Any advice is appreciated :)
updated by @tanky-t: 02/14/15 08:33:34AM
It wouldn't be 'best' to take them out and start over natural unless you want to. They'll loosen up on their own. Crochet is a much more harmful method, some people crochet their dreads to be SUPER tight (and I'm talking, they look like they're defying gravity because they're so tight), and even they will loosen up. So yours? Yes, they will most definitely loosen up without a doubt just means progress will be delayed compared to the natural one. By all means comb them out and start again if you'd prefer, but you don't have to.
To your latest reply...yeah, dreading looks very wild at times, but you know what? They would look just as wild with twist and rip. It's just that they're sectioned already, but as twist and rip dreads start to dread, they'll get loops and bumps just like natural dreads do. I backcombed mine (combed quite a few out since then, but still) and I had loops, bumps, etc. too. There's no way to get rid of the mess if you want your hair to truly dread. But you can tie them back (loosely) while you're working if you want them to be neater
I get slightly spazzy sometimes. I think as women, we are so used to maintaining our hair a 'certain' way all our lives and when it changes so drastically it does take time to get used to it. I started my dreads late in life (45) and I've always had my hair cut, colored and always styled to society standards.
I cannot tell you how freeing it has been to let all that shit go! I still have moments and I probably always will, but I love my messy, free hair. I love me.