Tame your straight, thick hair by using moisture-rich products

To get the soft, shiny texture you crave, look for a shampoo that is made for "normal to dry hair." Shampoos with "smoothing" in the title are good for your hair type too. When it comes to selecting a conditioner, look for one that is marked "moisturizing" or "hydrating." Products to consider: Joico Silk Result Smoothing Shampoo (thick/coarse hair), $13.95 -- readers like it for its ability to tame and smooth hard to manage thick hair. For a good, highly moisturizing conditioner, TotalBeauty.com readers love Pantene Always Smooth Conditioner, $5.19, which they claim keeps frizz at bay.

A couple of exceptions to the above recommendations:
If you have oily hair, you really shouldn't wash it every day. Washing it every 24 hours dries out your scalp and causes it to produce more oil, which just makes the situation worse. If it drives you nuts not to shampoo daily though, use a very gentle shampoo designed for everyday use (try Aveda Shampure Shampoo, $9.50). On the flip side, if you have dry hair and only shampoo two times a week (which is recommended) wash hair with a clarifying shampoo once a month to remove product buildup (which can make hair look dull), try Pantene Purity Clarifying Shampoo, $5.65.

If scalp flakiness is your biggest issue, and your scalp is dry and flaky, massage an oil like The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil, $9 on your scalp before shampooing to stimulate and hydrate it. Then cleanse with a scalp balancing shampoo (try Sachajuan Scalp Shampoo, $24). If your scalp is oily and flaky though, see your doctor before treating it.

Finally, you should be weary of the water hardness in your shower. If you have hard water (check out your city's water hardness here) you will most likely need additional moisture. Try swapping your regular conditioner for a heavier one or leave in your regular one for a bit longer than usual.