Skipping shampoo in Singapore’s stifling clime seems like an incredibly icky, not to mention sticky, idea. But what’s a girl to do if it’s a toss-up between an extra hour of sleep and blearily blow-drying damp hair in the morning?
Enter dry shampoo, a hair hero of the so-called “no poo” revolution, a beauty brigade pushing the somewhat radical idea that shampooing your hair strips it of natural oils and leads to limp lifeless locks.
When used judiciously, however, dry shampoo can be a veritable life saver. How does it work? Simple: The silicas and starches in most formulas on the market sop up gunk and grease, allowing you to get by without washing your hair for longer.
The thing is, most newly inducted fans of the product (yours truly included) tend to tilt our heads forward, shake and sprinkle any which way, then hope for the best. But this isn’t necessarily the best way to get shiny, bouncy hair. Here’s what to do to maximise the mileage of your dry shampoo:
STEP 1. Remember, dry shampoo on dry hair. The starches in the product will “pill” and create unsightly dandruff-like clumps when doused on wet hair. Damp equals dank!
STEP 2. Prep your pouf by giving it a brisk comb-through with a wide-toothed comb. This de-tangles and doubles up as styling of sorts.
If you’re using a spray-type dispenser, keep the product quite literally at arm’s length; about 15cm from your scalp should do it so you get a fine snowy mist. Here’s a top tip courtesy of Adam Reed,celeb stylist and co-founder of cult London-based haircare brand Percy & Reed: “For increased control, spray [the dry shampoo] on to the brush and work through the hair from roots to ends.”
STEP 3. Using the same wide-toothed comb, rake it down the centre of your crown to create a horizontal part. For each section you make, flip the hair over and spritz in a zigzag motion, working your way down to the tips.
Whipping back and forth also has the entirely welcome benefit of boosting body and shine, an effect best amplified by using Toni&Guy Hair Meet Wardrobe’s no-nonsense Cleanse Dry Shampoo.
One of the most dependable dry shampoos to bag for your beauty buck, this is billed as a two-in-one styling and degreasing go-getter. Even more compelling? The brand claims this powder product leaves nary a trace of the telltale white streaks that are a hallmark of clumsily applied dry shampoo.
STEP 4. Now you wait. Give the dry shampoo five minutes to sit and sponge up excess oils – as good a time as any to peruse herworldplus.com’s beauty pages! – then use clean fingers to tease out the leftover powder from your locks.
If you have particularly unruly bangs, use a brush to sieve out any residue. Some practical advice: All that powder might muck up your rug, so do this over your bathroom sink.
And you’re done! But wait, there’s more. Dry shampoo is also superb for adding “grip” and texture to your tresses, meaning your hair’s that much easier to braid and bun afterwards. A great hair hero to add to your arsenal for this exact purpose is Percy & Reed’s No Fuss Fabulousness Dry Shampoo, which comes with cuticle-comforting cleansing ingredients for comfortably clean, sumptuously soft strands.
Bonus tip: Finish by sprinkling a wee bit more on the roots for a modern matte finish that simulates the sea-salt spray crunchiness of Beyonce’s bodacious wob.
And voila, there you have it: Hair that will have you looking like you spent half a day at a salon … except you didn't even work up a lather!
Percy & Reed No Fuss Fabulousness Dry Shampoo, $13 for 50 ml, is available at all Sephora stores. For more information, visit www.percyandreed.com and www.sephora.com, and follow Sephora on Facebook.
Toni&Guy Hair Meet Wardrobe Cleanse Dry Shampoo, $10.90 for 75ml, is available at selected Watsons and Guardian stores. For more information, visit www.hairmeetwardrobe.com/sg and follow the brand on Facebook and Twitter.