· By Briana Dunning
Is Dry Shampoo Bad For Your Hair? Insights From An Expert Hair Stylist
It's SO easy to become the victim of a dry shampoo hair addiction. I see it all the time with my clients. No one wants greasy, dirty hair (especially on gym days), and they think the solution is to reach for that handy can of aerosol spray.
But is that a mistake? Is dry shampoo bad for your hair? Here's the verdict.
Can Dry Shampoo Damage Hair?
The truth is, dry shampoo may be a quick fix, but it can have SERIOUS consequences for your hair and scalp. It's full of chemical ingredients that can do more harm than good. Here's the ugly (and I MEAN ugly) truth about dry shampoos.
1. It Clogs Follicles and Pores
Dry shampoo works by soaking up all that excess oil, but there's a catch: it also creates build-up on your scalp. This means, if you're not washing your hair (or washing your hair properly), the build-up will clog your hair follicles. Blocked hair follicles can and WILL lead to all sorts of issues, like:
- Causing spots and acne - not a vibe!
- Blocking the healthiest version of your hair
- Hair loss! (Yes, really.)
2. It Causes Breakage
Dry shampoo can also cause breakage, especially if you have fine or color-treated hair (you know who you are!). Dry shampoos are packed with absorbent ingredients that leave behind a dry, powdery residue, which makes your hair brittle and prone to breakage.
Now imagine if you're using dry shampoo daily, and the impact it's having on your hair! I'm talking snapping strands and split ends - hell no!
3. It Exposes You to Aluminum
It's not just your hair and scalp that suffer. Many dry shampoos (aerosol sprays) contain aluminum. When you spray the dry shampoo in the air, you automatically breathe it in. Breathing in aluminum can cause a WHOLE bunch of health issues, like respiratory problems.
4. It Weighs Your Hair Down
We're all searching for it: that fresh, soft, voluminous feel. Sure, dry shampoo might give your hair some body (at first), but it's made from heavy powders that weigh your hair down, too. And the more you use dry shampoo? The more it weighs down your hair. Rather than feeling clean and weightless, you start to feel like you've coated your hair in cement. No thanks!
This means you can't use dry shampoo for multiple days in a row... unless you want volume that's as flat as a pancake.
5. It Gives You a Matte, Powdery Finish
No one wants to look like they're wearing a wig. If you use dry shampoo, I've got some bad news for you. Dry shampoo strips your strands of shine, making your locks look matte, powdery, and super... wiggy. Trust me, nothing says "I just didn't wash my hair" like that matte finish. You want a soft, natural look, and dry shampoo just ain't gonna cut it.
How Does Dry Shampoo Work?
Dry shampoo's name is misleading. Sure, it'll soak up excess oil, but make no mistake: this is NOT a shampoo. Dry shampoos are made from a combination of starches (like rice), powders (like talc), or even alcohols.
It won't clean your hair. Dry shampoo only masks oily areas without cleansing them. All the while, your hair is building up layers and layers of dead skin cells, leftover product, and sweat that’s marinating and clogging your pores. This leads to issues like scalp breakouts and hair loss - HUGE no-nos.
Think of dry shampoo as a band-aid, not a cure. It might make your hair look not greasy for a few hours, but you'll be left with a dry, brittle, cakey-flakey mess.
So, what are the alternatives?
The Best Alternatives to Dry Shampoo
So you're ready to ditch dry shampoo, but you don't want to leave your hair looking like a grease fest. I've got you. Healthy hair starts with healthy habits. There are SO many better ways to care for your hair, keep your scalp healthy, and get rid of the grease without submitting to brittle strands, clogged pores, and that horrible, heavy feeling.
Skip Day
If you have fine hair and you're looking for a dry shampoo alternative that'll give you crazy volume, Skip Day is the one for you. This dry shampoo doesn't use aerosols and heavy powders that leave your hair feeling weighed down. Instead, it's made with finely milled tapioca starch to absorb oil. This means:
- It Gives Your Hair Volume - Not just that! It keeps volume in your hair over time, unlike traditional dry shampoo that just weighs it down. Skip Day will leave your hair feeling light, bouncy, and weightless.
- You Can Use it Multiple Days in a Row - It doesn't matter how often you use Skip Day, whether that's 1 day or 2 days in a row. Your hair won't get weighed down.
- It Doesn't Feel Like You Have Any Product in Your Hair - Oh, we ALL know that feeling. Product residue can make your hair feel crunchy, dry, greasy, and just generally unclean. You get NONE of that with Skip Day. Run your hands through it all day long!
- Your Hair FEELS Good - There's no cakey, flakey, brittle feeling you always get with dry shampoos. Your hair will still feel soft and touchable, just like when you first styled it.
- It Won't Cause Damage - Say goodbye to damage and breakage. Skip Day looks after your hair.
- You Won't Breathe It In - Skip Day is a spray, not an aerosol, which means you won't be breathing in any nasty aluminum chemicals.
Get the best dry shampoo for volume here.
FOR CURLY, TEXTURED OR WAVY HAIR
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If you have a curly or textured hair type, the Sweaty Hair Refresher is a MAJOR must-have, especially for the girlies who love to go to the gym. Here's why:
- It's Full of Amino Acids - This makes your hair stronger and healthier than ever.
- It Soothes and Calms Your Scalp - Yep, that's right. The Sweaty Hair Refresher has ingredients like green tea and chamomile, which are soothing on the scalp, calming irritation AND scalp breakouts.
- It Has Deodorizing Enzymes - These neutralize smells and perspiration, which means your hair will actually feel fresh.
- It's a Restyler! - Unlike traditional dry shampoo, you can use the Sweaty Hair Refresher to restyle your hair.
KEEP IN MIND: The Sweaty Hair Refresher doesn't work exactly like a dry shampoo. It won't absorb oil like Skip Day, but it WILL help you restyle hair that's a bit sweaty post gym sesh or after an active day. It's still a great alternative to dry shampoo for curly hair.
Is It Healthier to Wash Your Hair or Use Dry Shampoo?
Washing your hair can feel like a huge hassle. And the truth is, you don't actually have to wash your hair every day. In fact, you SHOULDN'T wash your hair every day, because that's NOT going to help your hair and scalp condition. (If you're wondering how often to wash your hair, it's actually 1 - 2 times a week with your regular shampoo. Washing more than that can actually mess with your scalp’s microbiome, giving you all sorts of issues like an itchy scalp, irritation, and dandruff. You'll also remove oils that are SUPPOSED to be there, leaving your strands dry and frizzy.)
That said, it's not healthier to use dry shampoo as an alternative to washing your hair. Your hair needs a proper clean with REAL shampoo every now and again. This is the only way to actually clean your hair. Just think about it: constantly caking your hair with product but never washing your hair will actually trap sweat, oils, and God knows what else on your scalp. This is also terrible for hair growth. Healthy care starts with a healthy scalp!
To really get clean hair, I recommend doing a double cleanse (using your shampoo twice) with a gentle clarifying shampoo. This will cleanse your scalp, get rid of dead skin cells, old product, and oils that are clogging up your pores. A dry shampoo can't do any of this!
The Truth About Dry Shampoo
The short answer is: yes, dry shampoo can be terrible for your hair. When you're using it all the time, it will create build-up. You'll end up with acne breakouts, a powdery feel, and brittle and damaged hair - and I KNOW you don't want that. My recommendation? Ditch the dry shampoo altogether and go for an alternative like Skip Day. Your hair will thank you for it!
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