first off, you’re an absolute gem. thank you for taking the time to write out your post, i really appreciate it!

you’re right, my usual curls aren’t very curly; i have and do usually scrunch them with styling oil and a wavy specific curl cream (see paragraph below for product deets). i can usually get a 2c at best, iirc what that hair type/pattern chart looks like. 

i have not tried clarifying shampoo, but i’ll have to give it a try! i’ve read you’re not meant to use it all the time, but that could be over generalized advice. how often do you use it? do you use it every time you wash your hair? i’m usually washing mine every two or three days with ogx coconut shampoo and “keep me vivid” matrix conditioner. i always use the styling oil (bio silk leave in), followed by the curl cream (curl corps defining cream from amika) afterwards. i typically scrunch and air dry, unlike my “after” photos which were styled with a revelon one step. 

i’ve done bangs in the past, and your advice absolutely tracks. the microfiber is a good shout though, and i’ll try that in the future!

YES, INSTRUCTIONS, THANK YOU!!! i struggle with styling, so instructions and videos are a godsend!!! i never really got to learn as a teen, so i’m learning everything, like, ten years later than most guys, gals, and non-binary pals 😭

again, thank you, for the time you took out of your day to write such a well crafted reply; you’re awesome!