Hey!!! I wanted to encourage you! I have found that keeping it simple is the best. I have 4b hair but the key I have learned is find someone with your similar hair type and read the postings. I found that your hair should feel the way you want it to after you rinse out your cowash. If it feels weird hard, scrubby, or what ever. You have to cowash again, Do a patch test on the side your hair to see how it will react.
I cowash almost daily too because I exercise. The key is to find the right balance. I agree the IC probably dried it out. Here's what I do...
Apply EVOO prior to putting on conditioner will make it soft, follow up with VO5 or motions moisturizing conditioner for the DC days.
Rinse my hair and feel it. At that point determine if you hair feels like you want it too. If so I proceed to the next step. If it doesn't feel right I re condition it with my "good" stuff, calming tea VO5 because the tea in it makes my hair smooth.
I then dry my hair because my hair doesn't like it when I apply products dripping wet.
I apply shea butter and aloe vera mix to moisturize. I seal it with carrot oil, castor oil, and coconut oils.
For my hair to stay moist I have to drink lots of water because the body will take moisture from my scalp first. Throughout the day if I need to I use a mist of infusim23 mixed s curl, or just wave nuevo, or Hawaiian Silk 14 in 1 to keep my hair moist. (The reason I use the different ones is because I've mixed things in with them so I need to use them up. But I am leaning towards keeping just the HS14 and WN)
If I baggy it overnight it will stay moist over the weekend but because I don't cowash then. However, because we cowash frequently I think our hair doesn't get a chance to marinate to keep in moisture.
Sorry this is a long post but I hope it helps.