Re: I can\'t manage the new growth
I remember when I first started transitioning, and all I knew how to do was let my new growth mat into a big puffball. Is that your problem? I later learned that it wasn't too hard to manage the natural texture.
My recommendation: Detangle all of the hair throughly when wet slowly from the ends to the roots with much conditioner. You need to start off with untangled hair which can be difficult if you've let your hair mat for a while. Then you need to maintain the untangled hair by combing it slowly when wet or damp frequently enough that it doesn't get tangled again. I comb out whenever I condition wash, probably every 3 days and it is not difficult or time consuming. Smooth and tie hair back when it is wet in order for it to not dry puffy with your leave in conditioner. If you comb your hair when dry, most likely it will be very puffy and hard to smooth. Mousse can also help you for smoothing well, especially if you want to smooth when dry. I don't recommend gel because gel smooths better but gets hard, crunchy, needs to be washed out, and can cause a lot of tangles.
I would wash with a good detangling shampoo (i like creme of nature) and condition with a good detangling conditioner.