Getting beautiful, healthy, and manageable hair starts with the right foundation.

For the do it at home types, it may take a little trial and error before you find your product matches. It's fun trying new products, but not so much when the desired outcome is not reached.

I suggest purchasing small bottles of shampoo and conditioners or getting samples.

The most important part of your hair service, whether you are at home or a salon is that wash! After your hair is washed with a good product that is perfect for your hair type and texture, you will notice immediate positive results. You can then use an instant conditioner, a leave in, or do a treatment. Again, give your hair what it needs.

There are many different shampoos on the market. You can purchase on the low end from drug stores or the high end from salons. Is one better than the other? In many cases yes. You do get what you pay for; however, there are some over the counter shampoos and conditioners that rival the salon in quality.

Before purchasing your shampoo, first determine what state your hair is in. Is it dry, oily, limp, etc. If going to a salon, your salon professional should determine this on your initial visit via the consultation so they know which shampoo and conditioner to use on you. As I stated above, one size does not fit all. If the salon professional only has 1 shampoo and conditioner that he or she uses for all their clients, I would be wary of that stylist. I would believe that hair care was not their top priority when it comes to their clients.

In a situation where you are going to the salon for your hair care needs your salon professional will put you on a regime that is perfect just for you. It's important to regularly go to achieve the desired results. In the event that you do not, or you prefer to take care of your own hair with the exception of regular trims, then my suggestions will be perfect for you.

I will give you suggestions on products that you can purchase for your at home hair care. When you go to the salon, trust your hair professional to use the right products based on your hair type. They should ask you questions and look at your hair and scalp to determine what's best.

• If you wear color in your hair, your shampoo and conditioner should be for color treated hair. Otherwise, you are using products that will strip and fade your color.Some really good over the counter color shampoos are: Herbal Essence Color Me Happy Shampoo, Matrix Biolage Color Care Shampoo, Ion Color Defense Shampoo and CHI Ionic Color Protector

• If your hair is dry, then use a moisturizing shampoo followed by a deep conditioning treatment.There are so many different moisturizing shampoos on the market. Read the label! They are in order from highest to lowest. So if read the back of the label on a shampoo bottle used for moisture and it has sulfates starting off the ingredients, that is a no go. Just place that back on the shelf. Sulfates will rob your hair of moisture. I suggest: TRESemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture Shampoo, Shea Moisture Organic Shea Butter Curl & Shine Shampoo and Organix Thick & Full Shampoo Biotin & Collagen just to name a few.

• If you use lots of products in your hair, opt for a clarifying or purifying shampoo. (These are also great to use prior to a color application) Suggestions: Quantum Clarifying Shampoo, Paul Mitchell One, Ion Clarifying shampoo.

• If you suffer from itchy scalp and/or dandruff, use shampoos that are made specifically for this issue. Other shampoos will only offer a short term solution or no solution at all. Two suggestions are Paul Mitchell Tea Tree and Neutrogena Therapeutic Stubborn Itch Control Shampoo.

• If your hair is limp, fine and just lays flat, I suggest a volumizing shampoo such as L’Oreal Professional Volume Extreme Shampoo, Redken Body Full Shampoo, Kenra Volumizing Shampoo, or Pantene Full and thick just to name a few.

• If your hair is damaged and brittle, you must use a shampoo formulated for that particular problem, such as Aphogee Shampoo for Damaged hair, L'Oreal Expert Absolute Repair Shampoo, Clear Damage and Color Repair, and Joico K-pack Reconstruct shampoo.

I don't know about you but I love the web. There is so much info out here. You can practically learn about anything. You tube is a favorite of mine. I am sharing someone else's video this time. But stay tune to my hub and I will be uploading videos from my own channel (@stylesbytara)

In the mean time, check out this video >>