Baby Powder and Dry Shampoo: Two of (Wo)man's Greatest (Hair) Inventions

When I was in high school, I would get up an hour and a half before I had to leave for school. The majority of that time, I spent showering and doing my hair and makeup. And yet, before the school day was even over, my hair was not only flat, but also oily at the roots. I felt like I looked as though I hadn't showered in days, when really only seven or eight hours had elapsed since my last shower. I washed my hair every day.

When I was in college, I revised my routine: I washed my hair multiple times a day, every day. I could come home between classes, so I would wash my hair when I got up in the morning, and then wash it again in the late afternoon or evening. Everyone told me I was only contributing to my scalp's oil production, but I didn't care; at least I looked clean. People suggested I try not washing my hair for several days, hypothesizing that doing so would slow my scalp's oil production. That was not advice I was willing to take. I could only imagine how dirty my hair would look and feel by the end of even the first day of a skipped washing.

What no one told me about until my adult life was the magical power of baby powder and the existence of dry shampoo. I learned of baby powder's efficacy in oil reduction first. Of course each woman will have to experiment and find what works for her hair type, but here is what I recommend (note on my hair type: my hair is blond; very thick, but very fine; and has a tendency to get oily, though this tendency has decreased as I have gotten older (not that I'm old)):

BABY POWDER

1. To save time, wash your hair every other day or every two days. Not only does this save time, but it also saves water and shampoo/conditioner (and thus, money).

2. On the days when you do not wash your hair, pat a small amount of baby powder onto your palm. Use your fingertips to massage the baby powder into your roots. It will help absorb the oil on your scalp.

3. Style hair as you normally would.

**NOTES OF CAUTION**
1. If you have dark hair, the baby powder may be visible at your roots, and may make your hair look lighter, or even gray. The baby powder trick works better for those of us with lighter hair colors.

2. While you can apply the baby powder directly to your roots and massage it into your scalp that way, I would caution against it. This practice can result in a concentration of visible baby powder at the point of contact.

3. Be careful not use too much baby powder. If you use too much, it will be visible.

DRY SHAMPOO

1. To save time, wash your hair every other day or every two days. Not only does this save time, but it also saves water and shampoo/conditioner (and thus, money).

 **You can save even more time in the morning by showering at night. Wash your hair in the shower right before you go to bed;  go to bed with it pulled up wet in a bun to keep it moist throughout the night; and then blow-dry it and style it in the morning when you wake up!**

2. On the days when you  do not wash your hair, use dry shampoo to help absorb the naturally-occurring oils. Simply follow the directions on the bottle. You can also use dry shampoo on days you do wash your hair to add volume and bounce. In addition, dry shampoo can help make your hair more manageable for styling.

**NOTES ON DRY SHAMPOO**
I have used several brands of dry shampoo, each with its own pros and cons, but I have a few favorites. They are listed here in no particular order.

1. Bumble and Bumble
This brand might be rather pricey, but it comes in various colors, which can be really beneficial for women with darker hair. I have tried the Bumble and Bumble Blond, which actually ended up being too dark for my hair. In addition to blond, Bumble and Bumble Dry Shampoo comes in brown, red, and black.

2. Batiste
This is a very inexpensive brand, and at most stores, comes in different scents. I used and enjoyed this brand for quite a while, and I recommend it.

3. Tresemme
There are two things I really like about Tresemme's dry shampoo.  First, it smells really good. Second, and more importantly, it is not tested on animals.

4. Suave
Inexpensive and smells great. There have been multiple times when people have told me my hair smells good on a day when I have not washed it--but instead have used this dry shampoo.

5. Big Sexy Hair

Fast Fitness Tip:
If you have dogs, walk them. Not only is this a great way to bond with your dog, but it also helps you (and your pooch) get a low-intensity cardio workout. To add even more value to your stroll, add in some strength training by doing squats, lunges, or calf lifts whenever your dog stops to do his or her "business."