CINCINNATI — Head & Shoulders has announced today that Alyson Hannigan, star of CBS-TV’s "How I Met Your Mother" and the hit movie American Pie, will be the brand’s official female ambassador.

The Procter & Gamble dandruff shampoo brand said Monday that Hannigan, who joins Head & Shoulders "hair legends" such as Super Bowl champion Troy Polamalu and Minnesota Twins all-star catcher Joe Mauer, will appear in a fully integrated campaign targeting female consumers beginning this month.

"Strip away the cameras and red carpets and Alyson is just like us, a working mom juggling a hectic work schedule and busy family life who needs five minutes of me time and the right beauty products to help kick start her day," commented April Anslinger, brand manager of Head & Shoulders at P&G. "We’re excited to share that same relatable lifestyle along with her trademark humor, quirky personality and, of course, her beautiful hair, with our female consumers."

This summer, beyond giving women advice on how to get great-looking hair, Hannigan is helping girlfriends everywhere fight head-scratching behavior, according to P&G. With Head & Shoulders, they will team up with consumers to create "The Good Girlfriend Guide," an e-manual of "positive girlfriend-to-girlfriend advice" that tackles everything from beauty faux pas to relationship blunders, the company said.

Hannigan also is urging women nationwide to visit the Head & Shoulders for Women Facebook Fan page, where they can offer their own advice on topics ranging from parenting to fashion. Fifty consumers will have their advice published in The Good Girlfriend Guide, and five women will be chosen to attend an exclusive, all-access VIP e-book launch with Hannigan in Los Angeles this November.

"I’m so thrilled to partner with such an iconic beauty brand," Hannigan said in a statement. "My hair goes through a lot on-set, but I’ve relied on Head & Shoulders for years to keep my hair and scalp healthy. Whether I’m picking up my daughter from a play group or I’m at a photo shoot, Head & Shoulders keeps my hair looking great so I can focus on more important things."