The product.
I was skeptical when contacted to try out Salon Grafix Invisible Dry Spray Shampoo for Gadling. Anything that’s not actual shampoo, and claims it can clean my hair sans water, is extremely suspect to me. Nevertheless, the slim spray bottle (4 oz, so you have to check it) looked compact enough to slip into my suitcase without much trouble, and the fact that it’s not powder gave me hope.
I’ve certainly been on many trips where I’ve felt that washing my hair would be a colossal waste of time (I have a lot of it, it goes more than halfway down my back) — but the greasy, not-clean feeling keeps me tied to the hairdryer. The Salon Grafix bottle says the product “Cleans and Refreshes,” two words that could potentially change the lives of the long-haired like myself, or the perpetually oily-headed (you know who you are).The claims.
According to the fact sheet, this new formula is “invisible” and “leaves behind no powdery residue.” It also claims to be able to actually clean and neutralize odors, as well as lengthen the life of your hair color (frequent washing can be murder for colored hair). All you have to do is spray the stuff into your hair, especially at the roots, and then brush it out to clean and remove excess oil from the follicles.
The verdict.
So, I gave it a try. I sprayed the Salon Grafix Invisible Dry Spray Shampoo into my roots and paid a little special attention to my growing-out bangs, as when they’re dirty, they tend get lay like strips of cloth on my face. I gave a good all-over blast as well. The spray was icy cold and definitely invisible. I let it dry for one minute, as instructed, and then brushed it out. The verdict:
Well, it’s not a traditional shampoo, a conditioner and a hairdryer. Surprise. But it is better than nothing. It really did strip some of the excess oil out of my bangs and make my hair feel cleaner from the roots to the tips. What it can’t do, of course, is make my hair not lay flat against my head after sleeping on it, or tame the cowlicks. It does, sadly, leave a little bit of a residue you can feel when your run your hands through it, but that residue is invisible (and thankfully not white powder) and better than grease.
I could definitely now leave the house without washing my hair, and I think on a trip, if I happen to be checking a bag, this could come in super-handy. So, do I recommend it? Yes. Otherwise, I wouldn’t bother writing about it. Trust me, we’ve been there.
You can purchase Salon Grafix Invisible Dry Spray Shampoo at your local Target, Walgreens or other retail outlet for $7.99.
[Photo by Annie Scott, who clearly needs to follow Heather Poole’s packing tips.]