The secret to clean, healthy hair isn't actually a secret at all.

Toss away those urban legends about egg yolks and olive oil and break out the rubber ducky, because the right shampoo is all you need for flawless locks. Different hair types need to be cared for differently, and your regime starts in the shower. Knowing what damages your strands and choosing a formula to protect them will help make every day a good hair day.

Curly Hair
Curly hair tends to dry out faster than other hair types, so it is important to use moisturizing shampoos. Skipping one to three days of shampooing, depending on the dryness of your hair, will ensure that your coils will retain moisture and spring back to life in no time.

Splurge: Phytocurl Curl Enhancing Shampoo for curly hair ($24 at Sephora stores) contains yerba mate tree leaves from South America that leave curly hair shiny and bouncy.
Save: Pantene Pro-V Hydrating Curls Shampoo ($7 at drugstores) helps define curls, and its creamy formula promotes frizz control and humidity defense.

Colored Hair
Frequent washing, chlorine, UV exposure and repeated use of hot tools rapidly fade the color of dyed hair. Make sure to use shampoos marked "color-safe" or specially made for colored hair. Remember that the first shampoo after a coloring strips hair of 25 percent of its new hue, so try to wait a few days before soaping up.

Splurge: Keratase Reflection Bain Miroir 2 Shine Revealing Shampoo ($32 at Ulta stores) protects color with UV filters and shine enhancers. The shampoo also makes hair very soft.
Save: Clairol Herbal Essences Replenisher Shampoo ($4 at drugstores) combines rose hips, vitamin E and jojoba oils in a 100 percent organic blend that prevents color loss.

Long Hair
Growing long hair means frequent trims and gentle shampooing. The longer the hair strand, the more prone it is to split ends and dryness. Try to shampoo only the areas of your hair that need it, namely the scalp.

Splurge: Rosemary Mint Shampoo by Aveda ($9 at aveda.com and salons) adds body and gets rid of the static electricity that can plague longer hair.
Save: L'Oreal VIVE Pro Nutri Gloss Shampoo Medium to Long Hair ($5 at drugstores) strips hair of product residue, so long strands feel light and bouncy.

Dry/Damaged Hair
Hair can be dried out by many things: the sun, the harsh winter air, applying heat to strands, even sleeping on cotton pillowcases with wet hair. Avoid shampooing the ends of dry hair.

Splurge: L'Occitane Dry and Damaged Hair Shampoo ($17 at nordstrom.com) has vitamin B5 and wheat proteins that make hair soft again. Geranium and lavender leave a lasting floral scent in your locks.
Save: ShiKai Moisturizing Shampoo ($7 at specialty salons) helps moisture bind to porous, dry hair shafts.

Normal Hair
If you just want a cleaning formula that will add a smooth touch to your hair, look no further than these shampoos.

Splurge: Jurlique Chamomile Shampoo (Dry/Normal Hair and Scalp) ($22 at cosmeticmall.com) has vegetable oils that are gentle on skin and hair, but it still leaves hair clean. The formula is hypo-allergenic and alkaline free.
Save: Joico Silk Results Fine/Normal Hair Smoothing Shampoo ($10 at drugstores) is perfect for those April showers because it gently cleans while providing all day frizz-control.