1. Shampoo it as infrequently as you can get away with. 2-3 times a week is optimum for me. It takes a period of adjustment before your hair stops getting greasy after a day or two - you can ride out this interim with dry shampoo, talcum powder, or just wearing a lot of updos/scarves/hats. (Trust me, it’s worth it. Shampoo dries out your hair LIKE CRAZY, even if it doesn’t feel that way in the short-term. You wouldn’t wash your face 4 times a day, would you?)
2. When you wash it, only wash the roots. The shampoo will drift down to the rest of your hair on its own, especially when you’re rinsing, so you don’t need to worry about that. The length has enough of a problem retaining moisture without constant sulfate attacks!
3. Choose hair products wisely. Do your research and find what works best for you. I avoid products that contain silicones because they create weird build-up from moisture barriers - instead, I use natural shampoo bars and Suave’s fruity conditioners, which make my hair happy. Do some experimenting, and stay as natural as you can!
4. Also, choose hair tools wisely. Avoid hot tools as much as possible. Use natural bristle brushes (mine is boar bristle, like this one) rather than horrible plastic ones. Use seamless combs. Use fabric-covered hair ties rather than rubber elastic bands. After a shower, loosely wrap your hair in a microfiber towel or a pashmina rather than rubbing it with a regular towel.
5. Do regular hair treatments. Just the same as masks and facials, you can do treatments for your hair as well. I like to do an occasional pre-wash with coconut oil, where I leave it on for an hour, wrapped in a heated towel, prior to shampooing. Some people on the Long Hair Community forum like to mix conditioner with honey and aloe and leave that on for hours at a time before washing out. Some people swear by mayonnaise, or avocado, or all sorts of other weird ingredients. Try stuff out and see what works.
6. Treat your hair like antique lace. Don’t slam it in car doors. Don’t sit in it. Don’t yank at tangles. Don’t wring it out. Be nice.
7. Put it up when you can. Not only does keeping your hair up allow you to avoid a lot of tangles and mishaps, but it can actually improve your hair’s moisture level. Bunning or braiding hair when it’s damp allows it to retain moisture better, especially if you run a few drops of coconut or olive oil over it first, and leave it overnight.