What should I expect when using wax for the first time?

Expect the wax to be firm and a little sticky. It might be a little hard to get off of your hands, since it's waterproof, but you can use liquid Dawn to get it off. You may find it a little different to work the wax into the dreads for the first time, if you do, get a hair dryer and heat the wax a little before you smooth it on the dread, then melt the wax into the dread using the hair dryer when your done.

As often as you please. Some people will say that you can't wash dreads at all, because they will fall out, but that is just another dreadlock myth. Dreadlocks should be washed at least once a week, just like normal untangled hair. Your dreads may feel a little loose after you wash them, but they will tighten back as soon as they dry. With new dreads you should be careful with them, the first few times you wash them, make sure to be gentle with them, after all, they are newbie baby dreads, and they are fragile.

While your dreads are new you will probably want to wear a swim cap, but after they mature you will not need one.

Neglect
You could loose, 50% of your length or 30%, it could go either way, your hair chooses, how it wants to knot

Actually there are. Here are a few tips.

1. If you have really straight hair you can give it more texture by braiding it for a couple days before you dread or getting a cheep perm from Wal-Mart.

2. Don't use conditioners on it for at least a week before you dread.

3. Get the items you will need to dread a head of time; you never know what could happen at last minute.

4. Bleach or color your hair, but don't use the conditioner that comes in the box. This will make your hair holds the knots better.

Neglect
This is a completely by yourself method