Benefits of dry shampoo

[CreatureBailey]

Heeeyy! :P

So I need explanation about something.

People say that washing hair too frequently is bad because it strips it from its natural oils and all.

But then they say we can use dry shampoo to make our hair look clean again and everything...the dry shampoo...absorbs the oils in the hair.

But isn't that taking the oils out of the hair as well?

I don't get it? xD

Anyways thanks, by the way why is my hair getting oily more easily these days? Is it just cause it's winter time?

[lithostoic]

Personally, dry shampoo makes my hair look and feel worse! Stringier, tanglier, and overall not nice.

[marvel-lover]

I'm also curious about this. I have thick enough hair that I can go a week without washing and be okay, but everyone is raving about dry shampoo and it doesn't make sense to me.

[PixieP]

Heeeyy! :P

So I need explanation about something.

People say that washing hair too frequently is bad because it strips it from its natural oils and all.

But then they say we can use dry shampoo to make our hair look clean again and everything...the dry shampoo...absorbs the oils in the hair.

But isn't that taking the oils out of the hair as well?

I don't get it? xD

Anyways thanks, by the way why is my hair getting oily more easily these days? Is it just cause it's winter time?

Dry shampoo only goes on the roots, to absorb excess oils. It's the lengths of the hair that is volnuerable to stripping and drying out. The roots are very new fresh growth that is very healthy and don't get bothered by the occasional dry shampoo round. The roots can take a bit of a beating without getting harmed. But the lengths of the hair is more fragile. So for my hair for example, it's better to use dry shampoo now and then which will allow me to stretch washes longer, which protects my ends more.



I'm also curious about this. I have thick enough hair that I can go a week without washing and be okay, but everyone is raving about dry shampoo and it doesn't make sense to me.

Because not everyone has thick hair like you. Those of us with thinner/finer hair cannot camoflauge oilyness as easily as those with thicker hair. The thinner and/or straighter, the more greasy-looking it gets. Also some people have scalps that procude too much sebum no matter their thickness, and some people will turn into greaseballs for a limited period because of stress or other reasons. Just because you personally don't need it doesn't make a product worthless.

[lapushka]

Dry shampoo never worked for me; back then when I was a teen it was a regular spray bottle (my grandma got it for me). I just needed to wash my hair at least 2x a week, that's all, that's what "solved" it.

I think my scalp has sort of "normalized", maybe with age as well. I can stretch to about a week (oil starts on Thursday/Friday). I wash every Sunday.

No dry shampoo.

I think I'd much rather just wash the hair; maybe do scalp washes if you have to wash frequently.

[Flipgirl24]

I could not live without dry shampoo. Not only does it allow me to not wash every day, it gives me more time to sleep! As Pixie said, it absorbs the oil at the roots because that is mainly where you'd apply dry shampoo. It doesn't absorb all the oil like shampoo but if you overuse it between washings, it can cause buildup and itchy scalp. Good question!

[PixieP]

I am life dependant on dry shampoo, I have fibromyalgia with chronic fatigue and sometimes I just do not have the energy required to wash my hair. Also my skin is water-allergic so I cannot shower when I have bad periods, so washing hair for me means standing upside down in the shower, which I also cannot do when my body hurts the worst. Then I need to be able to use a dry shampoo. I find the Batiste ones to be very good, they are cheap and do the job well, even if they smell a lot (I am fragrance sensitive but I have yet to find a single dry shampoo that isn't over-fragranced that also do the job). I tried making my own from corn starch, but either it didn't do anything because I didn't use enough or if I used enough it was so much that it made my roots look white. The Batiste also makes my roots lighter, but they are not white, so it's ok.

[antler_tines]

Have you tried cacao powder? Or maybe mixing the cornstarch with cacao to get a slightly darker shade? My hair is very dark so for me cacao works better (it makes your hair smell like chocolate though :P). I use a "dry shampoo" when I just don't have time for washing and my hair is starting to look stringy. It isn't perfect but it helps to absorb the extra and keep it from looking greasy for a few extra hours. I've been a little worried about the spray type of dry shampoo because it has aluminum in it like deodorants.I only use natural salt based deodorant. I don't know if the hoopla around aluminum is true, but I would rather not be breathing it in just to be safe.

[PixieP]

Since my hair is red and my re-growth is light blonde I don't think cocoa powder will be much better color-wise for me :) and I actually prefer the application of a spray vs powder and brush!

[missrandie]

I'm a fan of dry shampoo when I need it. It's especially handy when you sunscreen your hair part, only to realize that the sunscreen greased your hair. So you spray the dry shampoo and voila! No more greasy sunscreen part.

[Groovy Granny]

I have had cornstarch and a cosmetic brush in the bathroom cabinet since Sept 2013 when I joined LHC (just in case)...and have not used it yet :lol:
Generally my hair is not greasy, and to stretch washes I use my BBB; it disperses what little sebum I have over the length
(can't even see/feel it) = shine and scalp hair fullness.
Back in the 60's I used MINIPOO (http://savetheflower-1967.tumblr.com/post/56239591582/minipoo-dry-shampoo-ad-1965) a lot; but my now my silver is very fine and dry, so it has lots of life between shampoos.
IF it needs a shampoo...then it really needs it :p
I should go dig that out of the cabinet ...it has not been used over 4 years after all :hmm: lol

[irisa2005]

Well, I never had tried dry shampoo, but a couple weeks ago I bought Batiste dry shampoo to give it a try, my scalps gets oily really easy so I applied once and my hair got to look clean and less dull after that, so I thought that the result was not bad!
But the day after that, I shampoo my hair and my scalp felt very dry under the water. I don't know if thats good or bad, but I'm still gonna keep trying until I found a reason to hate it or love it.

[solocricket]

I think I've only tried dry shampoo once, but it wasn't a good experience for me. I'm generally pretty oily, and I wash daily. I used an Herbal Essences one once when I tried to skip. The scent got overpowering over the day, and my hair felt heavy, hot, and really dirty. I liked that it gave me some texture and lift at the roots, but I never did use it again!

Before that, I tried cornstarch/cocoa powder with some disastrous results--white roots, couldn't comb it out, cocoa powder also wasn't the right color (but then again, I'm just clumsy, and maybe I should have used less?).

[lapushka]

I'm a fan of dry shampoo when I need it. It's especially handy when you sunscreen your hair part, only to realize that the sunscreen greased your hair. So you spray the dry shampoo and voila! No more greasy sunscreen part.

You sunscreen your hair part?! I find that so odd, for some reason. :) Never known anyone to do that.

[Nique1202]

There's a big down side to dry shampoo if your sebum is too thick and waxy, though. If you touch your hair when it looks greasy and your finger feels oily, it'll probably work for you to some degree or another. If your hair feels dry when it looks greasy, though, then the active portion of dry shampoo (which is usually corn starch and/or arrowroot powder) will just stick to the sebum and build up further. My sebum is a little bit waxier than coconut oil, so dry shampoo does nothing for me, and a boar bristle brush won't move my sebum so much as half a centimeter down the hair shaft. Unfortunately, some of us are just cursed to have to wash our hair every time it starts to look dirty.

[Deborah]

I don't think there are any benefits to it. Just wash with a gentle product.

[marvel-lover]

Because not everyone has thick hair like you. Those of us with thinner/finer hair cannot camoflauge oilyness as easily as those with thicker hair. The thinner and/or straighter, the more greasy-looking it gets. Also some people have scalps that procude too much sebum no matter their thickness, and some people will turn into greaseballs for a limited period because of stress or other reasons. Just because you personally don't need it doesn't make a product worthless.

I certainly didn't mean to imply that the product is worthless because it doesn't work for me! I apologize if I offended you or came off as rude. All I meant was that I was struggling to understand the concept when the goal of stretching washes was to allow your hair to absorb it's natural oils. I mentioned the thick part because I don't personally have a need for it. I understand that there are different hairtypes that require different care and products. I apologize for offending you in any way.

[spidermom]

Dry shampoo didn't make sense to me, either. When my hair is dirty, I want to wash the oil away, not add something to the oil. But I did have occasion to try it recently, and it gave a nice result.

[Kae612]

I haven't used it myself because when my hair is dirty, the oil isn't too bad to deal with (I just pull it back, I think it looks normal unless it's down). But the problem for me is that my scalp starts to itch a little after 5 or 6 days, and flakes start to stick to my oily hair and are noticeable, especially if I brush my hair (made that mistake today). So for me, I wouldn't want to add more white powdery stuff to my dark hair that already has too many little white flakes starting to appear.

But my friends with blonde or light brown hair love it, and people who have less volume swear that at the roots it helps give them some lift when their hair wants to fall flat. I've seen it suggested for retro-style updos to help achieve a poof without hairspray. I think it works for some people better than others depending on hair thickness, oiliness, and hair colour. (Also whether or not you have a flaky/irritable scalp....)

[Rebeccalaurenxx]

Usually I only touch it if I need 1 extra day and can't shower or whatever. I hardly use it though. I prefer cleaned and washed hair.

[Llama]

I prefer the feeling of clean hair, but prefer the look of my hair with dry shampoo in it. I use Batiste and it is the best I have tried so far.
It's nice because you only need to use it on the very top of your scalp so it's a very gentle way to refresh the appearance of your hair.

[sarahthegemini]

I hate dry shampoo. It soaks up oil but it doesn't make my hair look any nicer. Instead of greasy and limp, it looks dry and limp and feels even worse. If my hair is oily to the point I feel I need to do something about it, I wash it. I don't just cover up the grease.

[vampyyri]

Dry shampoo used to be my lifeline to stretching washes, but I have since moved to scalp-only washes when it gets that bad (ie, two days after a wash because I'm a greaseball). But... I have been considering picking up dry shampoo again for the convenience of not having to take the time in the morning to wash my scalp.

As for the original question... leaving grease in your hair is not really good for your scalp, especially if your sebum is super thick/waxy. It can be a breeding ground for all sorts of scalp issues—I know my scalp gets sore/develops acne if I don't do something about it. Dry shampoo just absorbs the excess basically.

[meteor]

Personally, I vastly prefer scalp-only washes and partial scalp-only washes (just the hairline) to dry shampoos. I'd just rather avoid any risk of build-up on scalp and I don't like adding more powdery product to my scalp when I what I actually want to do is to clean it. I should add that I have thick hair that I wear up all the time and it's dark enough that I can hide greasies very easily. I can definitely see how dry shampoos can be hugely helpful for many people.

[Britok]

With my fine, thin, often wavy hair I have had trouble finding a dry shampoo that works. I can get by with most types when my hair has been blown out and straightened but certainly not when it's in its natural state. This kinda defeated the purpose for me, so I stopped trying it. I recently found that I do have great results from the bumble and bumble powder, I can use that brand without having to style my hair in any way prior. It actually gives it a lift on the second or third waterless day.

[Vanilla Mint]

I always have thick bangs, so dry shampoo is pretty much a given by day 2, and absolutely crucial on day 3. It's really convenient and keeps my hair looking clean while I can let my length/ends have a little down time. I use a SLS shampoo (Suave or Head & Shoulders) just on the roots (unless I'm clarifying), and I have no issues washing out the dry shampoo.

[Serimel]

I haven't used it myself because when my hair is dirty, the oil isn't too bad to deal with (I just pull it back, I think it looks normal unless it's down). But the problem for me is that my scalp starts to itch a little after 5 or 6 days, and flakes start to stick to my oily hair and are noticeable, especially if I brush my hair (made that mistake today). So for me, I wouldn't want to add more white powdery stuff to my dark hair that already has too many little white flakes starting to appear.

But my friends with blonde or light brown hair love it, and people who have less volume swear that at the roots it helps give them some lift when their hair wants to fall flat. I've seen it suggested for retro-style updos to help achieve a poof without hairspray. I think it works for some people better than others depending on hair thickness, oiliness, and hair colour. (Also whether or not you have a flaky/irritable scalp....)

Batiste has a dry shampoo for brunettes with a hint of brown color. I have it on my shelf for emergencies and it works relatively well without leaving the white dusty look on my hair. It can theoretically color your clothes like hats and hoods so I usually stick to dark clothing on those days.