Desperately seeking hair advice

My hair is driving me crazy! What am I doing wrong these last 18 months? I’ve been doing the same routine for years but this last year and a half my hair has decided it’s just going to rebel. I use excellent products, I stopped using heating elements like my beloved curling iron (my lower lip is thrust out right now), I wash only every other day (will go for an extra if my hubby is out of town), what else can I do but to just pull a “Britney”, shave it and start over? It’s just breaking off almost as quickly as it’s growing. And I know it’s still growing fast as I need to fork over the bucks to get the flippin’ roots done on a regular basis. Perhaps age? Once you pass the 45 mark does your hair just start going “no, I demand you just cut me off, get a perm and go gray. Oh and buy some sensible shoes while your at it!”? Someone said pre-natal vitamins are the key – that you don’t have to be pregnant to reap the hair benefits these little magic pills provide. I’m not sold on that yet though. Any insights out there? I could use some helpful “hairapeutic” tips!