I’VE LEARNED in the course of my work in the industry that shampooing every single day isn’t really the best thing for my hair.

I’m all for healthier hair and some extra sleep in the morning, but if you have fine hair like me, you know that skipping a shampoo can take you into greasy territory. So, a few times a week, I rely on a spray-on dry shampoo to absorb any excess oil on my scalp and add a little volume to the roots.

What is dry shampoo?

Dry shampoo is simply a spray-on product that allows users to go longer without washing their hair.

While dry shampoo is quite the rage these days, it’s not really anything new. The Victorians in the 19th century used to sprinkle arrowroot powder on their hair to help absorb grease, and more modern products work along the same lines.

Various brands have introduced their own versions because of the product’s increasing popularity, which can cost from a couple hundred pesos to a few thousand for a more upmarket brand of dry shampoo.

The rage is part of a growing emphasis on hair health. Younger consumers want to avoid chemicals that can damage hair over time, while others want to preserve coloring or hair’s natural oils, which protect individual strands, keeping them shiny and smooth. Some also err on the practical side and try to extend the life of a blowdry.

Not for everyone

With the heat and humidity these days, dry shampoo isn’t for everyone. If you go to the gym daily and work up a sweat, this product may not be for you. If you want to give it a try and you know you need a few extra winks in the morning, apply dry shampoo before bed and pull your hair up into a loose bun on top of your head. The powder will have more time to absorb oil overnight.

Brush off the excess the following day to avoid stiffness. Some also use dry shampoo to “refresh” hair between appointments, after a workout or before styling hair into an updo to add a little more hold.

The best dry shampoo for me is one of the first ones created by French brand Klorane. Unfortunately it’s not available locally, but a close counterpart would be Lush’s No Drought Dry Shampoo; the citrusy scent also leaves hair feeling fresh.

Another new product from Lakme, K. Style Chalk Hottest Matt Powder, adds a little volume and texture to the hair between shampoos. In a pinch, you also just use some baby powder or cornstarch and massage on the scalp to get the same benefits.

A word of caution though: A little goes a long way. As with any product, using too much and too often can also clog hair follicles.

Lakme K. Style Chalk Hottest Matt Powder is available at www.seektheuniq.com and at select Piandre salons; Lush is at Greenbelt 2, Shangri-La Mall, Trinoma Mall and Mall of Asia.

E-mail the author at [email protected].