I think the hardest thing you can do is give up combing/brushing when you don't have to. I would brush EVERYTIME I washed to detangle, EVERYTIME I straightened to detangle again, and EVERYTIME I styled. I also combed at least 3 times a day, if not more
Now that I don't, I actually have ends worth holding on to, at least more so than what I had before (see siggy)
Its like giving up crack! You have to admit there is a problem and just accept that no matter how good it feels, or how good you think it looks after, you are WRONG!
Lol at least thats what I told myself until I stopped. Tough love does work for hard-headed peolple like me though...
I have one of those paddle brushes with the beads on it, and I only use it maybe once every other week or so, and even then I change my mind and put it away most of the time. The main comb I use is my seamless shower comb (you know, with the little loop on the end) now, and if I need to really part or detangle on the small scale (only when straightening or right when Im detangling NG after washing) I use finer tooth seamless comb. If it gets messy during the day I only finger comb the ends and maybe just a little combing the top to get it back in place with the shower comb.
If you HAVE to come your hair on the top, etc. to get it back in order I suggest you add water or some kind of glycerin spray or water based moisturizer before you handle your hair, and use your fingers, because when I cut out brushing/excessive combing I realized my hair usually does what I want it to do when its wet, and starts actin up when it gets too dry, or covered in cones, etc. Especially if you're stretching/transitioning, the last thing you want to do is comb your hair after it gets dry or after you've put it up and finished styling it.