Given the frenetic pace of life today, using dry shampoo for many represents real salvation. Available in spray or powder format, it lets you quickly make a mise en beauté of the hair without water use. Therefore, choosing the product for your hair type is essential, as learning how to use it correctly.
Table of Contents
Guide to buying a dry shampoo.
The shampoo is no longer delegated only to wash the hair, make it healthier and fuller, free it from dandruff, and protect it from external agents. There are different types on the market, but while some prove effective, others are of little use or are even to be declined.
Dry shampoo has recently returned to the fore, always considered a precious ally of daily beauty. Today, it is considered a miraculous styling solution to always have hair in order, even in a hurry.
As bizarre as it may seem to wash your hair without water, this marvelous cosmetic can cleanse and purify the hair quickly and effectively without having to go in the shower.
On the web and in perfumeries, all types have different price ranges. Still, by consulting our guide on choosing a good dry shampoo, you will find out what the parameters are to pay attention to when purchasing to identify the product best suited to your needs easily.
Clean and healthy hair without water and hairdryer
The cornerstone of the hair care world, dry shampoo is now considered a real beauty treatment that combines the traditional cleansing function with various cosmetic properties, making it perfect for those who want soft and shiny hair in a few minutes.
This product’s main advantage is that it is applied directly to dry hair to give an immediate feeling of cleanliness and lightness. It can also absorb excess sebum, neutralize polluting agents’ effects, and reduce stress due to frequent washing and creasing.
If, then, the protection of the environment is also placed among your worries, dry shampoo will become an indispensable must because it contributes to saving on the consumption of water, styling products, and energy, to significantly reduce the environmental impact, with some small benefits also for the portfolio.
What it contains
Are you late and don’t have time to wash your hair and blow-dry? No problem; dry shampoo will become your best friend in all those emergencies where traditional washing is impossible.
Its ability to make the hair perfectly clean without using water is due to the contained powders’ action, silicate, rice starch, or minerals, which absorb all traces of dirt and sebum on the skin and hair.
These ingredients are often added with extracts of herbs and medicinal plants, such as nettle or cucumber with a purifying action, perfumed essences, citrus fruits, flowers, etc., which leave a delightful smell on the hair.
Some products are formulated with substances that help nourish the hair fiber (such as keratin or panthenol) to cleanse the hair in-depth and give it a healthier and fuller appearance.
You can also find cosmetics on the market to add pigments that give a slight color capable of accentuating the hair’s natural color or enriching it with shiny and natural reflections.
Be careful not to overdo it!
It will also be a quick and effective treatment, but this does not mean that it is completely free of contraindications. As practical as it may be, it must never replace traditional shampoo and water use. Although the product thoroughly cleans the hair by absorbing its sebum, it does not accurately cleanse the scalp and remove all the impurities deposited on it, obtained only using water.
The best solution is to alternate the two cleaning methods, limiting yourself to one or at most two dry shampoo applications between a traditional wash and the other.
It is often the use of excessive product quantities, so it is always advisable to observe the rule of ” less ” more. ” The danger is leaving small residues between the locks that could dull the hair color.
INCI can help you
The way to decide which dry shampoo to buy could prove torturous and full of doubts, thanks to the many markets offers and misleading advertisements.
Suppose you do not know how to identify the best brand in circulation. In that case, you can adopt a diversification strategy by comparing the best-selling products, perhaps relying on the reviews of other users, or reading the label, which by law must list the ingredients in descending order of presence.
In this regard, it is always better to opt for a mild shampoo with an acceptable INCI or prefer a natural one formulated without adding artificial perfumes, preservatives, and other potentially aggressive substances.
Those with special needs can purchase cruelty-free vegan shampoo to respect their ethical and moral principles, even when it comes to beauty.
Frequent questions
How does dry shampoo work?
Dry shampoo is a valid alternative to liquid shampoo, especially when you don’t have the time and the opportunity to wash your hair with the traditional method.
The powders contained absorbing excess sebum and opacified the hair, giving it volume and a semblance of cleanliness.
Once applied in small quantities on dry hair, leave it on for a few minutes and remove any excess with a comb without wetting the hair or using a hairdryer.
How often to use dry shampoo for cats and dogs?
Suppose you do not have the opportunity to bring your dog to grooming, especially in winter. In that case, you can use dry shampoo for animals to provide for their hygiene practically and effortlessly. However, washing dogs and cats too often could harm their health, weakening the skin’s hydrolipidic film that protects the animal from bacteria and parasites.
In particular, dry shampoo should be used no more than once a month, especially because the product tends to leave residues on the hair, which, in the long run, could cause itching and allergies. If in doubt, ask your veterinarian for advice.
How to make dry shampoo?
You can easily make dry shampoo at home: mix the baking soda with one of these three ingredients: white clay, corn, or rice starch.
Once you mix the powders, add a little lemon juice and a few drops of your favorite essential oil, and pour it all into a clean bottle. In this way, you will get a dry shampoo that is natural and free of chemicals, excellent for sensitive skin or allergies.
What is a dry shampoo made of?
Dry shampoo is sold in spray or powder form. In the first case, spray the product on the hair to have it cleaned in no time; in the second, the powder will have to be distributed on the scalp, accompanying the application with a light massage.
In both cases, the ingredients are substantially the same: starch (rice or corn), silicate, and extracts of plants or herbs, which, acting in synergy, absorb excess sebum and other possible impurities.
Does dry shampoo ruin your hair?
Although dry shampoo offers numerous advantages, giving the hair a fresh and cleansed appearance in a few minutes also has disadvantages that arise mainly from frequent and prolonged use.
Among these, the follicles’ obstruction presents on the scalp, leading to various ailments such as epithelial dryness, dandruff, and the progressive weakening of the capillary stem. For these reasons, it is recommended to use it in moderation, at most once or twice a week, between one wash and another.
How to use a dry shampoo
It will also be true that dry shampoo does not replace the traditional one, and we all agree on this, but it still has many benefits that give it the right to a respectable place in our beauty cases.
It gives consistency and volume to each hairstyle, makes the styling last longer, and makes the hair clean and flawless two / to three days after the previous washing, provided it is applied correctly and without excess. Let’s see the steps to be followed to make the best use.
Always keep your distance.
If you decide to use a dry spray shampoo, it is important to spray it at a distance of at least 30 centimeters from the scalp, shake the hair with your hands, or use the cold air jet hairdryer to distribute the product evenly.
On the other hand, when you apply a powder detergent, sprinkle it on the scalp and rub it with your fingertips to activate the formula.
Focus on the roots. When using dry shampoo, it is unnecessary to spread it over the entire hair. It is only on the scalp that excess sebum is deposited, and it is precisely in that area that an annoying greasy patina is created.
It must be applied only on the roots, not the tips, to avoid drying them out and creating that unsightly frizz effect that nobody likes!
Don’t go overboard
One of the main disadvantages of dry shampoo is that it leaves residues that could dull the hair, especially if it is dark in color. Therefore, we advise not to overdo the doses and, if necessary, add more shampoo before proceeding to the next steps.
Wait a few minutes
For the product to fulfill its task, we must give it time and the opportunity to act. How? Leave it on briefly before removing the excess with the brush. The treatment can be carried out whenever the hair needs a refresh, although many trendsetters recommend using it before going to sleep to give it more time to absorb all the dirt and have new styling in the morning.
Massage is also essential.
After applying the product to the skin and waiting for the necessary exposure time, it is important to massage the skin with your fingers so that the powders contained can effectively absorb all impurities. This way, the shampoo will act more effectively, and the results will last longer.
Brush away any excess.
Some cosmetics can leave residues or a very thin white patina on the hair even after massaging them, especially if an excessive amount of product is applied. In these cases, brush the hair with a tight-toothed comb or a stiff bristle brush to distribute the detergent evenly and eliminate residual dust.
Could you not use it too often?
Before leaving the last recommendation: although very practical, the dry shampoo should not be applied too often because it could leave residues on the hair that risk occluding the follicles and making the hair more fragile.
The ideal solution is to use it only once between one wash and the next to allow the scalp to breathe and regenerate.
The Best Dry Shampoos to buy
Below is the complete ranking of the best shampoos with relative prices and main characteristics.
- Absorbs oil, sweat, and odor
- Actually cleans hair
- Delivers a fresh, time-release scent
- Includes Batiste bestsellers, 2 Scents, Tropical, And Original
- Use between washes to instantly refresh your hair, no water required
- Waterless formula absorbs dirt and grease to revitalize dull and lifeless hair
- Dove Dry shampoo leaves hair looking and feeling refreshed without washing
- Dry shampoo spray absorbs excess oil from hair to revive between washes
- Volumizing dry shampoo is perfect for days when you’re short of time, this weightless...
- Beauty product
- This item is not a Tester
- Packaging may vary
- Say goodbye to bad hair days with MONDAY Haircare ORIGINAL Dry Shampoo. This product is...
- MONDAY Haircare ORIGINAL Dry Shampoo is enriched with protective Keratin, which helps to...
- Using MONDAY Haircare ORIGINAL Dry Shampoo is easy. Simply shake the can well and spray...
- The best thing about this dry shampoo is the amount of powder that deposits onto hair. The...
- This Vitamin C enriched dry shampoo spray absorbs oils, eliminates odor, extends blow dry...
- Directions: For first time use, press firmly to unlock the spray nozzle. Shake well. Apply...
- Made with Charcoal & Baking Soda to prevent oil buildup and remove impurities.
- Works overnight so you can wake up to fresher, cleaner-looking hair.
- Soothing & relaxing fragrance with notes of orange, red currant, jasmine, and rose.
- One 3.81 oz can of Batiste Touch Activated Dry Shampoo with scent-releasing technology;...
- Dry shampoo hair spray is touch activated to absorb oil in hair between washes for up to...
- Waterless shampoo for women is scented with a sweet, sophisticated symphony of luscious...
- One 5.71 oz bottle of Batiste Dark Dry Shampoo
- Colored dry shampoo formulated to target excess oil and grease at the roots to leave your...
- Tinted dry shampoo for brunettes that blends seamlessly with both color treated and...
- NOT YOUR MOTHER'S DRY SHAMPOO: Dry shampoo spray instantly absorbs excess oil, giving you...
- ASSORTED STYLES & FRAGRANCES: Includes Not Your Mother's Clean Freak Refreshing Dry...
- NO RINSING REQUIRED: These waterless shampoos leave hair feeling washed without a drop of...
Product prices and availability are subject to change. Therefore, any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to purchasing any products.