Jean, I think that Ele and I are more or less on the same page about dealing with curls: no shampoo ("shampoo" your hair with conditioner only); use a cheap conditioner because they don't have any silicones, which will build up over time if you're not shampooing; blot your hair with a flat-weave fabric or even a good paper towel rather than rubbing it with a terry towel; never brush or comb; use a cocktail of products, but nothing with silicones.
Mousse will define your curls but will make your hair crunchy when it dries. I stopped using mousse when I started using this gel from Deva, and I use it in conjunction with a "wearable treatment" called Potion 9 by Sebastian.
So here's my routine:
1. "Shampoo" with cheap conditioner.
2. Rinse it out mostly, with cool-ish water, but leave the tiniest bit coating your hair. (I can hear straight-haired people shrieking in horror, but this has never left my hair limp or flat. Curly hair is different animal.)
3. Blot hair with flat-weave cloth. I use a flannel diaper from my teenager's infancy -- pretty threadbare.
4. Apply Potion 9 first, then gel. Let it dry more, then hit the roots only briefly with the hairdryer, pushing the roots upward to get some lift. Do not run fingers through curls or disturb them any more than necessary.
5. If it's a very humid day, I'll put a tiny bit of Potion 9 on top after drying, for added sheen.
Sounds complicated and you may not need all those steps, but it works for me.
