Achieve luscious locks no matter what sort of strands you have with these simple tricks and tips.

TEST YOUR TYPE:

Before you begin, you'll need to determine which hair type you have. A simple way to confirm your hair's true texture is to monitor how long it takes to dry naturally after washing it. The longer it takes, the thicker your hair.

Fine hair: less than an hour

Medium hair: an hour

Thick hair: more than an hour

Fine hair

Your look: Silky-smooth strands that may lack body, shine and texture.

You need: A shampoo and conditioner that are specifically designed to add volume, and a mousse for styling - it's softer than a gel, so it's easier to work with and won't weigh your hair down. We love Aveda Pure Abundance Volumizing Shampoo and Clay Conditioner, $29.95 and L'Oreal Professionnel tecni-art Full Volume Extra, $21.75 (pictured).

Volumising tips:

- Blow-dry your hair with your head tilted upside down, concentrating mainly on the roots to create a fuller look.

- Pull your freshly washed tresses into a ponytail on top of your head before going to bed, letting them loose in the morning to add extra body.

Medium hair

Your look: Lustrous locks that are flexible and not easily broken but may suffer from dreaded oily roots, dry end and pesky fly-aways.

You need: Moisture-boosting products, especially in winter when your hair is drier, and a clarifying shampoo in summer, to rid your roots of oil build-up. An anti-frizz smoothing serum is also a good option. We recommend Schwarzkopf Professional BC Bonacure Hairtherapy Moisture Kick Treatment, $21.95; Origins Clear Head Mint Shampoo, $21 and Redken Glass 01 Smoothing Serum, $22.50 (pictured).

Smoothing tips:

- Treat your tresses to a protein pack or treatment mask at least once a month to help reduce the incidence of fly-aways.

- Have your hair cut every 6 to 8 weeks as this can help stop your strands from splitting and will combat those dry ends.

Thick hair

Your look: A mane that tends to be dry and unkempt, with obvious fly-aways and frizz.

You need: A hydrating shampoo and conditioner, a deep-treatment mask to give you that extra moisture boost and a strengthening product to reduce further damage. Try Dove Nourishing Care Shampoo and Conditioner, $7.85; Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine Leave-In Hair Moisturising Cream, $9.99 (pictured) or Joico K-Pak Strengthening Tonic $20.95.

Control tips:

- When heat styling, always use a heat protection product to reduce the risk of damage to your locks.

- Aim to work in downward movements when blow-drying to stop the cuticle from fluffing, avoiding unwanted fly-aways.

Curly hair

Your look: Bountiful ringlets that may turn fluffy and lack lustre.

You need: Curl-enhancing products that add moisture, smooth hair and tame fly-aways, plus a deep-conditioning treatment at least once a week. It also helps to use products that contain silicone, which fights frizz caused by water and humidity. We like Sunsilk Curls Extra Bounce and Hold Curl Booster and No Frizz Balm, $6.99 (pictured) and The Body Shop Brazil Nut Moisture Mask, $19.95.

Frizz-free tips:

- Avoid rubbing your hair with your towel - instead, squeeze out the excess moisture with your hands before drying.

- Apply a leave-in treatment then twist your curls into shape with your fingers, letting them dry naturally. Finish with a shine-enhancing spray. Words by Yasemin Turker. Still-life photography by Tim Robinson. Model shot by Jennifer Hare for Clare McGrowdie at Phillip Gallo Hair.