Technique: Dusting ends, stretching relaxers, consistent conditioning, protein/moisture balance, practicing a less-is-more approach.
Products: Motions Neutralizing Shampoo, Organic Root Stimulator Hair Mayonnaise, Aussie Moist Conditioner, Tresemme Moisture Rich Conditioner, Motions CPR Protein Reconstructor, ApHogee 2-Step, etc.
When I initially started taking care of my hair, it didn't take too long for it to look better and see retention. Although, I wasn't practicing all my techniques at once so it took longer to see overall progress. Once I put everything into practice, it was smooth sailing and I saw my hair improve before my eyes. With hair, you need to have patience and you will either need to baby it or keep it simple. Hm, I'll say I saw small changes in a month, moderate changes in 4 months, and more drastic changes within 7 months.
Regarding the products I listed, I no longer use them because I got sick of the scent, wanted to try other stuff, or they were not as accessable as other products. Regardless, they're all still great and really nourished my hair so I'd happily repurchase them on a whim one day.