Digital BW, The Print

I'm making a suite of prints - the subject is people- which I 
visualized in warm carbon tone.  The first trial print, I did straight, 
no color adjustment.The second time, I loaded Schwab's curve for 
carbon, and the entire character of the print changed.Instead of the 
photographic quality of flesh in light and shadow, it is more like an  
brush and ink drawing, with loss of detail and texture in the shadows. 
It's graphically interesting,but not what I want. How do I keep the 
quality of the neutral print and get the carbon tone? Using the sliders 
warms it up a bit, but not as much as the carbon curve. Thanks for any 
clues.
        Arlene
arlenelove3@...