Dry Shampoo, what the heck is it?!
It’s 2021, by now I am sure you have heard all about dry shampoo and how wonderful it is! Especially right now, during the COVID pandemic when we are all staying at and working from home…and maybe not washing our hair as much as normal, what’s the point? It’s not like we are going anywhere anyways, right?!
Dry shampoo is not new at all! In fact, they have found evidence of a version of dry shampoo being used in Ancient China! WHAT!? During the Elizabethan era, due to the lack of indoor plumbing (wasn’t even invented until the 1820s), women were using clay based powders to help absorb excess oils and dirt, and sometimes even colored for decorative purposes. There are other early mentions of dry shampoo use by barbers in the 1800s to help cleanse hair. The Stephanie Brooke Company, based in New Jersey, developed “Minipoo” in the 1940s. Minipoo was the very first commercially produced and sold dry shampoo powder. Minipoo was marketed towards women to use in case of “surprise dates” or if they were in bed sick. Since 1790, there have been at least 70 different patents filled for dry shampoo in the United States alone!!
Photo source: National Museum of American History
Now that you know a little bit of the hairstory… see what I did there, what the heck is dry shampoo??
Don’t be fooled by the name, dry shampoo does NOT actually cleanse your hair. Dry shampoo is a product that absorbs oil/grease from hair, that is applied to dry hair. The scalp has follicles that not only grow hair but also produces sebum (naturally occurring oil). This sebaceous oil protects the skin on your scalp, give your hair some moisture, and also helps to keep your hair soft & shiny. However, too much of this oil causes the much hated greasy hair, once your hair gets to this greasy point you have 2 options, either to wash, blow dry, and style your hair (boo!) or use DRY SHAMPOO!
Dry shampoo can come in a couple different formulas, powder, spray, or foam.
Dry shampoo powder is usually made with fewer/cleaner ingredients. The most common ingredients in powder formulas are-
arrowroot: arrowroot is a mattifying powder that absorbs oil and add volume. It is a starch that is obtained from rhizomes (a continuously growing horizontal underground stem which puts out lateral shoots and adventitious roots at intervals.) typically from tropical plants. Arrowroot is also commonly used as a flour substitute.
clay: Usually Kaolin clay- which is good for all different colors of hair. Kaolinite is the main mineral component Kaolin. Kaolinite is mined all over the Earth from China to Europe and even the US! Kaolinite itself is pure white, but Kaolin clay usually has a pinkish hue from iron oxidation or a greenish hue from decomposing plant materials. Kaolin clay draws out toxins, gently, and absorb oils without over-drying. Kaolin also helps to stimulate circulation to skin, also coats the hair strand giving that matte look.
essential oils: create a nice gentle fragrance. Depending what your hair/skin needs are would depend on which oils you would use. The most common essential oils are- lavender, tea tree, rosemary, peppermint, and cedarwood.
cocoa powder: used to change color of dry shampoo for brunette’s brown hair coloring.
AVOID:
talc powder- talc has been linked to cancer, is used as a filler- usually used in cheap make up. Talc is used in dry shampoos because if its absorbent properties. Talc is made of minerals such as magnesium, silicon, and oxygen but also has ASBESTOS fibers in it!!
Dry shampoo spray is more user friendly than powder. It is better for fine hair gives added volume. If not used properly can cause dandruff like flakes, ashy roots, dull and even dry hair. You want to make sure that you are spraying 4-6” away from your scalp to avoid over concentration.
Dry shampoo foam contain a small amount of water that usually takes less than a minute to dry. This added small amount of water helps to make your hair feel cleaner and leaves it feeling refreshed and shiny! You apply this dry shampoo foam directly to your roots just as you would with a spray.
TIPS:
You want to apply the dry shampoo to where the hair is most oily, give a minute or so to settle then comb/brush through your hair.
If you use dry shampoo too much, it can cause product build up so you want to make sure that at least 1x a week you are using some kind of detox or clarifying shampoo to remove that build up…. make sure to pair with a hair mask too! There are soooo many different kinds of dry shampoo on the market right now.
Make sure to test out a bunch of different kinds before swearing off of dry shampoo altogether. When it comes to trying out dry shampoos, try to see if the one you want comes in a mini or travel size that way you aren’t investing a lot of money into something that may or may not work for you.
If you are nervous or new to dry shampoo, try using right before you go to bed at night. Throughout the night, the dry shampoo with absorb the oils in your hair leaving your hair looking fresh in the morning!
AMBER’S FAVORITES
These are 2 of my favorite dry shampoos… that I use almost every. single. day!
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day- powered by Living Proof’s Triple Action Cleaning technology to address how your hair looks, feels, and smells. Designed to mimic a regular shampoo and the effects of washing your hair. PhD dry shampoo also has a time released fragrance that keeps your hair smelling AAAHAMZING all day!
IGK First Class- a powerful dry shampoo for even the most oily of hair. Charcoal powder helps detoxifies, eliminates odor, and lifts up dirt and build up- can use even after an intense work out! White tea powder- helps with soothing of your scalp.
Photo source: livingproof.com & igkhair.com