Hey, I know I'm late, but I say stick with the braid-outs. Just make sure you moisturize your hair well enough. Olive oil is great for moisture and shine. Also, when you're completely natural, your hair will be poofy anyway. Embrace it! But, maybe you can try a butter with an oil on top to before you do the braids to lessen the fuzziness and make your hair more compact and that way it will lay down.
I hope I helped!
- Sent from Anddy's iPhone. 😋