Help or i will buzz my curly hair all off?

Hello I have thick curly hair that is now down to almost to my shoulders. i want to grow it long and i'm on 3 years now. my question is i wash my hair ever other day and wet it down to do it everyday in the shower and i used a lotion in my hair and it says it is alcohol free and then a mousse that is alcohol free how come my hair gets so hard from both and it has no alcohol in ether one. just so confused and i'm at the point were my hair is s hard to do i leave to air dry looks like crap and then when most dry have to play with hair just to get it to look right grrr. can anyone help plus not into straightening my hair ether and can only use cheep products from walmart