A few years ago when I discovered Bumble & Bumble Hair Powder, I thought I’d found my wonder product. The then-version of the product was in a white bottle, with a small spout up top that allowed you to disperse the powder at your own will by squeezing the bottle. This ended up in a cloudy bathroom the first two tries, but after that I got the hang of it, and knew how much (or how little) I needed, depending on how dirty my hair was. I got several people hooked on the product, including my own mother, and since the stuff costs $35 a bottle, you know it must be good, if my mom will pay for that. Available in actual hair colors (there are five shades to choose from), the powder also prevented you from needing a salon visit. You could easily milk an extra two weeks out of your color with Hair Powder because it, itself, is colored, covering up pesky roots.
Fast forward to the current Bumble & Bumble Hair Powder. The last bottle I had lasted me well over a year, but my friends tend to know me well, so for my birthday this year I was gifted with a bottle of the new version. I was thoroughly excited as Hair Powder now runs a whopping $42 a bottle, up seven bucks from a few years ago. It’s also now a spray...though still called Hair ‘Powder.’ Yeah, I thought the same thing you’re probably thinking.
The new bottle is tall and sleek; an aerosol formula that is supposed to be easier to use. Why the formula and application was revamped is completely beyond me, I was just excited they didn’t discontinue the product. My salon said clients rarely purchased B&B products because of their somewhat expensive price point, and eventually they stopped carrying it. I was able to track Hair Powder down at another salon, who told me it was being pulled to make way for the newer version. Newer version?, I thought. Why mess with success?
OK, so we’re dealing with a spray now. This could be good. The old version sort of spouted out from the top, so until you got the hang of it, it could be a little tricky to use. The spray, in theory, did seem like a good idea. The bottle comes inside of another package, which is a total waste, but since most high end beauty products do this (use far too much packaging), I can’t fault B&B.
Without first using the new spray formula, I set off on a trip, with the new Hair Powder in tow. Since it’s a spray, I reasoned it would be less likely to spill in transit, thus less worrisome for myself. Tucked between Kiehl’s Stylist Series Silk Groom (ideal for wavy hair) and Victoria’s Secret Bare Bronze Body Spray (the perfect vacation scent if you’re headed somewhere warm), the Hair Powder sat waiting to be used.
A new ‘do (yes, I succumbed to the big bang trend) is always hard to manage in those first weeks of having it, so when I got it right on my own, I wanted to stretch it as long as I could. Enter Hair Powder. I waltz into the bathroom thinking it’s going to be an easy process. After all, I’ve used this product for years. I part my hair, and shoot the can at my roots. A whoosh of black spray comes pouring out of the can (yes, I’d given it a good shake or two), practically leaving a puddle in the direction I shot. Yikes. I ease into the mirror to take a look at the damage and sure enough, I’ve used too much. Way too much. I also see that the Hair Powder isn’t a ‘powder’ anymore at all, but rather a thick liquid that becomes matte after drying.
Let’s discuss the drying. You have to let the new stuff dry before touching it. I learned this the hard way, and ended up with jet black stained fingers that took nearly 10 minutes to scrub clean. I went overboard on the first spray, attempted to rub it in to lessen the damage, and the entire thing backfired! What gives? The old version of Hair Powder was an actual powder. You used too much, you just shook it out. Easy as pie. The new stuff requires a strategy, something that the modern working girl probably doesn’t have enough time for.
Trial and error took place, and in the end this seems to be the best way to use the new Hair Powder:
- Style your hair exactly as you’ll wear it
- Shoot Hair Powder onto your roots, giving it a soft, even coat
- Allow it to dry; this may take a good 20 minutes or so, especially with the darker shades
- Slowly rub the product into your roots to make it look a little less matte and more like freshly-washed hair; you may want to try this with gloves, especially if you’re neurotic about your manicures
Either shoot for the above, or don’t buy the product. The latter is what I really suggest. With dry shampoo taking over, it seems there are about four or five new ones on the market. I’m off to Sephora to see what else is out there...hopefully something that resembles the old Bumble & Bumble Hair Powder. Heck, at this point, I’d take something that vaguely resembles it.
Written by: Samantha Cabrera
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