Imagine a sponge, fresh and porous. Soak it in water and it will come up swollen, holding all that moisture inside. Now imagine a much-used, damaged sponge. Immerse it in water, and it will come up limp as an old dish-rag.

That's just what happens when hair goes dry. But wait, you're not about to read a lecture on how to nourish your dry strands. Instead, we're going to tell you how to pamper them pretty with a clever choice of products that promise to hide your faults and make you look gorgeous.

1. Diffuser Dryer: This wonderful gadget distributes heat evenly, which means drying without frying! Because your strands are already devoid of moisture, you don't want to subject them to heat assault. So, choose a dryer that doesn't have too-high temperature settings and allows you to choose between several speeds and temperatures.

2. Hot Rollers: Wanna make waves on dry hair and add crispness to your curls? Grab those hot rollers. Typically, these have a little wax inside them that gets heated when you plug them in. The advantages? You no longer have to struggle with an unwieldy curling iron AND you get tighter, bouncier waves. Use rollers in random pattern. Unroll and use your fingers to tousle hair for that sexy Bohemian look - no brushing. It's really that simple.

3. Velcro Rollers: Whether you want to straighten out curls or add volume to your dry hair, Velcro rollers are for you. Easy to use, they release your strands without fuss when you unroll them. Damp hair makes instant magic with the body-and-curl power of good-quality Velcro rollers.

4. Volumising Gel: A solid foundation can support your style through the longest of days. And that's what a good quality volumising gel gives you. Choose a product that builds body and holds it there. Tame those frizzy ends and splits with Clairol Herbal Essences Natural Volume Body Boosting Gel. Or, try Pantene's Body Builder Volumising Gel.

5. Root Lifter: Spritz on a root lifter before blow-drying, and you'll see the difference almost instantly. A good lifter holds limp hair away from the scalp, giving you that all-important bounce. Try Redken Headstrong Fine Shot Root Boost Styling Treatment or L'Oréal Volume Lift - Root Lift Spray Mousse.

6. Leave-in Conditioner: Just like you use moisturiser on your face, you should use leave-in conditioner on your hair to keep it shining and healthy. Use on towel-dried hair so that the final result is soft and manageable. Try Lancome's Hair Sensation Volume Intense Extra-Body Non-Rinse Conditioner or L'Oréal Liss Extreme Leave In Treatment.

7. Hydrating Mask: You need this mask if you've been steadily colouring, perming, straightening and bleaching your hair. For triple-quick rehab for parched hair, try Garnier Fructis Fortifying Deep Conditioner, which works its magic in just three minutes. There's also the PhytoSpecific Intense Nutrition Mask that promises to penetrate the core of your hair and nurture from within. Remember, no amount of styling will work its magic if your hair isn't deep-down hydrated!

8. Mousse: Pouf! And your hair is thicker and fuller. Towel-dry hair and apply mousse from roots to one inch short of ends, so as not to weigh ends down. Frederic Fekkai Full Volume Mousse and Lancome's Intense Volume Mousse are currently very popular.

9. Styling Cream: After you've finished drying, rub a coin-sized amount of styling cream between your palms, then run hands through hair. Try L'Oréal's Tecni Art Hot Style Constructor, a heat-activated spray that allows you to style and restyle without weighing your hair down. Aveda's Brilliant Universal Styling Crème also seals in moisture in medium to coarse hair.

Read product reviews online before you invest in any of these vital tools. Also consult your stylist and your stylish friends. Our take: Choose quality always, even if it means shelling out a little more. After all, your hair is your crowning glory!