Bad hair day? Everything you need to know about dry shampoo

Here’s a quick guide on how to use what is known as “dry shampoo”, its benefits and even how to make your own. 

Contrary to your understanding of shampoo applied to wet hair, dry shampoo, (like its name states) can be applied to dry hair. Unlike normal shampoo, dry shampoo does not need to be washed out but cleans your hair without the use of water.

Dry shampoo comes in three forms: Powder, liquid or spray. 

How to use

First buy your dry shampoo according to your hair type and texture, differentiating between oily, dry and neutral hair. 

Second you need to comb or brush your hair into sections, opening up the roots. Apply the dry shampoo, starting at the roots and working your way down to the tips.

Allow the shampoo to sit for about five minutes. You can then massage in the dry shampoo and then comb out your hair. 

You don’t need to apply the dry shampoo too close to your scalp, but do apply to the areas where your hair feels the most oily.

Applying too much dry shampoo may leave your hair looking flat so apply only a small amoung at a time until you’re happy with it.

You also can try the product at night, and let it sit until the morning for a better result. However, do not use dry shampoo for daily use, it’s best kept for an emergency. 

Benefits of dry shampoo

• Washing your hair too often can strip natural oils which act as a protective layer to the scalp.  Using dry shampoo can reduce the amount of water, and heat when drying, to your hair. 
• Dry shampoo is generally quicker as you just apply it and go on with your day.
• It helps to fix oily hair. If there is anything women hate about their hair, it is the level of oiliness and with more modern lifestyles we tend to wash and style too often which makes our hair more oily. Dry shampoo, because of its powder form, instantly takes hair from greasy to fresh and sleek. 
• Dry shampoo can actually add volume to your hair. After a few days your hair generally flattens and this is part of the reason we think we need to wash our hair more often.  
• It smells good. Applying heat to your hair through both blow drying and straightening tends to give hair a burnt smell.
• It may slow down colour fade. 

DIY dry shampoo recipe

Dry shampoo is not always the cheapest option but it is possible to make your own dry shampoo at home using a basic two-ingredient recipe.

It contains a base ingredient, cornstarch (look for Maizena or cornflour), and a variant ingredient which will depend on your hair colour. Use two tablespoons of cornstarch and two tablespoons of whichever variant ingredient you opt for.

Here are variant ingredient options for different hair colours:

• Black – Charcoal
• Brown – Cocoa powder
• Red – Cinnamon
• Blonde – Ground ginger 

The best post-dry shampoo hairstyles are messy buns, the high half-pony and curls in the form of waves.