Becoming a hair powder junkie

Like almost everyone, my hair started getting oily when I was in my early teens.

But unlike all the other bad stuff that often comes with puberty, it hasn't gone away.

Back then, the only sure-fire way of "degreasing" was lacing my hairbrush with Johnson's Baby Powder and brushing it through. It worked, but it also left white powder all over my hair and scalp that was impossible to disguise.

Fast forward 20-plus years and every major hair company has at least one dry shampoo in its line-up.

Most are designed to not only remove the oil but also leave hair shiny and smelling like it's been freshly washed.

But while we may be spoilt for choice in terms of options, what I've discovered is that they don't all do a great job.

Some still leave a thick, white powder on your hair (especially noticeable on brunettes) and some just don't get rid of the oil.

Batiste, one of the original dry shampoos on the market, overcame the white powder problem by adding a hint of colour into some of its products. This is the reason the Batiste Dry Shampoo, $17, is still one of my favourites.

The basic principle of these products hasn't changed much since those early baby-powder days, but the application

method has.

Most dry shampoos are now in aerosol form, which means you can spray them directly onto the roots and quickly brush or massage them through to remove the oil.

The often-overlooked added advantage of a good dry shampoo is that it not only refreshes dayold hair, it will also add extra volume and texture. In fact, I'm so accustomed to the extra boost these products give my fine hair that I use them every day - even on freshly washed hair.

A new-found favourite is Davines Hair Refresher, $30. It includes "odour neutralising molecules", and is great if you don't want a fragranced product.

Pureology Fresh Approach Dry Shampoo, $37.50, is another goodie and is specifically designed to prevent

colour-treated hair from fading.

I've had some great results with Schwarzkopf Professional OSIS+ Refresh Dust, $29.40, and also rate Fudge Dry Shampoo, $22.50, but it does require a little more brushing after applying the product to remove any visible powder.

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