Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Refreshing Dry Shampoo

Anyone who cares about their hair knows that you sometimes need to give it a little tough love. The regular routine of makeup, shaving and showering is bad enough when it’s just once every morning. But what if you’ve woken up in a hurry and you’ve only got minutes to spare? What if your afternoon break doesn’t include time for both a workout and a shower?

If you’re savvy about hair care, you already know the answer. Dry shampoo was created for just these situations. As the pace of daily life gets more and more hectic, showers become a luxury we can’t always afford. Dry shampoo, as the name implies, goes on dry as an aerosol or powder. Using alcohol derivatives or starch-based ingredients (or both), it absorbs any excess oil that has accumulated in your hair, either through your daily grind or a recent workout. The result is hair that regains its bounciness and body in minutes.

That’s a lifesaver for those on the go, but it’s important to remember that dry shampoo doesn’t actually clean your hair the way regular shampoo does. It may allow you to get away with an extra two or three days without going under the showerhead, but it shouldn’t be a substitute for the occasional cleaning. Depending on the consistency of your hair, it might even be a bit healthier to alternate shower days with a quick spray. While dry shampoo won’t clean your hair, it also won’t dry it out as thoroughly as regular shampoo will. It’s nice to let your hair keep its natural oils, so many users like to alternate showers on every third day with two days of the dry stuff.

Of the two forms of dry shampoo, most prefer aerosol. It’s easy to see why once you’ve used it: It goes on quickly and easily, which is half the point. You simply spray it onto your hair, brush it through and you’re on your way.

Powders may require a bit more care. You’ll have to sprinkle it onto the areas that you need and make sure to get good coverage all the way around by brushing it into your hair as you go. On the upside, you can usually expect a bottle of powder to last longer than an aerosol dry shampoo.

One common side effect of dry shampoo in either form is a subtle white streak. These are simply the result of starchy particles in the shampoo attaching to oils in the hair. This is most noticeable for users with dark hair, and some brands do a better job of eliminating this side effect than others. In any case, it’s a temporary worry: Just brush your hair a bit more and the particles will shake out.

If you’re trying to do your part for the environment, you might want to lean toward powdered dry shampoo. Aerosols made in the US haven’t contained ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) since the 1970s, but they may use hydrocarbons or other compressed gases — not nearly as bad of a carbon footprint, but still something to consider. If you’re health-conscious, keep an eye out for shampoos (both aerosol or powder) that contain hormone-disrupting parabens.

How you use an aerosol dry shampoo is just as important as which one you use. Make sure you spray about 6 to 12 inches away from your hair and try to avoid blasting an undue amount into the scalp itself. Focus on the hair and roots, get an even coat and let it dry for a minute or two. Then massage it in with your fingers or a loose brush, shaking out any residue. Style it and you’re ready to go. Never use it on wet or damp hair — it’s called dry shampoo for a reason. And a pro-tip if you’d like to plan ahead: Spray it on before you go to sleep. The shampoo will have time to work on your oils and leave you with a fuller head of hair in the morning, without those annoying white streaks.