How to grow out and PROTECT very short hair?

My hair is pretty much a pixie right now, and I want to grow it out super healthy and long. Keyword: healthy. It's too short for protective hairstyles, but I do use satin pillowcases.

I go through a cycle of growing my hair out for 3 years, then cutting it off. Just a habit. Usually I don't do anything different to grow it out, I just leave it alone. No scalp treatments, no oil, no trims, nothing.

I recently cut my hair... but this time, I want to grow it out super healthy with all the right products, trims, and prevent breakage, etc. I want to see how fast it grows out when I actually try.