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Saturday, April 17, 2010

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?
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26 comments

  1. pssst is my fave right now b/c of the scent and weightless feeling. I tried the tropical batiste and wasn't too crazy for the smell. Good thing is, they're BOTH better and more affordable than the expensive oscar blandi which smells weird...kind like cheap man cologne lol.

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  2. wow, the result looks really great but the market here for dry shampoo isn't that big- i only know one brand/shop which sells them (or doesn't anymore, have to check)

    I'm quite curious now and i think I have to buy one the next day my drugstore has a -15%off everything

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  3. I love that you read all the comments and reader tips! ;) I felt the same about the Psssssst as you. It did do a good job of removing the oil, but it didn't give any ooomph like the Batiste did. I just love the $1.99 price tag! I have black hair, and it didn't leave a cast- so that's nice too. One thing I like better is the smell. It doesn't really have a smell. Batiste's is tolerable for me but I prefer Psssssst's lack of smell. I think I prefer Psssssst b/c it's lighter and I can't tell there is product in my hair yet it is still able to hold like it was hair-sprayed. (Something like that...)

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  4. I have yet to try Psssst, but I think I want to test it out. I didn't start trying dry shampoos until I saw your post about TreSemme and like you I'm a perfect candidate for them. I have to say I LOVE the original formula of Batiste. It really takes care of the oil and leaves my hair, soft, silky, and clean looking. I tried TreSemme and it was an absolute nightmare for me. It made my hair more oily than it was in the first place and the smell reminded me of teriyaki sauce (lol weird I know). Batiste is a winner for me but I will try Psssst.

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  5. great post! I have exactly the same characteristics as you: oily, side swept... i think our hair might even be the same color! And I have been more interested in dry shampoo lately. The only one I have tried so far is Tigi - Rockaholic which I think works very well, but it mysteriously evaporated on me. weird. Tigi sent me a replacement though, so I guess I'll give it another chance. GREAT POST!!
    :c)

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  6. I've been looking for pssst and I can't find it. Do you know what stores carry it and what section it would be in? I've looked in the haircare aisle of both CVS and Walgreens and haven't been able to locate it :(

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  7. rainbow: I agree that these are both great alternatives to the more pricey dry shampoos on the market today! And have you tried the original formula Batiste? I didn't care for the strong gardenia fragrance in the tropical formula, but I do like the fresh, powdery, lemon scent of the original. :)

    amusedPolish: Oh I would love to know what brands are available in your drugstores! You should get one and do a review! :)

    Stephanie: Of course! I love reading your comments SO much and they are incredibly helpful. :) I'm glad you like Psssssst! And I agree--the scent is very subtle and just smells "clean" to me (something I forgot to mention in my review!). Glad it's working for you, and yes, the price is fantastic too! :)

    StardustStephanie: I'm so glad that you're loving the original Batiste! Yay!! And I'm sorry that you had a similar experience with TREsemme, but it does make me feel like I'm not losing my mind--I'm glad I'm not the ONLY one who didn't care for it! And LOL about teriyaki sauce!! I think I kind of know what you mean, oddly enough! :) I'd love to know what you think of Psssssst. For me, it's kind of like a lighter version of Batiste. Keep me posted?

    Lacquer Laine: Thank you so much, sweetie! :) Thanks for the info about Tigi. If that works for you, then I say stick with it! But just know that there are some cheaper alternative out there, in case Tigi stops working for ya. :)

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  8. Rubychopsticks: Like I mentioned in my post, I found this at Rite Aid, but I've also been told it's at Walgreens, so maybe you're looking in the wrong area? For me, it's usually located in the shampoo/conditioner aisle, but on the very bottom shelf, next to the dandruff shampoos and lesser-known brands. If all else fails, ask a sale associate to point you in the right direction (I'm sure that the beauty advisors will know exactly where it is!). Hope that helps, and I hope you can find this soon! :)

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  9. I'm still mourning the loss of the SAMY dry shampoo. It smelled amazing and gave so much volume I used it as a styling tool more often than as a dry shampoo. Why they would discontinue it is beyond me. I'm currently using TIGI Rockaholic Dirty Secret. It smells really good but doesn't give that much volume.

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  10. I obviously don't need dry shampoo since my hair isn't oily... but my husband used this after his surgery when he couldn't shower and aside from the fact that he had no idea what he was doing, it worked like a charm. He said it wasn't anything like actually washing his hair, but it helped!

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  11. Andra: Awwww, don't you hate it when a product you love so much gets discontinued? Sorry about that. :( You are the second person here to tell me they use the Tigi dry shampoo! If you're looking for more volume out of your dry shampoo, I would definitely suggest Batiste. It comes in two fragrances (original, which is lemon-scented, and Tropical, which smells very strongly of gardenia to me).

    JT: I just saw your hair post and yes, it doesn't look like you would need dry shampoo and definitely not a volumizer! lol! I am so jealous of your full, thick head of hair, girl! And i agree with your bf--none of these products will give you the feeling of just-washed hair, but for people like me who get greasy hair rather quickly, this can be a life-saver. :)

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  12. I was a long time user of Pssst! years ago when I had short hair. I recently had my hair cut short again and got the Batiste you recommended. So far I am loving it for all the same reasons... might grab a can of pssst! just for the sale price, tho! --My question: The girl at Sally Beauty Supply recommended Beyond The Zone's Rock On Dry Shampoo. Anyone tried it? Retails for $7 - not bad!

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  13. markovicious: I am so glad you are liking Batiste! Yay!! And thanks for the tip about BTZ. I had NO idea that they came out with a dry shampoo! I will definitely need to investigate this the next time I'm at Sally! :)

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  14. Well, I may get that Batiste shampoo for myself, but for my roommate it sounds like we can stick with the Pssst. :D His hair is straight and he wears it in a ponytail, so he doesn't really need volume or anything, just to look and smell less greasy. But the Batiste sounds like it would help me out once in awhile.

    And thanks so much for the tip about checking walgreens this week! I'm gonna run out there in a little bit and I'll make sure to price-check it while I'm there.

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  15. Hana: You nailed it! I think the Psssssst is probably ideal for your roomie, but I think you will personally love Batiste. And you are so welcome, honey! :)

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  16. Amazing review. Believe it or not, I'm not sure I've even heard of a dry shampoo except for the shampoo bar from lush. I'm not sure I knew my local drugstore carried them! I'm definitely going to have to check them out! Great review!

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  17. Stephine: Thank you! And actually, shampoo bars (like the one from Lush) are NOT dry shampoos. Totally different things. Shampoo bars are dry, but they work just like a regular shampoo (you have to have wet hair to use them, and then they lather like regular shampoo, and of course you then have to rinse it out just like a regular shampoo). Dry shampoos, on the other hand, are like very fine powders in spray form (like a hairspray) that you do NOT need water to use. You simply spray it on to dry hair, and it will eliminate the oil/grease in your hair. And you don't rinse them out. So in other words, no water is used at all when you use a dry shampoo. I hope that helps! :)

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  18. "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..."

    Yeah, rice makes me thicker and fuller, too. bwahahahahaha!!
    (I kill myself sometimes...)

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  19. I've never tried the others but I agree with you on the Batiste. My hair ends up almost looking better after using the Batiste than it does when it's freshly washed.

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  20. Denise: LOL!! You crack me UP. And yeah, come to think of it, rice makes me fuller and thicker too! ;)

    PB: Another happy user of Batiste! Yay!! So glad this is working for you, honey. xo

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  21. Have you tried (or seen) Salon Grafix Invisible Dry Spray Shampoo? I bought it from Walmart for about 5 bucks (I don't remember exactly how much anymore). I've never used dry shampoo before, but I was going without a shower for a week (yay for going to the field lol) so I decided to try it. After 5 days without washing my hair and using it, I was told my hair looked great. My hair did feel kinda oily and icky, but it looked pretty decent. I think that's to be expected when I don't wash my hair for 5 days straight (mine gets oily in a day). Just thought I'd let you know about this one. I actually have an extra can, and will probably never finish the first!

    According to their website you can find it at Walmart as well as cvs, target, and walgreens.

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  22. This is GREAT - I need to check this out when I run out of my $30 version - I could save SO much!

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  23. I loooove Batiste, but I find anything but the original scent gives me a headache (of the scented ones, I've tried "Blush" and the tinted one for brown hair). I'm glad I appear to have made the right choice. :)

    I tried got2b rockin' it dry shampoo from Walmart, because it was on sale for $3, but it didn't do as good of a job at getting rid of the oil, and again, it was smelly. :(

    In conclusion, Batiste 4EVAH.

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  24. Wow! it looks like it did a pretty good job.

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  25. I have a question. Is Psssst supposed to spray out a a white powder? The only other dry shampoo I've tried came out as a full on powder and my can of Pssst was just like... Hairspray. Is that what it's supposed to be like or did I get a Jank can? Or did they change the formula?

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  26. Did you notice the propane and butane in the ingredients list? Not something I want sprayed on my scalp and hair!!

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