Have Healthier Hair with Dry Shampoo

Whether you want more volume, less grease or just healthier hair in general, dry shampoo has got you covered. This fairly new product should be a part of every one’s hair routine.

Dry shampoo removes sebum, but doesn’t strip natural oils that your hair needs. (Photo: Wayofliving.com)

Dry shampoo is simply shampoo in powder form and usually comes as a spray. It absorbs sebum, which is responsible for making your hair greasy, and leaves your hair feeling cleaner – much like your regular shampoo. But dry shampoo allows you to skip washing your hair every day without grease buildup.

Generally, if you are washing your hair once a day, you shouldn’t be. It is a good idea, even necessary for healthy hair, to wash with shampoo and conditioner occasionally. Washing too often, however, can strip your hair of the natural oils it needs to stay healthy and can leave your hair feeling dry and course. Most hairstylists recommend washing your hair once or twice a week at the most.

If your hair is naturally really greasy like mine, the idea of not washing your hair for more than a day may seem out of the question. There really are benefits to kicking that habit though. When you stop washing your hair every day it feels healthier. It also reduces damage from blow-drying or using other heat products after you wash. If you dye your hair, washing it every day will make the color fade very quickly. If you switch to once a week, your color will last much longer. This is where dry shampoo comes in as an alternative. Finally, let’s face it, sometimes busy professionals just don’t have time to wash their hair every single day. Throw in some dry shampoo and you’ll be looking fresh and polished for that early morning meeting or after work get-together.

So how does it work? Probably easier than any other hair product you own. The first step of course is choosing the right dry shampoo. Some are formulated specifically for greasy hair while others are made to give you extra volume. You may have to experiment with different brands to find one that suits your hair. Some lower quality brands can actually leave residue in your hair and not do a very good job at oil absorption. There are plenty of great products on the market to try however.

Dove Refresh+Care Invigorating Dry Shampoo is cheap, lightweight and great at oil absorption. (Photo: Glambition)

Dove Refresh+Care Invigorating Dry Shampoo is cheap, lightweight and great at oil absorption. It has all the bases covered and costs less than $5 at most drugstores.

Batiste Dry Shampoo is great for those with dark hair, since it doesn’t leave any white residue and is very easy to brush through. It also comes in different scents to leave your hair smelling fresh.

Batiste Dry Shampoo is good for people with dark hair. (Phoro: Makeupalley)

To apply, brush out your hair to get rid of any tangles first. Then spray onto sections from about 10 inches away. It may look white and powdery at first, but don’t brush it all away the second you spray it in. It needs time to absorb the oil and set in. Wait about five minutes and then thoroughly brush through. After that, style as usual and you’re ready to go! No matter what type of hair you have – thin or thick, dry or greasy – dry shampoo is definitely an essential product for your hair routine.