Go with your natural curls - trying to fight them is going to eat great chunks of your life. Wash your hair last thing at night, apply styling gel when it's nearly dry, and try good old-fashioned 'rags': cut inch-wide strips from cotton fabric, wrap sections of hair around each rag and wind upwards, tying in place at the scalp. Next morning, take the rags out, then hang your head upside-down and simpy shake out the curls.'