Suds up less often. Wash your mane every two days with a gentle shampoo to avoid stripping it of its natural oils.

Condition with care. Daily wear and tear saps hair of moisture. In addition to using a regular conditioner, treat your locks (especially your ends, which are driest) to a weekly intensive mask.

Keep tools in top shape. Old, worn bristles on your brush can rough up your hair’s cuticle. When shopping for a new one, run it down your arm. If the bristles feel abrasive, skip it. And while you already know that it’s best to detangle wet strands with a wide-tooth comb, African-American babes should do it in the shower, right after applying conditioner, to protect your fragile tresses.

Blow-dry, don’t blowtorch, your hair. Before you even as much as look at your blow-dryer, apply a thermal protective styling product (pick one that calls this out on the bottle). Dry your locks at least 50 percent with your dryer on the low-heat setting. Then you can crank up the heat and wield a brush. Once you get going, hold the dryer 3 inches away from your hair, point it downward, and keep it in constant motion to prevent fried sections.

Move on from metal. Go for a ceramic flatiron or curling iron. Unlike metal models, ceramic heats up evenly, so there are no strand-scorching hot spots. Another rule of thumb: Don’t heat any one section of hair longer than three counts of “Mississippi.”

You Should Know...

Scrub your scalp: A head massage not only feels amazing, but all that rubbing removes product buildup and boosts circulation so more nutrients can get to the hair follicle. So beg your stylist for an extra-long scrub session or do it yourself at home using your fingertips.