Dry shampoo is another product out there that claims to be able to keep your hair healthy while reducing oils and dirt. The difference between dry shampoo and regular shampoo is that dry shampoo can be applied to dry hair and does not require you to rinse it out once you’ve applied it. And even though that may seem counterproductive based on how we use regular shampoo, dry shampoo can help out when you don’t want to fully wash your hair.
How Does Dry Shampoo Work?
The idea behind dry shampoo is that the alcohol or starch in the shampoo is designed to soak up the oils and grease in your hair without leaving your hair feeling sticky or gross. Dry shampoos can also add some volume to your hair, while also making it smell fresh.
It shouldn’t be used as a replacement for traditional washing, as repeated use over time can cause build-up in your hair. Traditional shampoo is necessary in order to clean out any dirt and bacteria that may be accumulating. While dry shampoo can help soak up some of the excess oils in your hair, it cannot help clean out the actual dirt and grime that builds up over time.
Long-term use can also lead to your hair becoming brittle and dry, since dry shampoo does not have any moisturizing agents in it that our hair requires to stay fully healthy. This can lead to your hair breaking off, split ends, or even clogging of your hair follicles, which can lead to hair thinning. Because of this, we recommend to only use dry shampoo when traditional shampooing is not an option.
Dry shampoo is a great alternative when you need to clean your hair quickly, but is not a long term replacement for traditional shampoo and cleansers.
When Should You Use Dry Shampoo?
If dry shampoo can’t be used as a permanent alternative to traditional shampoo, when should it be used?
Dry shampoo has many benefits when used correctly. One of the main benefits is that it’s a great way to save time.
Dry shampoo can be applied in minutes and leave your hair feeling cleaner and fresher than when you just woke up. Most dry shampoos are also scented so that they can cover up any foul odors or staleness that may be emanating from your scalp from the night before. It can also add volume to your hair when applied to the roots of your scalp. The dry shampoo will absorb any oils or grease that may be weighing down your hair, allowing for it to appear fuller.
In addition to these pros of dry shampoo, it can also allow for less frequent traditional shampoos, which can also be harmful to your hair. Washing your hair too often in the shower, with traditional shampoo, can strip away some of the moisture, oil, and other elements that your hair needs to stay healthy. This is why it’s generally not advised to wash your hair every day. Dry shampoo can be a great way to keep your hair looking great without having to worry about washing your hair every single day, and possibly causing damage.
There are always going to be pros and cons to all hair styling products, but using them in the correct way can provide excellent results and keep your hair looking and feeling healthy and amazing.
How Do You Use Dry Shampoo?
Despite having shampoo in its name, dry shampoo is not a viscous liquid (or soap) that you need to massage into your hair. In most cases it’s going to be an aerosol spray that you spray on to your dry hair when you don’t have time, or don’t want to, fully wash your hair in the shower or under water.
Using dry shampoo is pretty straight forward, but it’s important to know how to properly use it so that you can get your hair as clean as possible.
Dry shampoo comes in an aerosol can, similar to hair spray, so the goal is to spray as much of your hair as possible without making the hair too wet or damp.
Hold the can about 8-12 inches away from your scalp and spray at your roots while moving back and forth over your scalp to ensure an even application. You then want to get your fingers underneath your hair and massage the shampoo into the roots underneath. Finally use your fingers or a brush to spread out the shampoo over as much of the hair as possible.
That’s it! No rinsing, no water, no lathering, just spray, massage, and go.
It’s a pretty simple process, but there are some things you want to make sure you avoid.
Dry shampoo should always be applied to dry hair. Do not try to use dry shampoo if your hair is wet or very damp, you won’t get the effect you’re looking for.
Don’t overdo it. Too much spray and you’ll end up with dull looking hair and it could start to clump up. You can always add more, but you can’t take it away without traditional sudsy shampoo.
Leave it in for a few minutes before you start to massage it in to your scalp so that it can absorb the oil on your scalp.
If you’ve been hesitant about trying dry shampoo, or curious as to what the buzz is about it, rest assured that unless you use it for weeks at a time, you’re not likely to do any damage to your hair and you may find yourself saving time and actually keeping your hair healthier.
