I try not to wash my hair every day. My hair is short, above shoulder length, and it’s fine and thin. I need to use a lot of hair care products on it every time I wash it, and then I have to use a curling iron to style it. I know how hot curling irons get (I burned my finger on mine recently!), and I have to believe that all of those plasticizers contained in styling aids and hairsprays aren’t the best thing for my hair. Top that off, the heat from hair dryers and hot irons take a toll on my hair as well.
When I was in highschool all my girlfriends and I used this instant shampoo called Psssssst. I still remember the commercials for this product, how they spelled out the name, saying “try P-s-s-s-s-s-s-t”. Of course back then we also used to sprinkle baby powder in our “dirty” hair and spread it around a bit to make it look cleaner! (I’m really going down memory lane now, this was 30 years ago!).
About Psssssst
* For quick shampooing without water
* Use between shampooing
* Great when out camping
* After sports activities when you can’t take a shower
* When sick or in the hospital
* Take with you while travelling
Instructions for Use (from can)
Shake can well. Hold can 6 to 8 inches from hair. Lift sections of hair and lightly spray scalp and roots of each section. Fluff. Wait a few minutes, then brush hair well. Style hair as desired. If button clogs, rinse under stream of cold water.
My Experience
I was so surprised to see this product being sold again! It was a big hit in the early 70’s. I remember taking a can of it to my best friend who was in the hospital after having her tonsils removed. She wasn’t able to wash her hair and since her hair was very oily she relied on Psssssst to help her hair look clean and newly washed. It really is a “dry shampoo”.
Like I mentioned earlier, we used to sprinkle baby powder on our oily scalp and rub it into our hair. The powder would actually absorb some of the oil in the scalp and hair, and indeed it would make the hair appear cleaner. It was difficult to get it evenly distributed, however, and didn’t always work as intended! Psssssst works in a similar way, except it sprays out a fine mist of starch instead of powder. Probably a lot healthier for the scalp too! (The active ingredient Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, is identified in foods as “modified food starch”).
I must say, Psssssst is a great product if you are desperate and don’t have time to wash, dry and style your hair. It takes me at least 45 minutes to do all that, and honestly, I don’t always have the time. There have been times when I had planned on staying home all day, and put off washing my hair until the next day. Then wouldn’t you know it, someone would call me to go somewhere and I wouldn’t have time to shower and fix my hair. In situations like that, the Psssssst comes in extremely handy.
You do have to be careful how much you apply, because it can leave a white residue on the hair if you spray too much. Experiment with it at home so when you have to use it in an “emergency” situation, you know how much to use. I find the smell pleasant.
This is a 4 ounce can and runs around $6.00, so it is definitely more expensive than shampoo. If you are going to be in the hospital, on a camping trip, or travelling, you might want to consider Psssssst.
