Whether you use it every day, have heard your friends (or celebrities) rave about it or seen it on the shelves in Priceline, chances are you know a bit about dry shampoo.
In essence, it’s shampoo in a can. A time-saving starch-based solution that absorbs oil, meaning you can skip washing your hair for a more few days. Genius, right? No wonder Australians spent $40m on dry shampoo last year*.
The thing is, everyday essential for an instant hair refresh or not, it still leaves us with a bunch of questions about how it works and how to use it. Here, we find the answers to those frequently-asked questions.
How does dry shampoo work?
Most dry shampoo sprays are formulated with rice starch or aluminium starch which absorbs excess oil, grease and sweat. (Pro tip: rice starch-based dry shampoos, like Batiste, tend to allow for better absorption). Unlike regular shampoos — which cleanse your hair, removing dirt when you rinse out the shampoo — dry shampoo only refreshes hair. In other words, it’s a temporary (and time-saving) fix, not a replacement for liquid shampoo. The trick is to brush it out after spraying it into to your hair, that way you remove the oil and grease that are attached to the starch particles.
Is dry shampoo the same as regular shampoo?
Consider dry shampoo an addition to your haircare routine, not a replacement for your in-shower shampoo. Like a mid-afternoon snack and dinner, they complement each other instead of acting as a substitute. In terms of when to use dry shampoo versus when to wash your hair, it varies from person to person, but the ‘third time’s a charm’ rule is a good guideline. Basically the third time you go to spritz dry shampoo in between washes is a good indicator that you’re due for a shampoo. Failing that, if your scalp’s getting a bit itchy, use a regular shampoo. Dry shampoo is a good daily refresher if your hair feels flat or a little greasy and it’s especially great to chuck in your gym bag to fix hair fast post-workouts. We love Batiste Luxe. The newest Batiste dry shampoo is bursting with bold and luxurious fruity notes of violet leaves, jasmine and grapefruit.
How do you use dry shampoo?
Despite dominating peoples’ bathroom cabinets, most of us are using dry shampoo incorrectly resulting in tell-tale white, powdery hair. So what’s the right way to use dry shampoo? Section your hair, then hold the can 30cm from your head and spray, focusing on the roots. Spray from the roots to mid-lengths to ensure you’ve covered everywhere and massage it through with your fingertips, before combing or brushing your hair and styling.
Can dry shampoo be used on all hair colours?
It sure can! If you apply it correctly (and brush it through properly afterwards), you can use dry shampoo on any hair colour. Some brands offer tinted dry shampoos in their range which not only extend the life of your blow-dry but also conceal regrowth so you can stretch out the time between dyeing your hair too.
Can you use dry shampoo on wet hair?
In a word: no. As the name suggests, dry shampoo works best on dry hair. That applies whether you’re using a dry shampoo spray, powder or paste. Some hairdressers suggest using it on almost-dry hair to create volume, but if you want our advice, stick to using it on dry hair only. Due to its powdery texture it can be used to add volume or a matt finish to freshly washed and dried hair.
So go on, give your hair volume and your confidence a boost!
Brought to you by Batiste, the number one dry shampoo brand in Australia.*
Available at Priceline, Chemist Warehouse, Coles, Woolworths and all other major retailers
*IRI Aztec National Combined Scan Sales MAT 01/04/2018.
