Product knowledge: dry shampoo

Dry shampoo has gone from a last resort to a much-loved, kit-bag essential - as handy for stylists in the salon as time-pressed clients at home. Whether you're adding volume and texture, providing grip for updos and intricate looks or refreshing a second-day style to help it go the distancce, dry shampoo has become a must-have. Although dry shampoo sales have rocketed in recent years, it's not a new innovation. The Victorians used to sprinkle arrowroot powder on their roots to absorb grease, while corn starch and oatmeal have also been used for similar results - and you thought white dry shampoo was hard to disguise on dark hair. Talc and face powder have also been used as alternatives in more recent years. Dry shampoo as we know it hit the shelves in the 1970s, with US brand Psssst! amongst the first to market. Its paper bag-toting model from 1974 (above) is now the stuff of hair-larious vintage ad legend. Batiste - the UK's number one best-selling dry shampoo - was launched in 1975. For years, dry shampoo was widely relegated to refreshing hair at festivals or on camping holidays - a no-water solution to freshening hair, even if it did leave hair a bit white and gritty. All that has changed in the last five years, however, as formulas have advanced - with a seemingly endless array of dry shampoos now on offer. From shade-specific shampoos to volume-boosting options, there's something for every client - and budget. The main difference across the board? Improved formulas that don't build up on the hair or leave unsightly white marks. What dry shampoo does bring is a cool, matte texture, volume and refreshed roots when re-washing isn't an option or your clients just can't bear to wash out that blow-dry. See some of our favourite dry shampoos in the gallery below! [hji-gallery-legacy]