Answer:
Soak it in warm water before you swim, because chlorine is very damaging to hair.
Don't dye it.
Don't straighten/curl it with a hot iron. (If you MUST, use a protective spray so as to not burn your hair.)
Use a protective spray if you use a hairdryer, or use the cool setting.
Anything very HOT is damaging to hair.
Don't pull it out.
NEVER bleach it, EVER.