Always run your brush under warm water to soften the bristles as you use it.

Also, I've been getting those too especially on the sides of my head. I think I need to stop sleeping with the ponytail. That's probably doing the damage.

Another thing is I need to train myself to condition and shampoo it differently now that its super long. I'm gonna have to do what I always dreaded seeing other people do: wash it in sections an style it in sections. Stop treating the whole head of hair like its just one big piece.