NEW ON NATURAL HAIR

I WENT TO MY FIRST MEET-UP YESTERDAY AND IT WAS VERY ENLIGHTENING AND INFORMATIVE. I TRIED NEW THINGS LAST NITE. HOWEVER, I AM SO EXCITED AND SO READY FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN I FEEL LOST STILL AND I FEEL I CANNOT GET A GRASP ON BRAIDOUT. I AM NOT A GOOD BRAIDER SO I DID A THREE STRAND BRAID. LAST NIGHT I CO-WASHED FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH VO5 TEA THERAPY NOURISHING CONDITIONER CALMING CHAMOMILE TEA AND I MADE MY OWN CONCOCTION WITH OLIVE OIL, SHEA SUNFLOWER LIGHT OIL HAIR SPRAY, CAROL'S DAUGHTER MILK, AND KHORET AMEN HAIR OIL. I BRAIDED IT SOMEWHAT. I TOOK IT LOOSE THIS MORNING ONLY TO HAVE IT LOOK LIKE A MESS AND STRAIGHT IN THE FRONT BUT NAPPY ALL THE WAY LIKE I NEVER EVEN TOUCHED IT. I HAVE BEEN RELAXER FREE SINCE SEPTEMBER 09. I DID NOT DO THE BIG CHOP BECAUSE I ALREADY HAD A SHORT STYLE AND I AM PRETTY MUCH ALL NATURAL MAYBE BESIDES A FEW STRANDS IN THE TOP FRONT OF MY HEAD. I WOULD LIKE TO WEAR THE NATURAL LOOKS AND TRY SOMETHING NEW EVEN THOUGH I PREFER THE BLOWOUT LOOK. I AM WILLING TO TRY SOMETHING NEW. CAN ANYONE HELP ME TAME MY NATURAL HAIR AND GET IT IN A PLACE TO WEAR I AM GETTING THERE? I AM NEW TO THIS AND I DO NOT WANT TO GO BACK TO A RELAXER. THAT IS OUT OF THE QUESTION. MY HAIR TYPE IS IN THE 4 (4A) CATEGORY. WHAT SHOULD I DO? WITH THIS HAIR TYPE I KNOW I WILL NEED TO BE CAREFUL TO GET IT TO GROW. MY HAIR DOES GROW, BUT SINCE I HAVE BEEN NATURAL SINCE I WAS A CHILD. THIS MAY BE DIFFERENT. THANKS

Congrats on your natural journey.....Can you post pics of your hair? They would help folks offer up product/style suggestions.