Redkens Power Grip 03-Mattifying hair powder

Redken Powder Grip 03 Mattifying Hair Powder, $14.50; visit www.redken.com for salon locations.

As Redken’s creative consultant, Guido Palau is pretty much set when it comes to products. His backstage arsenal features everything from setting lotions and blow-dry gels to hair sprays and shine serums, which allow him to whip up a wealth of styles, from those sculpted faux bobs atJil Sander to the sopping wet strands he crafted backstage atAlexander Wang (and again at Victoria Beckham and Lanvin). But for the past few seasons, we’ve noticed one thing missing from Palau’s station: hair powder. Shocking as it may seem in the wake of the dry shampoo craze that has swept through the coiffing establishment the past few years, Redken has never had anything comparable to those oil-absorbing, texturizing powder formulas for Palau to play with. But that’s about to change. The brand just launched its new Powder Grip 03 Mattifying Hair Powder, a follicle-filling formula that you shake out into your hand and apply as needed directly to the hair shaft. “It’s more for styling,” Palau says, adding that the microscopic pigments make it easier to tease hair and add volume, while adding a chunky finish to the bottom of layers. It’s the first of two new powders Palau will have at the ready when the Fall shows commence in—gasp!—five short weeks. Look out for Redken’s forthcoming Powder Refresh 01 Aerosol Hair Powder/ Dry Shampoo in March.