Good for you!
My hair is long (below the shoulder), dark, and curly. Hubby loves it. Curly hair can drive a woman nuts until she finds out how to care for it it. I wash with shampoo every four days or so, and wash with conditioner the rest of the time....then it’s more conditioner, and leave-in conditioner. I go through the stuff like you wouldn’t believe. But making sure it gets enough moisture is the secret. That, and staying away from stylists....I never met one who knew what to do with my hair. So I trim the ends myself.
A lot of woman are getting brazillian blowouts now with the curly hair and the hubbies may like it once but then they say, "What happened to your curly hair. I like it!!" and demand the woman quit the blowouts. Haha. I love it. It just goes to show they love us for us :-D.
I'm not a curly girl but I do admire women who have such lovely curls (even tho as you said it is harder to manage. Sounds like you're doing a wonderful job though. Take Care :)