I'd suggest limiting the use of heat on it as much as possible (blow dryers, flat iron, curling iron, etc)
Also, remember that although hair is dead, keratinized cells, certain conditioners will smooth the hair out to make it appear healthier. Think of a road with potholes- if you fill the potholes in, it temporarily will create a smooth road surface. When the outer cuticle layer of your hair is damaged, a deep conditioner or protein conditioner can help fill in those hair potholes, so to speak, and give your hair a smoother finish.
I'd also suggest not brushing the hair when it's very wet, use a wide tooth comb to gently detangle. Hair stretches more when it's wet than when it's dry, and brushing when it's wet can stretch the hair too much, leading it to be more brittle and prone to breakage when it's dry again. Along those same lines, you should try to limit how much you wear your hair up or pulled back. Although hair has a silght elasticity, too much stress on it can cause breakage along the strand or, especially in tight braids or tightly slicked back styles (a gymnast's ponytail, for instance) the stress at the root can cause it to come out of the follicle more, especially along the hairline where the hair is more delicate.
I knew beauty school would come in handy at some point!