Great thread!
I always enjoy fine hair threads/discussions because I feel it is often overlooked.
For my fine hair, I have discovered the following:
Detangling: I have gone back and forth with several detangling methods over the years (finger detangling, detangling in the shower, adding watery and creamy leave-ins to my dry hair, etc.), but I always return to finger detangling. It's what works best for my hair. I definitely agree with Bublin about pulling the hair apart before raking through it. It certainly makes a difference in the amount of hair that I lose.
Protein: Protein is not optional for my hair. I must use protein every time that I wash my hair, and I make sure that my protein use is not just limited to the wash process (I use products with protein when I style my hair sometimes to plump up my strands.). Also, the protein product must stay on my hair the longest during the wash process (i.e., I always pre-poo with protein conditioners.).
Dustings and Trims: Dustings and trims are also not optional for my hair. I dust/trim every three to four months to maintain my ends. For my hair, dustings/trims every three to four months keep my ends maintained in addition to moisturizing and sealing my ends.
Low Manipulation AND Protective Styling: I capitalized "AND" in the title because, for my hair, low manipulation and protective styling must be done together. I can't just choose one. I protective style and keep manipulation to a minimum via twists and twist outs. I have heard that a lot of women avoid twists because it encourages tangles in their hair, but I reduce tangles by doing medium twists and keeping my hair moisturized. I've noticed that the more moisturized my twists and twist outs are, the easier my detangling sessions are (due to decreased tangles). My main styles are pinned-up twists and twist outs.
Product Application: For my fine hair, I've come to realize that product application is key. It isn't always that a product is "bad"; sometimes, the way that I've applied the product isn't the best way for my hair. For example, I've noticed that my hair responds better when I spritz a product into my hand and apply it to my hair instead of spritzing the product directly onto my hair. I've also found that I really don't need to apply a lot of product to my hair, and that I should always apply products to my hair in sections.
Oils: My hair loves oils. They help (along with proper moisture) to cut down on frizz and give my hair a nice sheen. My newest favorite is wheat germ oil.
Banding: Banding is a heat-free way for me to stretch my hair. Plus, it gives my twists a nice crinkle.
Shampoo: My hair thrives on a clean scalp, so I always shampoo my hair. Co-washing does not work for me.