Almost does exactly what it says on the tin. (Batiste Dry Shampoo)

Member Name: Joker25

Product:	Batiste Dry Shampoo
Date:	08/10/05 (3747 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: An extra hour in bed.

Disadvantages: Can be tricky to find, the packaging.

I'm a girl who loves her bed. So much so that some days, I only manage to haul myself out of it a mere 25 minutes before I have to be in work. And, as it takes at least an hour to wash, blow-dry and straighten my hair, that leaves me with something of a time management problem.

I was moaning about this one day and a colleague suggested Batiste. Now, I had heard all the horror stories about dry shampoo (it makes your scalp itch, doesn't work, leaves you looking like you've just emerged from a snowstorm etc) and so I nodded and made polite noises and didn't think any more about it. However, a week later she turned up with a can of the stuff and completely sold the idea to me when she informed me that she'd been using it and hadn't washed her hair in a week (and was sporting tresses that Barbie would be proud of).

It comes in a 150ml can which is a speckled green colour with green and yellow rectangles and a bright green lid. In all honesty, the packaging is like something the 80's forgot - but don't let that put you off. It's £1.99 in my local chemist, but can be quite tricky to find. I've had about 5 applications from my can and there's still plenty left. The manufacturers warn that it should not be used on sore or broken skin or near the eyes.

The main grease absorbing ingredient is rice starch, but the ingredients list also includes butane, isobutane, propane, and alcohol. Now I flunked chemistry in spectacular style at school, but even so, I'm reasonably sure all those ingredients are spectacularly flammable, and there's a red picture of a flame on the can. However, I've never been one to let a serious fire hazard come between me and the pursuit of perfect hair, so let's press on.

To use you shake the can and spray into the roots of your hair from about 30cms. The spray comes out as a very fine, dry powdery mist. There's quite a cold sensation when you initially spray it on, and it smells reasonably pleasant, like talc. Then you must massage it really thoroughly into your head, leave it to sit for a few minutes, and brush it out. To do this properly takes about 5-10 minutes or so. I've found that a soft bristle brush followed by a comb gives the best results. It's also a good idea to tip your head upside down to make sure you've got everywhere covered as you're spraying and brushing out.

The can promises to leave hair 'clean, fragrant and full of body' but in reality, no-one (well, no-one female) is going to be fooled into thinking you've just stepped out of a salon after using this stuff, but it will leave your hair looking clean enough to get through a day in work without people pointing and jeering at the unwashed mess on your head.

In short:

Pros - It's reasonably quick and quite straightforward to use, as long as you massage it in well and brush it out thoroughly. It leaves your hair looking and smelling clean. It's very good for giving 'second day hair' texture if you're trying to manipulate hair into an 'up' do. It's great for when you're in a rush, or have slept in. It's quite a dinky can, so would fit in most handbags or desk drawers for touch ups. Neither myself or my colleague have had any adverse reactions to regular use of the product.

Cons - The packaging would blend easily into your great granny's bathroom. It takes the shine off your hair, leaving it quite matte. It can be hard to find, your best bet is Superdrug or in a dusty display right at the very back of your local chemist. It works brilliantly on my blonde hair, but I'm not sure that it wouldn't leave residue on very dark hair. It will leave a fine powder on your neck/shoulders if you're wearing dark clothing when you apply it.

Summary: Dry Shampoo which will temporarily refresh greasy hair.