Well I'm not sure what kind of advice you would like (straightening, routine, washing, products) so I will just pick some. Since you say you have afro hair I will assume you don't have a relaxer. The advice will differ somewhat.
BIG 10:
1. Cut any split ends right away before they move up hair shaft. Investigate why you are getting split ends.
2. Stop using heat, it may seem hard to do but you need to nurse your hair back to health. When you feel you can straighten again heat protection, heat protection, heat protection.
3. Learn about natural and relaxed hair. You don't specify if your hair is relaxed or natural. If it relaxed sites like longhaircareforum.com are good. If it is natural, naturalhairgrows.com is good. I gotta recommend if your hair is relaxed to go natural.http://rockyournatural.blogspot.com/2008/08/how-to...
4. Find products with good ingredients. I no longer use products whose first ingredients are petroleum and mineral oil. Hair grease is not moisturizing. These just coat hair like plastic and clog pores. Unfortunately thay are in a lot of african american hair products. Biracialhair.org has a great ingredient dictionary.
5. Wear protective hair styles. Buns, two-strand twists, and braids are good examples of these. Anything that covers your ends or where hair isn't loose is a protective style. These are good because you can do them and let your hair rest for a few days/weeks.
6. Moisture, moisture, moisture. This includes regular conditioner, leave in conditioner, and a deep conditioner. Relaxed and napptural hair eats up moisture. NEVER detangle without conditioner in hair. I like Pantene Relaxed and Natural conditioner.
7. Protein treatments. I can't attest for these since my hair isn't damaged but I've heard Aphogee 2-Step is good. The protein coats cracks in hair to stop breakage. Only do a protein treatment if your hair breaks a lot.
8. Sleep in a satin cap or on a satin pillowcase. Rough cotton is not good for hair. Braid hair down at night. Whatever treatments you do to protect hair focus on your ends. These are the oldest part of your hair and usually the weakest. This should decrease breakage. Basically just treat your hair like delicate silk.
9. Educate yourself. I have only included the tips I know. But there are a ton of great Black hair care sites out there. Use them, you need to take care of the hair you have.
10. Live healthy. This has nothing to do with breakage but hair usually grows in faster and stronger when you eat right, take vitamins and exercise. You want to eat a diet rich in protein and other nutrients. Healthy hair=healthy body.
IF you follow the BIG 10 I promise you will have longer and stronger hair.
I like youtube.com. Some great natural users for product, inspiration and styling tips
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
Well I'm not sure what kind of advice you would like (straightening, routine, washing, products) so I will just pick some. Since you say you have afro hair I will assume you don't have a relaxer. The advice will differ somewhat.
BIG 10:
1. Cut any split ends right away before they move up hair shaft. Investigate why you are getting split ends.
2. Stop using heat, it may seem hard to do but you need to nurse your hair back to health. When you feel you can straighten again heat protection, heat protection, heat protection.
http://rockyournatural.blogspot.com/2008/11/heat-d...
3. Learn about natural and relaxed hair. You don't specify if your hair is relaxed or natural. If it relaxed sites like longhaircareforum.com are good. If it is natural, naturalhairgrows.com is good. I gotta recommend if your hair is relaxed to go natural.http://rockyournatural.blogspot.com/2008/08/how-to...
4. Find products with good ingredients. I no longer use products whose first ingredients are petroleum and mineral oil. Hair grease is not moisturizing. These just coat hair like plastic and clog pores. Unfortunately thay are in a lot of african american hair products. Biracialhair.org has a great ingredient dictionary.
5. Wear protective hair styles. Buns, two-strand twists, and braids are good examples of these. Anything that covers your ends or where hair isn't loose is a protective style. These are good because you can do them and let your hair rest for a few days/weeks.
6. Moisture, moisture, moisture. This includes regular conditioner, leave in conditioner, and a deep conditioner. Relaxed and napptural hair eats up moisture. NEVER detangle without conditioner in hair. I like Pantene Relaxed and Natural conditioner.
7. Protein treatments. I can't attest for these since my hair isn't damaged but I've heard Aphogee 2-Step is good. The protein coats cracks in hair to stop breakage. Only do a protein treatment if your hair breaks a lot.
8. Sleep in a satin cap or on a satin pillowcase. Rough cotton is not good for hair. Braid hair down at night. Whatever treatments you do to protect hair focus on your ends. These are the oldest part of your hair and usually the weakest. This should decrease breakage. Basically just treat your hair like delicate silk.
9. Educate yourself. I have only included the tips I know. But there are a ton of great Black hair care sites out there. Use them, you need to take care of the hair you have.
10. Live healthy. This has nothing to do with breakage but hair usually grows in faster and stronger when you eat right, take vitamins and exercise. You want to eat a diet rich in protein and other nutrients. Healthy hair=healthy body.
IF you follow the BIG 10 I promise you will have longer and stronger hair.
I like youtube.com. Some great natural users for product, inspiration and styling tips
http://www.youtube.com/user/ItsMsHeather...
http://www.youtube.com/user/curlychronic...
http://www.youtube.com/user/rusticbeauty
http://www.youtube.com/user/naturalnana
http://www.youtube.com/user/richeau