Hello Callisto, welcome to the forum

Jerry

The Curly Girl book and our resident curly heads here can give you lots of suggestions for growing out healthy curly hair.  One thing you have going for you right now - your age.  You are more mature now than your were when you had long hair before, and therefore will take better care of your hair.  Also, your hair is entering its fastest growing phase (mid-teens to mid-twenties). 

Curly hair is dryer than straight hair so you need to pay attention to conditioning your hair and keeping moisture in.  You are already using shea butter on the ends - keep this up!  Minimize the amount of shampoo (if any) that you use on the length.  Only the scalp really needs the shampoo.  The less you mess with your curls, the better.  Let your hair air dry.  Don't brush those lovely curls.  Finger combing is probably best for your corkscrew curls - a wide toothed comb when the hair is damp would be the most I'd suggest on your hair.