Hair catching on other hair and getting zigzag shapes

Whilst my hair is drying, the clumps tend to wrap around each other. Sometimes the clumps catch and pull on one another, and this results in the hair going straight for part of it, and also weird zigzag shapes. Is this a sign I have too much gel and the hair is getting overly stiff and not able to bounce back into its usual curl after being snagged? How can I stop these weird shapes from happening?
3A/f/i
Super baby fine hair, low porosity
Shampoos: SM Fruit Fusion (mostly), Avalon lemon (to clarify). Occasional aloe vera and glycerin to wash.
Stylers: Intelligent Nutrients Perfect Hold Hairspray
Treatments: Catnip tea, IA girl's PT, Fermented Rice Water, Catnip Tea, Amla tea, Irish Moss, SS PT
0
Comments
2b/c, thick, medium/coarse, low-medium porosity
full Chinese Canadian
3A/f/i
Super baby fine hair, low porosity
Shampoos: SM Fruit Fusion (mostly), Avalon lemon (to clarify). Occasional aloe vera and glycerin to wash.
Stylers: Intelligent Nutrients Perfect Hold Hairspray
Treatments: Catnip tea, IA girl's PT, Fermented Rice Water, Catnip Tea, Amla tea, Irish Moss, SS PT
:bunny:
NP/LP: CJ Daily Fix, KMF Whenever / Giovanni TTTT
RO/LI: Aussie Moist, CJ Argan & Olive Oil, Hask Keratin Protein
DC/PROTEIN: KC Stellar Strands / CNPF
STYLER: CJ Curl Queen
COLOR: henna, amla & indigo
:thumbdown:: glycerin in high/low dews, polyquat-10 & 11, parabens
I've tried that lately. Sometimes it works but other times the hair is too stuck and stiff and the hairs tear apart from their clump, frizz out, and go straight (those parts need to then be pin curled with extra gel). Maybe I don't need as much strong hold as I think I do?
3A/f/i
Super baby fine hair, low porosity
Shampoos: SM Fruit Fusion (mostly), Avalon lemon (to clarify). Occasional aloe vera and glycerin to wash.
Stylers: Intelligent Nutrients Perfect Hold Hairspray
Treatments: Catnip tea, IA girl's PT, Fermented Rice Water, Catnip Tea, Amla tea, Irish Moss, SS PT
Buildup/breakout with: butters, coconut/argan oil, polyquats.
Poo:SheaMoisture Fruit Fusion Coconut Water Weightless Shampoo
RO/CoW/DT/LI: TRESemme Botanique Nourish and Replenish Conditioner
That's just it, waymire! My curls get frozen in zany positions. I would so love conditioner styling, but I'd get flat hair. I need at least medium hold to get my curls to stay. I think brushing after plopping (haven't tried plopping in awhile, maybe I should revisit this) would pull out my curl, as my pattern is weaker than yours.
However I think I have some ideas now. When my curls freeze weird, I think the key is rewetting those specific curls. I made this "curly" tea with amla infused water, epsom salt, and protein. Spraying my hair with it at any point in the drying process helps the curl reform. Sort of like the SMasters technique, but lite. Also, I wonder if, after drying or close to it, scrunching in some mousse, esp on wonky bits, then diffusing again, would help. I imagine it softens up the toughness of the hold. So I may try my usual techniques, then some mousse (for cleaning it up/volumizing), then some more gel to help hold/reset the curl. I wish I had more mousse choices; the only mousse I can use is Giovanni. It's a nice one, though not curl enhancing in any way.
3A/f/i
Super baby fine hair, low porosity
Shampoos: SM Fruit Fusion (mostly), Avalon lemon (to clarify). Occasional aloe vera and glycerin to wash.
Stylers: Intelligent Nutrients Perfect Hold Hairspray
Treatments: Catnip tea, IA girl's PT, Fermented Rice Water, Catnip Tea, Amla tea, Irish Moss, SS PT