Hair Powder? Yes, Hair Powder

Anyone remember an aerosol called "Psssssst?" Popular in the late 1960's. Friends of my mom used it. Also, baby powder, in a pinch.

good tip thanks kandi

I realized you might have a few more tip like this that you might want to share. Do you know if anything like psssss is still around or a new version? would baby powder work on all color hair?

No idea if "Psssssst" still exists. I would imagine baby powder would work on any color hair, since it's probably the talc that absorbs some of the oil. I remember my aunt used to flip her hair over, use a very small dusting of baby powder st the nape, and then brush through to distribute it.

it's amazing the tricks some of our mothers and aunts had for dealing with cosmetic problems. I remember my grandmother suggesting I use eye drops to make my eyes look brighter. I still do - it's better than mascara. i hope some other readers chip in good old fashioned ideas that still work.

What about corn starch? It isn't an environmental or health threat like talcum power and is very reasonably priced.

Hey, Kris, you raise an interesting point. I was under the impression that talc is a natural mineral, while corn starch is a derivative from corn, and as such, requires a great deal of processing. Also, I was under the impression that talc was considered a health risk for newborns, because of the potential for the mineral to be "ingested" as it were by membranes near the diapering area. I don't imagine that would be a problem for adults, since we're just talking about using talcum powder on scalp hair. Also, using talc to clean one's hair in a pinch is not the same as using it on a baby's bum any number of times a day. As I'm not a chemist, I really can't speak with any authority. All of the above is just an educated guess. Anyone know for sure? Calling all chemistry majors...

I've been doing a little research but I'm hardly a chemist. Here's some fo the information I came up with lst from Wikipedia, which isn't always the best source:

Several studies have established preliminary links between talc and pulmonary issues,[1] lung cancer,[2][3] skin cancer and ovarian cancer.[4] This is a major concern considering talc's widespread commercial and household use. However, no conclusive study has yet been made to determine either the toxicity and/or carcinogenic nature of talc and the long history of safe use suggests that these concerns are unfounded. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers non-asbestiform talc, that is talc which does not contain potentially carcinogenic asbestiform amphibole fibers, to be Generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use in cosmetics. In 1993, a US National Toxicology Program report found that cosmetic grade talc caused tumours in animals, even though it contained no asbestos-like fibres.[citation needed] Scientists have been aware of the toxicity of talc since the late 1960s, and in 1971 researchers found particles of talc embedded in 75 percent of the ovarian tumors studied

even scarier (so i guess no talc!) : Most symptoms are caused by accidental or repeated breathing in (inhaling) of talc dust. Breathing problems are the most common problem.
Bladder and kidneys
Urine output, decreased significantly (or none)
Lungs
Cough
Difficulty breathing
Acute respirator distress
Respiratory failure
Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
Jaundice (yellowed eyes)
Eye irritation
Cough
Throat irritation
Skin
Blisters
Rash
Blue skin, lips, and fingernails
Sloughing of skin
Yellow skin
Gastrointestinal
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Heart and blood
Low blood pressure
Convulsions
Collapse
Nervous system
Drowsiness
Lack of desire to do anything
Coma
Twitching of the facial muscles
Twitching of arms, hands, legs, or feet
Whole body
Fever

Seek immediate emergency medical care. Breathing in talcum powder can cause very serious problems.

I am generally pretty careful about what I contribute to any discussion on the internet, for good reason.

And I'd worry a lot less about anything I use "down there" than something that is on my head, eh?

not everyone is as careful as you are. the internet is great but for real medical advice on anything you are regularly going to use internally or externally, it's best to go to a doctor (or two). anyone with any experience with bad internet information, please pass it on.

I just tried a product called Shampowder by Buttercream Cosmetics. Loved it! It did the trick and smelled great.

I have tried baby powder and bumble and bumble in white. I sprinkle the powder on a natural bristle vent brush and brush through. I also bought baby cornstarch because that's what is used in the B&B spray powder, plus it's probably better for you. The B&B works very well but is expensive. My hair is naturally blond and the white is a little too white. I'm actually trying to find out if anyone knows the true color of the blondish B&B powder - it looks too dark for me. Oh, and PSSSSSST does still exist; it sells at salonsavings.com (I think) and has mixed reviews.

why don't you write or call B&B? let us know their response.

You can get that spray shampoo called "Pssssst" at Duane Reade but that pharmacy only exists in N.Y. So try other drugstores if you don't live in New York = )
. . . and about that whole ovarian cancer thing, what if you only use it around your pubic hair(or pubic area) to relieve your skin after shaving or when the hair is growing back? Would it still be harmful? Do any of you girls know how to relieve that itch you get when the hair is growing back and also how do you relieve your skin after you have just shaved it? (Besides using Baby Powder) Thanx ;)

i wish i knew the answer to your questions. Baby oil is very soothing and I assume chemical free. you might also ask a dermatologist.

I have read that cornstarch is very good for rashes and has medicinal attributes. I believe it would be better to use it and discard the talc.

Psst definitely still exists, and probably hasn't changed much since 1960. I used it as recently as 2 years ago, check Walgreens.