My grandmother has always had at least MBL hair and longer. She is a type 2b/3 it has the slightest wave to it and almost no kink or curl. Typically I noticed she uses the "Silver Lights" shampoo and conditioner to keep her gray hair shiny, also uses a whole lot of Pantene Pro-V shampoo and conditioner, though I'm unsure of the variation. She just pulls hers back into a bun using a brush, a bit of water run over the brush, cheap clear gel (I usually saw a gallon's worth btw her bath and the guest bath), and clips a flower or some other decorative clip on top. Last time I saw her, it was WL. She typically keeps it about WL or so and trims back occasionally to MBL.
At night she just goes to sleep, I dnt remember her braiding, tying it up, or anything. I believe she washes weekly, and has for many years. My great-grandmother (this grandma's mom) also had very long hair (WL to HL). She didn't wash it but once a month and kept it braided in a single braid. Great-grandma passed before I was born, and I'm 27.
**I will be seeing grammy (who will be 68 in Oct, so she is young) next month so I will ask her about her regimen. She always told me "NEVER CUT YOUR HAIR." Now she does trim, but she is talking drastic cuts. I should have listened cuz I would be KL by now!