Are you dealing with greasy hair? Well, I assume you tried lots of remedies – and most without any success.
In this case, you surely hear about baby powder for oily hair – am I right?
So what’s the truth behind? Does baby powder really clean greasy hair – or it’s just another fake news?
I tried to find a real answer to this question using a set of 7 Q&A.
1. Is There Any Study Or Data Behind?
Well, I looked all over the Internet and I couldn’t find any scientific info. So probably there isn’t any.
But this idea of using baby powder is based on 2 things:
- the powder absorbs sebaceous secretions
- these secretions make your hair oily
- once they are gone, your hair should look drier instantly
Now – this makes sense. So the person who invented the “baby powder + oily hair” thing was pretty smart.
However – up to this point, there’s no scientific proof that it works.
2. Does It Really Work?
Surprisingly, it does work – but only if it’s used correctly.
What do I mean by that? Here’s the thing:
- it has to be applied on dry hair (not wet)
- it’s not the kind of treatment you can use after washing
- it’s rather a last-minute solution
Actually, baby powder does reduce the greasiness – but only if your hair is greasy in that minute.
If you just washed your hair and you apply it just for prevention – it won’t work.
So you can only use it in desperate situations: let’s say you have an event and you don’t have time to wash your hair.
If it’s pretty oily – baby powder will surely absorb the sebum and make your hair look normal. But if it’s not oily – it’s not going to change anything.
3. Can You Use It On Every Hair Type?
On paper – yes you can. But baby powder isn’t the best choice for everyone.
Here’s the thing. It works for every kind of hair – except the curly one. Why?:
- your hair rarely gets oily
- it has lots of volume – naturally
- you basically don’t need it
So baby powder works for curly hair on paper – but in reality, you don’t need it.
Now – if your roots get greasy at one point, baby powder should help. But as I said, this shouldn’t be the case for your type of hair.
But other than that, there are no recommendations – you can use it no matter what kind of hair you have.
4. Does It Work For Every Color?
That’s a pretty good question. Does baby powder work for both black and light hair?
In theory – yes. It works no matter what color is your hair. But in reality – it works much better on light hair.
Why? Let me start by explaining how exactly you should apply it:
- Only apply it in 3-4 parts of your scalp
- Try to spread it all over your greasy roots
- Let it sit for a few minutes
- Take it off using a comb
Sounds pretty simple, doesn’t it? Well, the problem is that you won’t be able to take off all the powder while combing your hair.
That’s the reason why baby powder works much better on blond hair – than on dark hair:
- the powder is usually white (or a light color)
- it’s pretty invisible on blond hair
- it’s really easy to spot on dark hair
So any tiny little pieces of powder left in your black hair are super easy to see – and they don’t look too good. That’s why light hair has a big advantage here.
5. Could It Harm Your Hair?
As it’s not a hair care product – baby powder could harm your hair, in theory.
But don’t worry, in reality it can’t cause you any problem – as long as you use the baby one, not another powder:
- it doesn’t irritate your scalp
- doesn’t affect your hair roots
- in most cases, it doesn’t even touch your hair ends (it could dehydrate it otherwise)
So don’t worry – this powder couldn’t cause your hair any harm.
6. Is It Healthy?
Unfortunately, it’s not very healthy. How’s that?
- It’s mainly made of talcum powder
- Some sources say that talcum can produce cancer on the long term
Now – I personally don’t believe that. Babies are a lot more sensitive than adults – so if FDA approved this powder, it’s surely not carcinogenic.
Besides, it doesn’t produce any allergy to babies – even though it’s applied on their skin. So I don’t really believe this rumor.
On the other hand, here’s what studies claim:
- whether workers have a higher risk of lung cancer
- that’s because they are constantly exposed to talc particles at work
So talcum is indeed dangerous – but only on the long term and only if ingested. That’s why I wouldn’t worry too much.
However, this should convince you not to use baby powder every time your hair is greasy. As I said, only use it in last-minute situations!
7. What Alternatives Do You Have?
Fortunately, there are many alternatives – and most of them are also healthier.
My #1 recommendation are dry shampoos:
- they work as well as powder (if not better)
- you can get one for your hair type or color
- just like the powder, it works in 5 minutes at most
So in my opinion – that’s the easiest alternative. You can find dry shampoos everywhere, plus that they’re really cheap.
On the other hand, you can also use alcohol-based products:
- they absorb extra moisture
However – they have one major downside. They dehydrate your hair.
Now, that’t not a problem for thin, oily hair. But if you have curly hair – you should really stay away from alcohol products.
My Verdict – Myth Or Reality?
Short answer: Both. Baby powder really absorbs the extra sebum – but it can’t be used constantly.
Actually, you can use it everyday – but you’re taking the risk. Because on the long term, it can be dangerous for your lungs.
So I personally wouldn’t choose baby hair – unless I have a desperate situation. But even so, dry shampoos are a much better alternative. That’s why I actually recommend instead.
But in case you wanted to know – baby powder for oily hair isn’t a myth. But it’s not a safe reality either.
Now I would like to hear from you:
- Have you ever used baby powder on your oily hair?
- Did it work?
- Are you going to use it again now?
I’m waiting for your answers, suggestions or question in the comments below.
