I've decided not to relax my hair again, I figured growing it out would be healthier than having it chemically messed with every couple months plus its getting expensive. How do I go about caring for it without cutting it?

What you should do is watch American Idol. There are some lovely young ladies who are in their teens and early 20s who have the most amazing hairdos. Relaxed seems to be in, and several of them have added hairbands and other things (combs?) for control and to keep the hair away from their faces so we can see their sparkling eyes and happy smiles.

Or dreads? I'm not sure how hard they are on hair. A nurse who took care of me in the hospital a year ago patiently explained to this dummy that it took three hours to get her hair braided, but then it was so easy to care for and she could add all sorts of hair bows and jewelry to jazz it up. She bent over so I could touch her hair -- so wonderfully soft and springy!

Maybe go to a salon and ask for ideas, or pick up some haircare magazines at Walgreen's, etc. The library may have books that will give you ideas.

I would say cut it, but since you don't want to, I would braid it.