STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

I would recommend trying the curly girl method that involves washing your hair less (no ingredients ending in xane, conol, or cone), and washing with conditioner only and shampooing less (one of the most preferred choices is from Suave, so you can do this inexpensively.)

I follow this method, and when I put the conditioner in my hair, I finger comb it to get all the knots out (this replaces brushing afterward.) After rinsing, I scrunch my hair in a towel and let it air dry.  At night, or when I'm showering and not washing my hair, I twist it up and secure it on top of my head, and the steam/moisture of the shower kind of "sets" my hair and I have great waves after it dries a little and I let it down.  

This is a good tutorial on the method: http://www.nobody-knows-anything.com/2011/07/a-simple-guide-to-the-curly-girl-method.html

If Curly Girl doesn't work for you, maybe you could try pillow rollers or rag rolling? If I start with damp hair I don't need to put any product in. But then you're not really working with your natural curl, you're creating artificial curls.

The only problem is that you look like a grandma while you're wearing them.....thankfully I (and my SO!) am unconscious for most of that time!