Everyone's hair is different so you'll have to find what works for yours, but there's three things you have to do: washing, conditioning and untangling, how often and in what order you'll got to figure out.

My hair's curly and dry so for me is washing, conditioning and untangle with lots of conditioner applied. If you have straight and more greasy hair maybe you'll condition first, with more conservative quantities favoring the tips/avoiding the scalp, and wash after, untangling with a daily dry brushing.

Hair ties are ok, just don't go for too long with a very tight pony tail or bun. I keep my hair tied most of the time and my hair line is not the same as when I was 20 but I would say that is better than most of my short-haired peers (maybe improved uv protection).

And then you have styling products, there's a whole world of them. I use leave in conditioner and/or gel, or nothing, or whatever shit I just got to try and see if my hair likes it (spoiler: the fucker usually doesn't, and they're not cheap). I would say in general foams and mouses give a dryer look while oily/waxy products give a more wet finish.