I'm mixed race and have grown my hair down to a couple of inches below my bra strap, straight at the moment.
As a child my hair wash best managed: Washed once a week; wide tooth comb whilst wet, then part head into two; two cornrows (or French plait if you can't) down each side if head, crossed over at back, tuck ends into plait on opposite side of head. Low maintenance and looks pretty.
I still do this if I'm going camping.
College age years, I'd wash and go with leave in conditioner, then recurl every couple of days with water and leave in conditioner.
Bad stage of relaxing, hated, cut off and grew out.
Singles braided phase, with or without extensions. Intensive work but once it's done 3/4 months of waking up to perfect hair.
I now wear my hair straight using Babyliss wide straighteners with teeth. Wash very infrequently, say three times a year. Use the straighteners once a week- thinner the sections, better the results; hold straightener plates at roots for 4/5 seconds then smooth down length over another 4 seconds. Use lowest heat possible to get hair straight. Smooth all hair with an oil like argon oil or macadamia oil.