Are you using S Curl with anything else @
faithVA? Coz the ONLY reason I use S Curl SPRAY and nothing else is precisely because it is more watery than sticky. I can't stand any creams or butters or oils coz of the icky gooey stickiness they seem to have. Now S Curl GEL is sticky so I hope that's not what you're using.
But if you're fully rinsing off conditioner and even doing an ACV rinse, then your hair should be squeaky clean and what S Curl brings to the table is slip and moisture. You should not seal or add anything else!!!!
Now I've never been one to apply moisturizer every single day (coz to me that means whatever you're doing isn't working of your hair is always thirsty) so I don't know how that goes, but if you do as I say and apply it after the wash...and then later that day when your hair is dry (ie when there is no more dampness from water coz usually it may feel hard when the water from your wash dries)...you apply just enough to soften...not like you're trying to do a
Soul Glo splash, and then you baggy and just comb out in the morning, and then DO NOT APPLY again, you'll find your hair soft and moist but not sticky. In fact, if there's one thing I can say about S Curl, it is the only moisturizer (well Hawaiian Silky 14 in 1 is another) that does not make me afraid to lean on furniture or furnishing because it isn't sticky and doesn't leave marks. I can touch my hair and touch paper immediately and have no marks on it. Yet my hair stays so soft.
I honestly think y'all do something wrong when you use S Curl, coz everyone whose head has been put in my hands and I've used S Curl the way I recommend has fallen in love with it and with their hair and been amazed at how easy it is to maintain.
If your hair is too short to plait at night, then I'd not be worrying about shrinkage.
I mean if it is that short, you're probably the only one aware it's shrinking. Besides, isn't it more exciting to not have to worry about a style getting messed up coz hair stays as it is from day to night since it's not stretched? And isn't it more exciting when you get some length to actually show it off instead of forcing matters and over manipulating your hair to "pretend" it's long when you'll get there soon enough?
In fact, if your hair is that short, this is the one time you can just baggy at night and comb in the morning and pat it low and have it looking good all day. Low mani, means less damage and better retention. Since you can't PS at that length, why are you going to keep trying to "prove" length that isn't there yet and in the process overmanipulate it and start tearing it up when you haven't got enough length to be trimming off inches?