Putting cornstarch in your hair to get rid of grease might sound like something Laura Ingalls did on Little House on the Prairie but when you’re desperate, it’s a heck of a lot quicker than a shower. The problem used to be that if you applied it wrong, you looked like you had grey hair — as happened to my best friend in 6th grade right before heading to dancing school. But now, we’ve learned how to prevent this mishap.

Ah dancing school, the ghastly combination of pre-teens, manners and ballroom dancing … I’ll always remember the time when my best friend’s mom, an Organic Freedom, was the dancing school parent hostess — she was supposed to greet the arriving children along with the instructors—and she was running very late. As my friend and I waited for her in the kitchen, she bounded downstairs, ready to leave, and noticed that her daughter’s hair — a greasy mess — didn’t quite match her prim dress, white gloves, and black patent leathers. She tore the cornstarch out of the cupboard dowsed my friend’s hair in it and then realized what a grave mistake she’d made.  She then spent 15 minutes trying to get it out of her hair to little avail. I still feel for my best friend’s mom. Nothing is worse than being late for a group of Classics — because you KNOW only tradition bound Classics would run a dancing school to teach young kids manners,  decorum and ballroom dancing!

With cornstarch, a little goes a long way. I put a pinch in my hand and then rubbed it in my palms before applying to my roots. Then I blew it dry. Since your hair is already dry, it took about 5-10 minutes to style it. So, not nearly as long as if I’d taken a shower. I realize this is mainly for folks with straight hair and probably mainly for personality types who can be challenged by time if there lives are crazy busy — Organic Freedoms, Smart Freedoms and Funs. But, plenty of Classics, Organic Structures, and Smart Structures have found themselves still wearing their sweats 20 minutes before guests arrive for a cocktail or dinner party. So, now you guys have a secret trick to look fabulous even when you occasionally mismanage your time.