Watched a barber in Tucson work a cowlick with just his thumbnail and a comb, and I've been doing it wrong for 12 years
He didn't reach for clippers once on that patch, just kept flicking the comb through it dry until it laid down flat. Now my neck work looks ten times cleaner, but I'm wondering if that trick holds up on tighter curls or if it's a straight hair thing only.
Man, twelve years of doing it the hard way stings, and I feel for you. That dry comb method sounds like it takes real patience, and tight curls probably fight it more since the hair wants to coil back up. Worth testing on a small spot before you trust it on a full cut.