My hair is like a birds nest :-0 help!

[Dunnyjo]

I have long hair and since having my dc obviously i have not had a great deal of time to spend on it (let alone spend money on it at hairdressers!) i find it an absolute nightmare after i have washed it. I end up with huge clumps of knotts!
I need to know what the hec i could buy (small fourtune) to help get it looking lovely and soft again.

p.s my hair is in pretty bad condition dry/damaged

I have fairly thick coarse hair and could not live - or show myself in public without John Friedas Frizz Ease, I always use a good shampoo and conditioner eg Pantene and use the frizzease and dry head upside down if you get my drift, and on a low speed setting. It might take 20mins from start to finish but is worth it to avoid the dreaded birds nest effect. Frizzease - about £6

My hairdresser here in Germany says the best thing you can use is Klettenwurzel oil which I have found translated into burdock root oil. You can buy it over the counter at a chemist's here in Germany. He recommended mixing it with egg yolk and a splash of cognac but I find that extravagent. You just massage it into the scalp and hair, wrap your hair up in a towel, cover it with plastic (a bag or glad-wrap) and wash out after a while. You can leave it overnight apparently. It makes your hair lovely and soft.

Damaged (split) hair you need to have cut though because the split just works itself up the hair to the root so the hairs get finer and finer and more and more damaged.

great thankyou for the advice!
i know i desp need my hair cut, just dont have the money at the moment. my mum used to do my hair but she passed awawy in Jan
buy hey i just started college last wk doing hairdressing so soon i will know the in's andout's of hair! lol
thanks agian for advice, looked it up on asda site and its only £3.50 for the john frieda frizz ease!