A lot of your hair care depends on if it’s curly or straight, oily or dry, thin or thick, etc.

For managing hair in your face, hair bands are good. If you’re not trying it back as tight as a gymnast or something, you’re probably not putting enough strain on it to cause balding. If you want better ways to hold it back, spiral hair ties like these are more gentle and tangle less than normal elastic ones. Long barrettes for the back of the head like this keep hair on the sides from falling into your face. They look especially good with curly hair, and if you’re worried about it looking too feminine (which you probably shouldn’t) you can get subtle black ones. Side braids are a really good way to control the sides, and make you look like a Viking. You would need to get good at French braiding or have someone do it for you.

For hair care, it really depends on what makes your hair happy. I have very curly hair that goes about halfway down my back. I wash it about once a week, more if it gets dirty. I start with a pre-wash scalp oil. I use a really gentle shampoo or none at all, then a really good conditioner or hair mask meant for curly hair. After showering, I use a de-frizz leave in conditioner, then a hair oil, then a pomade on the tips, all using the scrunch method. I never brush my hair when it’s dry, I carefully comb tangles out in the shower while the conditioner or mask sits. Brushing will destroy curls.

I highly recommend Jonathan Van Ness for care advice, and his products are excellent, but pretty pricey. Unfortunately, you get what you pay for, and it’s hard to find cheaper alternatives that work nearly as well.