while for it to calm down, and many bad words were said often while he tried to keep them dreaded and together over the next few weeks. BUT eventually, they started drying out and growing longer and staying together and he didn't have to use so much wax anymore. And one day... voila. Dreads! For you, if everything past the roots are staying together with the wax that's in there, don't bother adding more until they start to undo and you need to add more. As for the roots, just backcomb as best as you can, and then don't worry about it too much. Just try and keep them together as much as possible, and have patience, patience, patience. They WILL happen if you just stick it out... promise.