Dry shampoo has become a staple beauty product in bathroom cabinets everywhere. A savior for dull, flat hair, dry shampoo promises to add volume, disguise grease, and freshen locks when you don’t have the time or energy to shampoo. As a former dry shampoo fanatic, I can admit to giving my hair a spritz for a quick fix on the occasions that I overslept. However, I have since learned that as we become more reliant on its oil-absorbing qualities, dry shampoo can do more damage to our hair than good.
Dry shampoo is designed to soak up excess oil, but just like on the rest of your body, your scalp and hair need oil to function properly. “Dry shampoo is phenomenally popular, but it’s not designed to be used on a regular basis,” said celebrity hair stylist Lee Stafford. “It contains an oil-absorbing substance to soak up the grease, but if it’s used constantly, it’s going to dry out the hair and scalp and make it flake. If it’s left on the hair too long it can also clog up pores, leading to spots, sore patches, and—in extreme cases—hair loss and baldness,” he revealed.
Reaching for your trusty can of dry shampoo a little too often can also have a negative effect on styling, as it builds up a fine coating on the hair shaft. This means that your hair will be harder to straighten or coax into curls than it normally would.
Here, we highlight how to use dry shampoo in a safe and controlled way.
1. DON’T OVERDO IT
Go easy on your locks and start off with a little bit of spray on the greasy areas you need to hide. Keep the can approximately 10cm away from your scalp while you spritz your hair, before massaging it into your roots to soak up the natural oils.
2. DON’T RELY ON IT
You should only be using dry shampoo two or three times a week at the most. If you’re opting for the product on a daily basis, then it’s time to cut back. You also need to make sure you wash your hair thoroughly between applications, so you can massage your scalp and lift any residue.
3. DON’T BUDGET BUY
When it comes to purchasing dry shampoo, be sure to opt for quality over quantity. Salon professional dry shampoos are formulated with quality ingredients that last longer. You should also avoid products that are overly powdery or heavily fragranced, as they can aggravate the skin and cause allergic reactions. The Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk (US $20; AED/SAR 73) is formulated with oat milk to soothe and protect your scalp, while the corn and rice starches absorb excess oil. It’s also free of free of sodium chloride, colorants, parabens, and sulfates.
