The Scary Truth About Dry Shampoo

Is dry shampoo bad for your hair?

Lately dry shampoo has been a trending subject. There isn’t a reputable hair care brand that doesn’t sell their own version of dry shampoo and lots of bloggers have been jumping on the dry shampoo train and sharing the benefits of not having to wash/style their hair as often due to the magic of this starch and alcohol filled product. I’ve even heard some people brag about going weeks between washes and preaching the benefits of using dry shampoo to make their blowouts last for days. Due to all of this, I too got swept up in the dry shampoo craze and was using it regularly (I wash my hair every 3 days). I noticed my hair health start to visibly decline and that my natural shedding was increasing. I started to research the products I was using regularly and found some interesting information about dry shampoo that I felt compelled to share. There are some scary (and gross) facts surrounding the regular use of dry shampoo and how it in fact can be super detrimental to your scalp health and overall impede the growth of your hair. Although I feel that cutting out the product cold turkey is a bit drastic, I’ve been doing my best to use dry shampoos extremely sparingly. I do think it’s important to be educated about the common ingredients in dry shampoos and learn how to use the product correctly to minimize damage.

Here’s what I found out.

Dry Shampoo Does Not Cleanse Your Scalp

Dry shampoo is commonly formulated with alcohols or starches which are ingredients used to soak up the excess oil in your hair. Often times dry shampoos will also have perfumes used to mask the smell of dirty hair or to give hair a fresher scent. Girl, if your hair smells any type of way it means its been too long since you’ve sudsed up. Although you may feel like since you can’t see the oil anymore that you have cleaner hair after using dry shampoo, all of these harmful ingredients actually train your hair to stop producing the oil necessary to maintain a healthy scalp. Although it could be seen as unsavory to have greasy hair, it is healthier just to wash your strands the traditional way than to add another layer of product onto your hair shaft and scalp. Overall, adding another layer onto your already dirty hair is not a solution, it is a bandaid, and can cause long-term and potentially serious problems for your hair.

Dry Shampoo and Hair Loss

Alcohol based dry shampoo may not leave as much of a deposit as the starchy powdery options, but it is notorious for making hair brittle and weak, if you regularly reach for dry shampoo you may notice your hair growing at a slower rate. This is due to breakage caused by the brittleness that these drying products cause.

Most dry shampoos leave behind a powdery/matte finish. To remove the visible powder you might brush through your hair so it is less visible, while leaving just enough product on your scalp to soak up the oil. Even though you can’t see the product, the dry shampoo left behind on your scalp leaves a layer or buildup that will clog your hair follicles over time and will ultimately impede hair growth, especially if you use dry shampoo on a daily or pretty regular basis. You wouldn’t continue to layer your makeup over and over each day without washing your face, the same goes for the skin on your scalp. Not to mention if you are already cleansing your hair with a shampoo that has silicones or other ingredients that may be left behind on your scalp, this is just another layer of buildup to worry about. Over time you may even start to notice rashes (dermatitis) or flaky patches. Product build-up also causes hair to stick or clump together, this can cause 2-3 times the hair to shed when you brush your hair since they are stuck together.

If you insist on using dry shampoo 2 or more days in a row, make sure you are using a good clarifying shampoo to get rid of the build-up and bacteria in rotation with your regular, daily shampoo.

How to Use Dry Shampoo Correctly

Dry shampoo is meant for the strand of the hair. You shouldn’t be applying it directly to the scalp or root area. When applied as directed, on hair with no dampness and brushed through to remove as much excess as possible, dry shampoo can add a great layer of grit to clean hair to help your curls stay put longer, or give a little volume and texture to your strands. From what I’ve read if you’re a real dry shampoo addict, you should wash your hair every second day to minimize the build-up, aka you probably need to wash your hair MORE if you’re using dry shampoo on the reg. If you’ve paid for a blow out or you have a lot of hair, it can be tempting to try to extend the life of your style for a few extra days, but definitely not at the expense of your long-term hair health. I promise, it’s not worth it.

What To Do Instead Of Using Dry Shampoo

I’m sure you’re wondering how I get away with 2-3 day hair without using a dry shampoo. Well, check out my Instagram feed, do you see a trend? Y’all think I just like to wear a hat for the fashion statement? But really, a hat is one great way to hide the extra oil of second day hair. Sometimes I’ll put my hair up in a messy bun or pony tail, and sometimes I’ll even just wash around my hairline if I’m in a pinch. Overall, if I know I might feel the urge to dry shampoo, I just suck it up and wash my hair, and my hair has been thanking me for it! I have never had more healthy (or long) hair than I do since I’ve cut down on heat styling and dry shampoo.

We all put so much effort into skin care, I think it’s time to share the love with our scalp!

xo

How I Maintain My Healthy Hair

I’ve been wanting to do a haircare routine on here for a long time! I’m including my favorite hair products that I use weekly, as well as some new products that I’ve recently fallen in love with, so stay tuned to hear about how I keep my hair shiny, and manageable!

*Although this post is not sponsored, some of the products mentioned were gifted to me by Kenra, all opinions are my own*

My Current Hair Situation

Right now the majority of my hair is my natural, non-chemical treated hair with the exception of a little residual blonde that’s slowly growing out but still prevalent on the very ends of my hair. I heat style my hair 4-5 times a week and I wash my hair every 2-3 days and in between if I need to use a dry shampoo, THIS one is the one I’ll use, although I try to stay away from dry shampoos as much as possible.

The Scary Truth About Dry Shampoo

Hair Products I Love

On a regular day I like to use a volumizing or moisturizing shampoo that is pretty mild and not super heavy on the sulfates. I rotate between a few brands including Joico and Wella, but currently I’m using this Kenra Volumizing Shampoo and conditoner. Once a week I use the new Kenra Deep Detox Scrub to really get my hair squeaky clean and remove any residue of product build-up or pollutants that have collected on my hair. This clarifying shampoo smells so amazing and the activated charcoal really scrubs your hair cleaner than it’s ever been. It’s my new favorite hair product! I like to use the Detox & Deflect Conditioner after because it is extra hydrating and has the diamond dust to further protect hair from outside pollutants. I always look forward to using these two powerhouse products because after my hair is dry and styled it is SO shiny, soft, silky and I can be confident that it’s protected for the rest of the week! It seriously feels like salon fresh hair. That’s why I want to share it with you all! I am obsessed!

Styling Products I Love

To dry my hair I love using the Kenra Blowdry Spray. This product works magic for cutting down drying time and smells sooo good! Sometimes I spritz it on my hair when it’s already dry to add a little shine (and I love how my hair smells when I use it). I always dry my hair on the warm, not hot setting as to minimize damage and since I’m using the Blow Dry Spray my time is cut down significantly anyway, so I can turn the temp down on my hairdryer and not worry about it being too time consuming.

This is the hair dryer I use, it has a Ferarri engine, no joke! And this is my favorite round brush for the perfect, voluminous blow-out. This is the hair straightener I use to curl my hair, that is not a typo… I do prefer to use a flat iron to create curls, I feel like they hold much longer and create more of a consistent curl. Plus it’s easier for me than using a curling wand.

Hair Tools I Love

Lately I’ve been curling my hair pretty much every day, and since my hair is so fine and super shiny/silky after using the detox products, I like to spritz a little dry shampoo onto my hair (not at the root, just mid to ends) in order to give it a little more texture and help the curls stick better. Do this very sparingly, if you use too much your hair will become unmanageable in the worst way.

I like to use this drugstore hairspray, but since I’ve been using this new Kenra line of products I’ve also been trying out the Diamond Deflect Hairspray, and so far it’s pretty awesome! It’s a medium, flexible hold like my drugstore fav, and has an amazing scent which is a must for me when it comes to hair products. Also the diamond dust in the spray adds another layer of protection onto my hair!

Thanks for reading! Make sure to let me know if you try out any of these products and what you think!

xo

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Sephora Favorites (plus discount codes)

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Sephora VIB Event Discount Codes

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