The mention of long hair conjures visions of shiny, healthy hair. In reality, having long hair and keeping it in good shape two different things. Growing your hair out and keeping it looking its best requires a lot of maintenance, daily and otherwise.

Shampoo and Condition Daily

Hair retains odors, which become more noticeable on long hair, so it's essential that long hair is shampooed or conditioned daily. It takes longer to wash long hair than short hair, so factor time for that into your daily schedule. If you find that your hair is dry and frizzy, be certain to use a conditioner every day.
Comb Out Daily

Many people who have long hair find it too difficult to maintain on a daily basis so they simply skim a brush over the top layer, or skip combing it altogether. This is an absolute "don't." It's essential to comb through tangles and snarls daily to maintain healthy looking hair.
Find an Easy Style

Washing and brushing long hair can seem like a lot of work, so it's important to find a hairstyle that doesn't add to your workload. Some suggestions for easy hair styles are to wear long hair in a braid, ponytail, bun, or clip.
Have the Ends Trimmed Regularly

Long hair can get raggedy, especially at the ends. Be sure to have the ends of your hair trimmed at least twice a year. If you keep up on it, you'll only have to have about 1/2 an inch cut off each time. Although it seems counter-intuitive, long hair actually grows faster when it's trimmed on a regular basis.
Avoid Over-processing

One of the problems with having long hair processed hair is that you dye on top of dye and perm on top of perm. You're processing the same hair over and over, instead of having the old hair cut off, and that's highly damaging. After your first process, just get your roots done.
Maintain a Well-Balanced Diet

Hair grows best when the body is healthy. A diet rich in minerals (which are found in green leafy vegetables) and proteins (such as eggs, beans, low-fat cheese, and fish) promotes healthy hair growth.