THICK HAIR HELP AND SUGGESTIONS!!!!!!!!?

I have extremely thick dirty blonde hair, I flat iron it occasionally but it takes 2 hours. When I don't straighten it, it is curly at the bottom but poofy on my scalp. I cannot curl it because it looks like a poodle. Do you have any advice on shampoo or products to use because I am tired of puttin in a ponytail!!! I have decided to grow it out cause it gets less poofy the longer it is, wat are your thoughts on this?? thanks!!!