Dry Shampoo Hair Powder - The Evolution From 1770s To Current

When I first founded HairBoutique.com in 1997 the only dry shampoo products on the market consisted of the following options:

Early Hair Powder - Dry Shampoo Options Before 2000

1.  Homemade powder style recipes have become popular.

The recipes are made with a cornstarch, cornmeal, oatmeal, oat bran or similar base.  Baking powder and/or flours could be used in a pinch.

Another popular powder is powdered orris root which was used back in the 18th Century.

One of my Alpha Xi Delta sorority sisters at the University of Missouri once used cake mix powder.  It worked just fine on her hair.

Note: For more information refer to:  Dry Clean Your Hair: Instant Shampoo Formulas

2.  Baby powder -  Talc based baby powders have been proven to be very bad to use on hair due to inhaling potentially toxic chemicals and talc which can harm the lungs in some users.

3.  Pssst! Dry Shampoo - This product came in a spray style can was very messy.  It didn't always work as well for some.  As a result, in some hair circles the home grown versions were more popular.

4.  Baking soda sprinkled onto the roots - Although some people like baking soda, some find lighter powders to be lest dense.

Hair Powder From The Very Beginning

The concept of using powder in the hair whether for cleaning, scenting or decorative reasons dates back to the days of powdered wigs.

18th Century Powdered Wigs - Men Powdered Their Hair

In the 18th century, men's wigs were powdered in order to give them their distinctive white or off-white color.

Contrary to popular belief, women in the 18th century did not wear wigs, but wore a coiffure that we nowadays would call hair extensions.

The top of their natural hair was enriched by fake hair, or hair not of their own.

Women Powdered Hair Gray Or Blue Grey

Women mainly powdered their hair grey, or blue grey. From the 1770s onwards never bright white like men.

Wig powder was made from finely ground starch that was scented with orange flower, lavender, or orris root.

Wig powder was occasionally colored violet, blue, pink or yellow, but was most often used as off-white.

Powdered wigs (men) and powdered natural hair with extensions (women) became an essential for full dress occasions and continued in use until almost the end of the 18th century.

Dry Shampoo After 2000

Bumble & Bumble, known as B&B, is famous for changing the landscape of hair in connection to the runway capitals of the world.

A B&B hairdresser improvised at one fashion show and used a bra strap to create an on-the-fly headband.  The bra strap headband as it was called took the hair, beauty and fashion world by storm.

The bra strap headband enjoyed long term popularity.

B&B also introduced the first commercialized version of dry shampoo which came in little plastic bottles and eventually in various colors including white, black, brown and red.

The key component of the B&B dry shampoo was cornstarch.  It was not baby powder as some uninformed editors mentioned.

Note: To read about the original B&B hair powders read my original article Hair Takes A Powder - Bumble & Bumble

Dry Shampoo Powders - In Spray From Couture Hair Care Companies

Rene Furterer introduced their hair powder in a can.

While the French company was not the first manufacturer to introduce dry shampoo in a can (Pssss! was first) they refined it along with a handful of others.

Note: For more details please read Hair Tips:  Wash Your Hair Without Water - Rene Furterer's Naturia

Not only do I always have the fabulous  3.2 oz can in my handbag I have it in my bathroom at home, at work and I pack it when I travel.

I also give it as gifts and to all my friends.  It's probably the one thing I would take to the jungle, as Heidi Montag recently did on NBC's I'm A Celebrity....Get Me Out Of Here.

Hair Care Market

Not only did Bumble & Bumble introduce a new version of their original hair powder - a spray version - they've been innovative in utilizing the dry shampoo powders for other purposes.

Meanwhile every imaginable hair company from mass market brands to high end and independent brands have introduced their own form of dry shampoo.

Even traditionally cosmetic companies have introduced dry shampoo products.  There are literally hundreds of possible options available.

Listed below are some of the most popular dry shampoo products.

High End - Worth Every Penny:

Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray

Although one of the most expensive options, this dry shampoo is famous for it's amazing scents.  It is also popular because it adds awesome volume and texture.

Best for Sensitive Scalps:

Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk

A favorite of celebrity hairstylists, it's formulated with rice and corn starches to absorb oil and oat milk to soothe the scalp.

Best Detox Dry Shampoo:

First Class Charcoal Detox Dry Shampoo

A powerful dry shampoo that deeply cleanses hair and scalp with an oil-erasing, odor-eliminating charcoal powder.

Best Value:

TIGI Bed Head Rockaholic Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo

It may be affordable, but it surely doesn't skimp on results.

Dry Shampoo Hair Powder - The Evolution From 1770s To Current

Best for Light Hair:

Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo for Light Tones

Subtle violet undertones help fight brassiness, making this pick ideal for lighter hair colors.

Best Texturizing:

UNITE Hair TEXTURIZA Texturizing Spray

If dry shampoo, a light hairspray, and a volumizer had a baby, this would be it.

Best Drugstore:

Psssst! Dry Shampoo

A great bang for your buck, you can't go wrong with this drugstore favorite.

Best Volumizing:

Big Sexy Hair Volumizing Dry Shampoo

You'll get the va-va-voom volume without the product buildup.

Best Body Building:

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo

A few spritzes is all it takes for mega volume and refreshed hair.

Best for Dark Hair:

Bumble and Bumble Prêt-à-Powder

This invisible formula blends seamlessly into darker strands.

Best for Damaged Hair:

Kristin Ess Style Reviving Dry Shampoo

Other Dry Shampoo Options

Dry shampoo has become one of the hottest "must have" options in hair care lines.  New options continue to explode onto the hair market.

At this point in time there are many different types of dry shampoo products available in every size and price range which include too many others to mention here.

Dry Shampoo Warnings

Whether you are using the drugstore version of Pssst or one of the new sprays it is important to be aware of the following precautions.

Since the dry shampoo sprays are usually bottled in a highly flammable, high pressure can please make sure you follow the precautions listed below:

1.  Never use near fire or flame.

2.  Don't smoke while using.

3.  Use on dry hair only.

4.  Don't spray in eyes.  Contents are under pressure.

5.  Avoid piercing, puncturing or incinerating the can.

6.  Never store at temperatures above 120°F (50°C).

7.  Keep out of reach of children.

8.  Use only as directed.

9.  Intentional inhalation of dry shampoo contents may be harmful or even fatal.

Be aware that with some dry shampoo sprays, the nozzle is extremely cold at the valve opening.  Avoid direct contact with fingers during application.

More Information

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