Top tip if you've got greasy hair and want to reduce washing.

[Mellowyell292]

I just discovered this and wanted to share. I have to wash my hair every day or it gets really greasy, tried everything to stretch it out and the only thing that works is dry shampoo which is quite expensive. I'm also trying to cut down on water/electricity so don't want to wash and blow dry it every morning.

Anyway, I've discovered if you use corn starch-rub it through your hair at night (you don't need a lot). It absorbs all the oils overnight and your hair looks perfectly clean in the morning, just brush it all through.

I think that’s the entire principle of dry shampoo which is mostly rice starch, but you make a vv good point that this would be cheaper, less aerosol and weird scents involved!

i am going to try it, thanks OP

Yeh definitely, same principle but also doing it over night instead of in the morning seems to make a big difference.

Corn starch? Is that the same as cornflour? I have very greasy hair and I do worry about using aerosolised (sp?) dry shampoo. It is expensive too.

Also, how do you apply it evenly?

We used talc back in the day

You’ve reminded me that’s what I used to do! Brush it on with a blush brush.

I have never found a dry shampoo that works for me, my hair still looks awful after 10 minutes of use and I end up having to wash it anyway. Does having shorter hair make dry shampoo useless (I can't find any products that suit my hair so maybe it's just me).

Cornflour and corn starch are the same thing, to save anyone else googling it.

I have greasy hair and tried dry shampoo and the few I tried made my head itch. When I looked for an alternative to spray ones I found Bumble and Bumble did a powder which worked well but was very expensive. Then I found a MooGoo powder which although isn't cheap is less eye wateringly expensive than Bumble and Bumble.
It works quite well and smells nice but the main ingredient is as @Mellowyell292 says in fact basic corn starch.
I think I'll refill the container with corn starch when it's finally empty. (it lasts for ages)

I use Lavender baby talc at night then brush through in the morning - only need a tiny bit and it lasts ages so works out cheap and smells lovely.

I do it from wash day too rather than trying to revive once already greasy.

It won't make your hair clean though, why not just wash it?

I do it from wash day too rather than trying to revive once already greasy.

This is the key with any of these grease absorbers. Apply them before it gets greasy - game changer

It's inconvenient and time consuming to have to wash your hair every day

We used to use talc too, back in the olden days. Dry shampoo always makes my head itchy, so will give this a go.

How do you apply it evenly?

As another tip I discovered that the less you wash your hair, the less greasy it gets. It's a bit unpleasant at first but when your hair and scalp adjusts it great. It's better for your hair not to wash it too frequently too.

I tried that during lockdown and it just didn't work unfortunately.

I've got an old talc container with a powder puff which I've filled with the cornflour and then I just rub it through the front, crown, back and sides with the puff. A think a blush brush would work.

Yeh this is definitely the key. Don't wait for your hair to get greasy, apply before bed.

It really doesn't need to be applied evenly, just rub it through (you could rub it onto your Palms and then 'shampoo it' in or use a powder puff). Just do your roots and then brush your hair through in the morning.

Dry shampoo is meant to be used when your hair is still quite clean, rather than to absorb oils when it’s already greasy

How short is your hair? Mines chin length. Try doing it the night before-i bet you notice a difference.

I've started reverse washing my hair (conditioner first then shampoo) and it's made a massive difference to how greasy it gets. I used to have to wash it every day for it to look good, now I can stretch it out to every 2 or 3 days easily. Sounds like I might be able to get 4 days with corn starch!

Yes, the same, although corn starch is used in US recipes, whereas UK (England at any rate) have traditionally called it cornflour.

I also used to use talcum powder, thinking back though, it always felt disgusting, dry shampoo was no better and was in a little puffer bottle.

According to some people, if you stop washing your hair completely it stops over-producing sebum and eventually doesn't look rank or need washing. I wouldn't fancy trying it though, and suspect those that do have no sense of smell.

Maybe that's why batiste has an overnight dry shampoo spray

I found this doesn’t work after several attempts. I think I just I produce more oil than average and the oil isn’t a result of me doing something external ie over washing.

I find if I touch my hair a lot less and don’t brush that I can get away with day 2. So if it’s tied back loosely I might get away with day 2. But if it’s down and flowing my scalp seems to be quite active and it feels greasy by day two.

product in general gives my hair a dirty feel - I’m always craving that clean hair feel so I just end up washing it daily. But that doesn’t mean I look clean and tidy because unless I blow dry it’s messy looking!

I'm 50 and believe me I've tried all methods to 'train' my hair to need less washing but it just doesn't work. To give you an idea if I wash one day, by the next when I brush it, it sticks to my head like I've brylcreemed it. Some scalps are just really oily.