black woman needs exercise Hair Help!!!!

I am an black woman and I have about 3-4 inch length hair. My husband wants me to grow it out to however long I can get it. Me, I would like to see it bra length. I know this will take me at least 3-4 years. I'm committed to that. The longest my hair has ever been is past the shoulder length back when Jheri-Curls were all the rage (I was 13).My problem. I started running back in November to lose weight. I sweat heavily in the head. My hair is always dry and brittle afterward, unless I wash it. the probelm is, it is too short to put up wet, and I don't have time to blow dry and curl it every day. (I have a 15 month old). I don't know any good products to use on it. I used to keep it 1-2 inches, and my Creme of Nature Shampoo and styling gel did the trick for me.What can I do. I need all advice. You can email me at sugha_lump@hotmail.com or answer me here on this list. Please Are thee any back women out there who have dealt with this and can offer some advice. I can't get braids (my work doesn't allow them).

Hi. my hair is relaxed. But tha's not my problem. I've tried growing the processed part out, but my hair is so thin and kinky, it just looks so bad. What kind of shampoo and conditiners should I use. I've read about all these ingredients that hair products shouldn't have, but when I've tried the natural remedies, my hair is so dry and brittle, that it feels like pine straw. What should I use?

I know this is going to sound strange but when I had a relaxer I used the Optimum Neutralizing shampoo in the pink bottle by Soft Sheen. Again like Mimi I don't know what is in the stuff but it makes my hair very soft. Then after that I use any deep conditioner. I use a deep conditioner every time I wash my hair. Black hair is so dry that I don't think you can ever over condition the stuff. After that for styling purposes (which I don't do much of) I put a conditioner my sister made that has lavender in it. Any type of conditioner would work the same. Then I put a little hair oil on it (she made this too) the base of it is Jojoba. Then I add a drop of her hair creme. Let me tell you as much as this sounds my hair sucks it all up by day 2 or 3 and I find myself rinsing my hair again and adding more stuff. I don't have a relaxer so I don't think about my hair moving and all that stuff but I do condition the heck out of it. I think it's helping too. People keep saying be patient so I'm trying but I think I see a few inches added. It's hard to tell on virgin hair.