Big hair that lasts

Short on time and your hair is looking flat & lifeless and the root area looks a little greasy?

Washing it isn't an option? You don't want to wear your hair up either. If only you could give it a lift and  add some body for another day or two more day before washing it again. In need of a quick fix?

The Victorians used to sprinkle arrowroot ­powder on their hair to help absorb grease and 

corn starch and oatmeal have also been used in the past to refresh the hair.

Technology has come far and designed the  perfect solution for you: Dry shampoo!

A water-free way to freshen and restyle your hair and revitalize limp, greasy hair when you don't have time for your usual shampoo/conditioning/blow drying routine. They will also reduce stale odours in the hair which instantly revives the hair and leaves it smelling fresh.

Most products on the market these days still use corn or rice starch but they are less chalky and powdery and some brands have released coloured versions of the product making it more suitable for the darker haired consumer.

Designed to use in between regular shampooing, (not to replace it) and to extend the life of your blow dry this product  works very well for the client who has a weekly blow dry and finds their scalp area getting a little oily and flat around day 3-4.  Dry Shampoo is a quick and effective way to clean your hair from oil & product residue so that you can re tease or build up texture into the hair.

Quick, easy and convenient to use dry shampoos simply require the following steps:

* Shake the can first.

* Lift sections of the hair up and spray a fine mist of product at the root area only but hold the can about 6" away so as not  to saturate the area. Less is more when you are first 

experimenting with the product until you get a feel for how much your hair requires.

* Massage the product into the hair around the root area, working it through until the product disappears into the hair and give it a short time to set in the hair.

* Option: Brush excess residue off the hair and remove any white powdery finish if you have any left on the hair.

* Tease, style and finish with some hairspray.

* Instant body and lots of volume at the root area again!

Similar to a dry shampoo, KMS Makeover spray is a matte spray that contains rice starch that absorbs extra oil from the roots, but it is is also a texturizing, styling product giving the hair more volume and root lift. This is a product I can recommend as it works exceptionally well and I think is a better alternative to a specific 'dry shampoo' product as you don't have the problem of a powdery, white mess to deal with plus it gives the hair extra strength making it easy to work with to build up big hair.

It's an  excellent style refresher and builds bulk to refresh limp or day-old styles. Great for quick style touch-ups and in-between shampoos.

HOW TO USE

Shake well. Spray 4-6" (10-15 cm) from roots and work through to absorb oil. Layer through mid-lengths and ends to add bulk for a finished style.

It has a matte finish  and contains peppermint and grape extract leaving hair refreshed and clean. 

This product is very popular in the salon where I work with many of the Ladies who have a weekly big hair blow dry spraying this into their root area mid week to get some extra oomph and absorbing some oil away from the scalp area.

Some brands are definitely more prone to leaving a chalky, powdery residue in the hair if you spray too much product on to the root area and this seems to be the biggest problem for most people. Essentially all Dry Shampoos are doing the same thing  so you will need to experiment with brand to work out which one best suits you, your style and budget.

Everyone seems to be familiar with Klorane Dry Shampoo which can be bought at any pharmacy or department store. I have never use this myself and reports on the product are mixed. Some people love it and some find it a little too powdery on the hair. Formulated from natural plant extracts it contains oat milk which has a natural soothing effect on the skin, so it’s gentler on the scalp than many other dry shampoos and is ideal for anyone who finds that these types of ­product can itch or irritate a sensitive skin. It has effective cleaning properties due to its combination of highly absorbent agents of different densities, which means the product is easy to brush out. The absorbent natural microspheres are molecules of glucose with a strong affinity for sebum. Combined with softening, protective oat extract, the formula has an effective action against excess sebum.

Dry Shampoos for BRUNETTES:


The traditionally  powdery white consistency of most dry shampoos can make brown/black hair look  dull and slightly grey. Fortunately , a new generation of dark dry shampoos have hit the market.


Look out for Lee Stafford's Poker Straight Shampoo in Dark . Lee Stafford, renowned London hairdresser has  launched  a dry shampoo  that contains corn starch, which helps to absorb oil in the hair.  Refreshes, revitalises and leaves hair clean and healthy looking.
Poker Straight Dry Shampoo is a world-wide hit, with a bottle selling every minute in the UK's exclusive distributor, Boots. This product is available at Priceline in Australia.

Or try Cedel Dry Shampoo for Dark Hair has a cornstarch formulation that is easy to brush out of the hair. The formula ensures that no white, powdery marks will be left on the hair.

Thanks for the question Brendon Tylor, hope the information was helpful.


* I just read a review about EVO Water Killer Dry Shampoo which is also a 2 in . It's a  cleanser and styles also, absorbing oil and boosts volume . It's free of sulphates,  paraben and propylene glycol so might be worth a try if you're looking for a more eco- friendly product.