BLACK HAIR . . . How do you stop breakage, and add length?

I just took out my hair that my cousin did for me because my hair dresser was out of town, i really didn't want her to do it because she always does it really tight and my hair breaks off, but I needed my hair done badly. My hair was growing so much when my hairdresser did it, it got thick, it got volume and it was getting longer. I just took out my hair that my cousin did for me and the middle of my head broke off sooo much, so im definitely never EVER getting her to do my hair again. I need products that are for "African-American" hair, so it will be greatly appreciated if you tell me what you do, how you use it and the products you use THANKS GUYS<3