Washing Your Hair Without The Water: 5 Things You Should Know About Dry Shampoo

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Remember back in the day when washing your hair and doing something to it was like an all-day event? In the movies and on TV shows, people would ditch dates and pass on activities to stay at home and cleanse their locks. But if washing your hair is more strenuous and long than relaxing and quick, and you find yourself needing to do it often, dry shampoo might be the perfect alternative for you. But what the heck is it? Some call it a miracle in a can, but I call it an opportunity to refresh your hair without needing to co-wash or rinse. For the gal on the go, you might want to try this out.

What Does It Do?

Basically, dry shampoo is good for absorbing pesky grease and oils and adding volume to your hair in between washes. If you’re running low on time or happen to be somewhere where you don’t have access to much water but need to give your hair some life (and rid it of some gunk), dry shampoo is a good look for that. If you’re one of those people who thinks washing your hair with shampoo more than a couple times a month will strip your head of oils, you’re in luck. It won’t make your hair as spic and span as a good roll in the shower with some Herbal Essence, but it can hold you down for a few days.

Is There Only One Kind of Dry Shampoo?

There are actually a variety of forms! Many people use the aerosol spray, but if that’s not your cup of tea, there’s always the powder form (in that case, you might want to just reach for some of your baby powder in the house…), and there’s a liquid that comes from a pump (kind of an oxymoron since it’s a liquid, but you don’t have to rinse it out). You can also buy organic dry shampoos made from natural ingredients too.

What’s In Dry Shampoo?

In a majority of dry shampoos, a lot of gas. For example, you could probably find a mixture of aerosol propellants, absorbing agents, solvents, conditioning agents, fragrances, emulsifying agents, and preservatives in a can. These ingredients, however, can leave different odors and and particles in the air. Dry powder shampoo is also recommended to reduce the odors and particles some dry shampoos can leave behind.

Can You Make Your Own Dry Shampoo?

These days, you can make damn near any hair product with the ingredients in your home, and dry shampoo is one many people concoct in their kitchen. Cornstarch, baby powder, baking soda, cornmeal, oatmeal, almonds, salt, and baking soda are just a few integral components. You don’t have to use them all to make something happen, but just mix and match and figure out which fixings work best to absorb oils from your head and don’t leave behind a trail of ingredients on your clothes…

How Do You Use It?

As with anything, too much of something isn’t a good thing. With that said, too much dry shampoo sprayed too close to your head can create buildup. Experts say you should spray about six inches away from your head, and though, in many cases the product comes out white, it eventually dissolves when you brush, tousle or comb the hair. Be sure to spray near your roots for best results!

Are you a fan of dry shampoo? If so, what do you use?

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Categories: Beauty