There are many factors affecting your hair but the perhaps the most important 3 are your diet and your activities and what you put on your hair.

Make sure you consume the right amount of nutrients and proteins that supports your hair. Let's face it, your meals alone is never going to be enough. Take supplements for hair and nails. This step is just as important or perhaps more important than other. Do this first.

The common mistake people do is to wash their hair everyday. Try to shampoo your hair only once every 2-3 days. Shampooing strips the hair of its natural oil that makes it look and feel healthy. However, please your hair at least once a week. A dirty hair is 1. a turn off, 2. fulls of germs and bacterias, 3. unhealthy because nutrients cannot move through them.

Do not spend too much time out in the sun, especially when it is harsh. I'm pretty sure most people does this already with all the scare the corporations propagate, but what you must know too is that sunlight is beneficial to your health. See The Sunscreen Myth.

Chlorine, is very damaging to your hair. What you didn't know is that your tap water contains chlorine. It is there to kill bacterias, but it will kill you too. I highly recommend that you buy and fit a water filter to filter out these chlorine. People has testified better hair in as little as one week by just using a water filter.

Do not use harsh shampoo. Read the ingredients. It is best to use only organic shampoos. *Do not be deceived by the cover*. If it says "all natural" but no "certified organic" seal, then it is not "all natural". When buying an organic shampoo, make sure the shampoo is right for you. See below section to learn how to choose the right shampoo for you.

Lessen chemical processes done onto your hair, like coloring, perming, and curling. I think this pretty obvious why it is damaging.

Do not comb your hair when it is wet. The hair is much weaker when it is wet. Do not blow dry either. Let it air dry and you can style it when it is partially dry. For some extreme styling, however, there is no choice but to blow dry. In this case, try to lessen the duration, frequency and intensity of the heat.

If you have oily hair, the most important thing you must do is to use a correct shampoo. Choose one that normal or mild. This is one of the occasion when it is best for you to shampoo everyday to control the amount of oil. Your conditioner is also as important. Choose one designed for oily hair and apply it to the tips, but avoiding the scalp. yes, it takes practice.

You can remove excess oil using an astringent shampoo. Use this only if your hair VERY oily.

Reduce brushing. When you are brushing, avoid your scalp to prevent oil from spreading to other parts.

Use humectant-based shampoo and conditioner. Leave the conditioner on for a few minutes before washing them away.

You can apply natural oils like jojoba or olive to replace the missing sebum.

Do not use hot water to rinse your hair, use cold instead. Hot water strips the hair of its natural oil.

Perhaps the most important reason why your hair is dry is because your hair care product is doing more damage than good. Change to an organic hair care regime and you'll be surprised with the change.

Wash your hair only in lukewarm water with a pH balanced shampoo a few time a week.

Apply conditioner to the ends of your hair and use jojoba oil but avoid the scalp.

Doing so will help you moisturize your hair but still protects the natural sebum your hair produces.

When you have long hair, it need extra attention. Other than doing the above, (depending whether you hair is oily or dry) you need to detangle your hair using a comb specially designed for that job before applying shampoo.Start from the scalp and make the shampoo reaches the ends.

Apply conditioners only to the ends.

Always detangle your hair from the ends and working your way up.

The first thing you must not do with curly hair is to shampoo everyday. Sebum already has a hard time covering curly hairs, shampooing it will remove sebum from your hair.

Although you must not shampoo everyday, make sure you condition everyday and remember to deep condition once every 2 weeks. Apply conditioner at the ends.

If you MUST blow dry, minimize intensity an duration. You can use a diffuser to reduce intensity.