As a self-certified lazy girl, I’m not joking when I say that dry shampoos are legitimate life savers. Especially so, if you have oily hair and live in tropical climates. While dermatologists don’t recommend washing your hair more than once in three to four days, for someone like me, following this advice meant risking looking like a greaseball. And if you’re relating up to this point, I’m sure you too have a few half-empty bottles of dry shampoo sitting on your shelf. However, if you’re unaware of the world of dry shampoos, let Dr Jaishree Sharad, cosmetic dermatologist, author, TEDx speaker and founder of Skinfinitii Aesthetic Skin and Laser Clinic, Mumbai educate you.
What are dry shampoos and how often should you use them?
“Dry shampoos usually work by absorbing excessive oil from the hair and they contain powders and certain starches that absorb the oil so the hair looks cleaner,” Dr Sharad explains. There are several brands available on the market currently and come in varieties ranging from shades to different formulations for different hair types.
The frequency at which you should be using a dry shampoo depends on the type of your hair. “If your hair is very oily, you can use it three-four times a week. But if you have dry hair, use it once a week, or once in 10 days or 2 weeks. If you sweat a lot, however, you may want to use dry shampoo more frequently… maybe every other day. However, if you do this, you need to make sure you rinse your scalp thoroughly,” Dr Sharad states.
However, be warned, if you’re someone who’s prone to dandruff or is suffering from folliculitis, Dr Sharad warns against the usage of dry shampoo. She further adds, “Some patients may be allergic to dry shampoos. They can experience symptoms such as irritation, redness, itching and flakiness. Product build-up and dead cells can also lead to folliculitis or dandruff. Sometimes, it can cause the skin to dry and make the hair more brittle, or make your hair look very stiff and heavy and weighed down.”
So, if you’re planning to include a dry shampoo in your routine, make sure that you are washing your hair thoroughly after, in order to avoid product buildup and all the problems that follow.
The problem with dry shampoos
I usually end up having to use dry shampoo once a week, on the third day after a head bath. By then, the hair framing my face had absorbed the excess oil and sweat from my scalp and given the strands a mind of their own, making them difficult to manage or style. Summers are even worse, as my bangs turn into something that only Medusa could pull off. However, until now, using dry shampoos right before I left my house came with its own set of woes.
Most dry shampoos leave a white or grey residue on your hair after application. This is because those dry shampoos are originally made for blonde hair. So, if you’re a prolonged user like me, you’re probably already opting for a dry shampoo suited to brunette hair. But, this is only half the solution. Using a dry shampoo means being very aware that you haven’t washed your hair, because every time you touch your hair or scalp, you’re sure to have the colour bleed onto your fingers. No prizes for guessing how bad things get when one droplet of sweat makes its way down your scalp and onto your forehead. Good luck trying to wear any white garments, and if you do, be assured the stain will not come out.
The dry shampoo hack that works
When all self-control techniques to not touch my hair failed, I realised I had to find a way to stop the brown dry shampoo powder from leaving imprints on everything I touched. After my research, I found that all I needed to do was change the timing of it all. Instead of making a last-minute decision and spritzing before leaving the house, I began applying it a few hours before I actually had to step out of my home. I followed this by combing my hair gently, from roots to tips till the product was settled evenly.
By following this method, the powdered particles of the dry shampoo had enough time to absorb all the excess oil from my hair and gave me the fresh and bouncy outcome I was looking for, while also minimising the colour leakage. For a change, the end result of dry shampoo after using this method was finally comparable to actually washing your hair.
Some internet hacks take it a step further and suggest leaving in the dry shampoo overnight for best results. However, Dr Sharad advises against it, saying, “If you leave it overnight, there can be a build-up on the scalp and that can clog the pores on the scalp, leading to folliculitis or bacterial infections, yeast infections, dandruff, and more.” With that being said, product build-up can happen after using any and all hair care products. The simple solution to avoiding any terrible effects is to use a clarifying shampoo and gently wash your hair clean after having used your dry shampoo.
Dry shampoos are a handy product to have on hand in times of emergencies, and I for one, am loving the outcome of this small change. Yes, it’s a little frustrating that I figured out this trick after using dry shampoo for years, but like they say, “timing is everything”.
Also read:
I’ve started giving myself scalp facials—and my hair has never been healthier
Why scalp care is as important as skincare
10 dry shampoos (for all budgets) to have handy for hair emergencies
