Psssssst Instant Spray Shampoo: How does it compare to Batiste & TREsemme?

I know that a lot of you are interested in dry shampoos. OK, maybe you're not obsessed with them to the extent that I am, but I know you're interested. So today I'd like to not only review Psssssst Instant Spray Shampoo (which is made by Freeman, in case you didn't know), but I'd also like to tell you how this dry shampoo compares to my beloved Batiste Dry Shampoo (from Sally Beauty) and also to TREsemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo (you can find my reviews of those products here and here).

But first, let's take a closer look at Psssssst:

You will notice that there are currently rebate stickers attached to select cans of Psssssst. I bought this one at my local Rite Aid, but I know that Walgreens also carries it (and FYI, one of my lovely readers told me that when she bought her can of Psssssst this week at Walgreens, it rang up for just $1.99 even though that sale price was unadvertised. So if you really want this, head over to your Walgreens TODAY and see if you can get it for $1.99. Otherwise, expect to pay around $5 for it if it's not on sale).

The delivery system for this product is the usual aerosol spray nozzle, exactly like Batiste and TREsemme:

Let's take a look at some before-and-after shots, using my greasy, oily, next-day hair as an example:

If you haven't read my previous dry shampoo reviews, let me tell you that I have oily skin, oily hair, and side-swept bangs, which makes me a prime candidate for dry shampoos. If I try to skip a day of shampooing, my bangs are going to let you know that I haven't washed my hair that day.

PLEASE NOTE: In the above pic, I have pushed back the top layer of my bangs to reveal my oily hair underneath. This is the layer of hair that rests directly on my forehead so it gets the oiliest. This is what my bangs look like when I skip a day of shampooing.

Here are my bangs literally just a few seconds after applying Pssssst. I followed the directions and lightly sprayed this product near my roots, holding the can about 6 inches away from my head. In this pic, I have NOT combed my hair or done anything but actually apply the product.

This pic was taken maybe 1 or 2 minutes after using Psssssst. The only thing I have done is used a fine-tooth comb to smooth my hair and comb it into place.

Looking at these pictures, I think it's safe to say that Psssssst does leave a subtle white cast to your hair upon application, but I actually found it almost identical to the subtle white cast that Batiste leaves in my hair, and I found Psssssst equal in terms of how quickly the white cast dissipates for me. Just a few swipes with a fine-tooth comb and the white cast is gone (at least for me). One of the pros of TREsemme, for me, is that there was actually no white cast left behind when I used that product, which is great if you have darker hair.

I was also very impressed with the shine that Psssssst leaves behind. With TREsemme, my hair looked dull and felt sort of sticky and coated. With Psssssst, my hair doesn't look dull and only has a slightly powdery feel to it.

The main difference between these three products, for me, is the way my hair LOOKS after I use them. With Psssssst, my hair looks noticeably less oily, but Psssssst does not add any extra volume or texture to my hair. In other words, it doesn't give it any ooomph. Which is fine if you really only want to remove oil and don't care about any added benefits. But with Batiste, my hair almost feels thicker and has more volume after I use it. I can't explain it, but it's as if Batiste almost brings my oily hair back to life (in addition to removing the oil). With TREsemme, my least favorite of the three, my hair doesn't feel less oily (in fact, it feels sort of sticky) and the strong chemical smell is a deal-breaker for me.

If I had to rank these three in order of preference, I would say that Batiste still comes out on top, followed by Psssssst in second and TREsemme in third. But please note, A LOT of you really like TREsemme and have had wonderful results with it. So keep in mind that these are just my opinions and your mileage definitely may vary depending on your hair thickness, type and color. What works for me may not work for you, so I recommend you do you research and keep an open mind with all three.

By the way, I thought it might be helpful to some of you to see the ingredients for all three products, side by side:

Psssssst

Batiste

TREsemme

I find it interesting that both Psssssst and TREsemme use aluminum starch while Batiste uses rice starch. Maybe that's the reason my hair feels fuller and thicker when I use Batiste? Maybe it's the rice...

All in all, I think that Psssssst is a good product that most of you could use in a pinch if you need to remove the oilies from your hair. It definitely removes the oil, and I think it does a decent job at that. It doesn't leave too much of a white cast behind, and I think your hair will look noticeably less oily than before you used it. But if you want some added volume or texture to your hair when you remove the oil, I think you might want to give Batiste a shot. As for TREsemme, I think you already know how I feel about that product, so I won't repeat myself.

So, have you tried any of these drugstore dry shampoos? How do they work for you? Which one is your favorite?