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 with a cornstarch, cornmeal, oatmeal, oat bran or similar base. Baking powder and/or flours could be used in a pinch. So can powdered orris root which was used back in the 18th Century (read on). A sorority sister once used cake mix powder.
Note: For more information refer to: Dry Clean Your Hair: Instant Shampoo Formulas
2. Baby powder (ultimately 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 which came in a spray style can but was very messy and didn’t work as well according to some hair circles as the home grown version.
4. Baking soda sprinkled on the roots.
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 Hair White or Off-White
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 being 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-ish grey, and 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 is still in production today and enjoys 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
When one of my favorite top name hair care company – Rene Furterer – introduced their hair powder in a can I was beyond thrilled. I am probably one of HairBoutique/com’s most frequent customers.
While Rene Furterer was not the first manufacturer to introduce the fabulous dry shampoo in a can (Psssst 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 is 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.
2009 Hair Care Market
Not only did Bumble & Bumble introduce a new version of their original hair powder – a spray version – they have been innovative in utilizing the dry shampoo powders for other purposes which I will cover in another blog.
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 such as Stila have introduced dry shampoo products.
At HairBoutique.com we carry my three favorite dry shampoo products for a variety of reasons. We currently carry:
1. Rene Furterer – Naturia – which is my all time favorite. It is also one of the best, in my humble opinion. The Rene Furterer is fab because it is small – 3.2 ounces and can be tucked into your handbag for hair emergencies. It is also very easy to use and is not messy in any way. It has a wonderful aroma of fresh laundry and doesn’t leave a residue. It is also less expensive than many of the other brands on the market at a reasonable $25.00.
My biggest problem with the Rene Furterer Naturia? Keeping it in stock. It sells out almost as quickly as we receive our shipment and it never fails that I want to buy my own stash and we are out. Other than that, I would give this product to anyone with any type of hair, texture or condition. I love it!
2. KMS Hairplay – Makeover – Spray KMS has always been a very progressive hair care company being one of the first to introduce a fabulous temporary straightener – KMS FlatOut. They have done a fabulous job of creating a wonderful product known as hairplay which is described officially as a makeover spray. It is much larger and rounder than the Naturia but I also adore this product although it is harder to tuck into my purse.
It is an amazing steal at 5.3 ounces as a price of $18.00
3. TIGI RockAHolic “Dirty Secret” Toni & Guy is behind this great dry shampoo which is designed to keep your hair rockin one more day. A 6.4 ounce spray of the beautifully designed can is $19.00. I love just about everything TIGI makes so I am totally onboard with this amazing dry shampoo.
Other Dry Shampoo Options
Although HairBoutique.com only carries the three dry shampoo products we like best, there are many others in the hair care market with more being introduced all the time. The reason? Dry shampoo has become one of the hottest “must have” options in hair care lines.
At this point in time there are many different types of dry shampoo products available in every size and price range from Bumble & Bumble, Klorane (an excellent product line and considered top of the line) Stilla, Cake Beauty, I Feel Pretty Dry Shampoo, Lee Stafford Dry Shampoo, Bastiste, Samy, United and others too many 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. Do not use near fire or flame.
2. Do not smoke while using and not until hair is dry.
3. Do not spray in eyes. Content under pressure.
4. Avoid piercing, puncturing or incinerating the can.
5. Do not store at temperatures above 120°F (50°C).
6. Keep out of reach of children.
7. Use only as directed.
8. Intentional misuse by deliberately concentrating and inhaling the contents may be harmful or 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
Please follow me on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/HairBoutique. I look forward to meeting new Tweeple from all walks of life and learning from their Tweets.
Related posts:
- Healthy Baby Powder For Hair And Skin
- Greasy Hair Secrets
- JF Lazartique Essential Orange Oil Shampoo Review
- Phyto Progénium Intelligent Shampoo
- Celebrity Hairdressers – Beginning Of Current Reign
- Trials & Tribulations Of Writing A Blog Covering Current Events
- Kate Winslet Used Shampoo Bottle For Oscar Speech Prep
- L’Oreal Found Guilty Of Racial Discrimination And Fined After Trying To Exclude Non-White Women From Promoting Shampoo
June 27th, 2009 at 6:06 am
Excellent… best post.
August 16th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Other than B&B, are there any other hair powders that are black in color? White is too noticeable on me, and I don’t like using the aerosol versions because I always end up with a fine dusting of black powder on my face (I’m very oily along the hair line). I used to apply the old B&B powder with a makeup sponge or brush, so am looking for a similar “loose powder” replacement. Thanks!
September 6th, 2010 at 12:40 am
I saw your blog on blogsearch engine, you are a nice bloger!
September 8th, 2010 at 9:26 pm
Friend! I like your sharing.
April 19th, 2011 at 6:11 am
Even before this hair powder comes out in the market, the first to come out and became famous was the powdered wig. Being a fashion-oriented person, it is always necessary to take care of ourselves especially when it comes to hair issues. This dry shampoo hair powder has evolved not only on the day where it discovered but as the time goes by, it used by people not only women for them to have a great looking hair.
May 11th, 2011 at 7:43 am
Using powder in wigs during the 18th century is very interesting. I will follow the dry shampoo warnings. I wonder if there is also solution for oily hair.