· By Briana Dunning
The Best Dry Shampoo For Oily Hair: And Why You Should Avoid Old School Options
You're running late for work, you want to go longer between wash days, or you've just hit the gym, but you're SICK of having greasy hair. Good news: dry shampoo is here to save the day.
Or is it?
Just because it promises a good hair day, that doesn't mean it delivers. Sure, on paper, dry shampoo might seem like a miracle product, but in reality... it can do serious damage to your luscious locks.
I know you came here searching for the best dry shampoos on the market – and I won't disappoint. I'm Briana, a celebrity hair stylist with almost 30 years of experience in making women feel their beautiful, confident selves through haircare. Trust me when I say I've seen a LOT of hair. So what if I told you the BEST dry shampoo for oily hair isn't actually a dry shampoo at all? Stay with me. I'm going to break it down for you.
The Problem With Traditional Dry Shampoos
Dry shampoos are designed to absorb excess oil and make your hair look less greasy. And while they DO make your hair look not greasy, they're doing a whole range of other things to your hair that's actually harming it. From aerosol options to powder dry shampoos, here's why I recommend ditching dry shampoo altogether.
They Clog Follicles
Dry shampoos are made up of powders and starches, like rice starch. This is what soaks up all that oil. But the big problem is that these powders cause product to build up on your scalp, which clogs your hair follicles. This can be detrimental to your scalp health. Your scalp starts producing more oils, you get scalp acne, and you can even end up with hair loss.
They Can Cause Breakage
The dreaded "B" word. Dry shampoos are PACKED with harsh ingredients and synthetic fragrances that make your hair brittle. If you have delicate or highlighted hair, this becomes a SERIOUS issue. Trust me, no one wants hair that feels like straw.
They Contain Aluminum
Many aerosol dry shampoos contain aluminum, which is harmful if you breathe it in, leading to health issues. And when you're using an aerosol dry shampoo, you will breathe it in.
They Weigh Your Hair Down
With traditional dry shampoos, absorbing all that excess oil comes with a price. Sure, at first they'll add volume and make your hair look less greasy. But, after the first day, dry shampoos will weigh your hair down, making it feel heavy. The more you use them, the worse it'll get, leaving you with limp, lifeless hair. Because of this, you can't use dry shampoos more than one day in a row, which is a NIGHTMARE if you like to go multiple days between washes.
They Leave a Matte, “Wiggy” Finish
Another downside to dry shampoos is the white cast they leave behind. (Bad luck for the dark brown haired girls). This finish can look... well, wiggy.
Dry shampoo strips out all those natural oils and packs your hair with product, leaving it looking unnatural and flat.
Skip Day: The Dry Shampoo Alternative That Actually WORKS
If you've been wishing there was a better way to absorb excess oil and leave your hair looking (and feeling) natural, soft, and grease-free, I've got news for you: there IS. Skip Day is the best dry shampoo for fine hair WITHOUT all the nasty side effects its more traditional counterpart delivers.
It Won't Weigh Hair Down
REMEMBER: One of the biggest problems with dry shampoo is that it weighs your hair down. But not this one. Skip Day is made with finely milled tapioca starch instead of heavy powders, which means your hair will feel light and fresh without feeling heavy.
No Residue or Product Buildup
Skip Day is a light spray. That means no white residue, cast, or buildup of product. When it soaks into your hair, it'll look and feel like you don't have any product in there at all. No clogged pores. No white cast. Just fresh-looking, healthy-looking locks.
It's Great For Multi-Day Use
With Skip Day, you can use it multiple days in a row between washdays WITHOUT that heavy feeling you get with traditional dry shampoos. It's a must-have for anyone with fine hair types who wants to go multiple days in a row without washing.
It's Perfect For Workout Girlies
Skip Day is THE dry shampoo alternative for the fine-haired girls who don't want greasy hair to interrupt their gym schedule. One of the best things about Skip Day is that you can use it on hair that's a little damp from the gym. It's a BAMF at handling sweat and oil.
SIDE NOTE: Got textured hair? Check out the best dry shampoo for textured hair: the Sweaty Hair Refresher. This lightweight foam will deodorize sweat, soothe your scalp, and strengthen hair so you never have to miss a gym day again. And since it works with ALL textured hair types, this makes it one of the best curly hair products to have on your bathroom shelf.
It Doesn’t Cause Damage or Breakage
Traditional dry shampoos will leave your hair feeling brittle and dry – especially hair that's highlighted or fragile. That's the opposite of what we want. But Skip Day is formulated with ingredients that will absorb oil but WON'T harm your hair or leave it feeling like straw.
Not an Aerosol
Skip Day is a spray and not an aerosol, which means it doesn't contain any harmful or toxic ingredients like aluminum. You're not going to be inhaling any potentially harmful particles, which means you're looking after your physical health as well as your hair health. It's a win-win!
How to Use Skip Day
Spritz it before you leave for work or throw it in your gym bag. Whenever (and wherever) you choose to use Skip Day, it takes less than five minutes to apply. Say goodbye to greasy, weighed-down locks and hello to beautiful, bouncy hair. Here's how:
- Grab a bottle of Skip Day and shake it up.
- Spritz the product at your roots. Don't be afraid to apply more if you still feel a little greasy.
- Massage the product in.
- Blow dry your roots for the best results. (FYI - This is optional. Feel free to let your hair air dry if you'd like.)
- Embrace grease-free hair, sky-high volume and your new confidence.
FAQs
Is Dry Shampoo a Substitute for Regular Shampoo?
Absolutely NOT. Although I recommend dry shampoo alternatives (like Skip Day) to prolong wash days (especially for the gym girlies), you still need to wash your hair with regular shampoo 1 - 2 times a week. A gentle clarifying shampoo will get rid of product buildup, excess oil, and environmental debris.
If you need a full guide on how often to wash your hair, I've got you covered.
Can I Use Baby Powder as an Alternative to Dry Shampoo?
Don't use baby powder, baking soda, or any other home alternative to soak up excess grease. These powders aren't made for hair, which means they can clog your hair follicles and compromise your scalp health! Like traditional dry shampoos, you'll end up with scalp acne and even hair loss. Protect your hair with a good dry shampoo alternative like Skip Day.
Can I Use Dry Shampoo on Wet Hair?
Typically, you can only use dry shampoo on dry hair. And for a good reason! The fine powders found in dry shampoos are already mixing with your natural oils. Bring even MORE moisture into the mix and you're left with a pasty buildup that won't give you that freshly-washed look. Think more hot mess.
Use a dry shampoo alternative like Skip Day that you can work into BOTH dry and wet hair.
So, What's the Best Dry Shampoo for Oily Hair?
The verdict's in: the best dry shampoo for oily hair isn't actually a dry shampoo. It's so much more. Skip Day will soak up all that excess oil WITHOUT leaving your hair feeling brittle and weighed down. Dark-haired girlies can also rejoice, because with Skip Day, you can forget about white powder cast. This dry shampoo alternative looks AND feels natural.
After almost 30 years in the industry, I've seen it all. So trust me when I say you need to skip the old-school dry shampoo and try this alternative.
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