Why Dry Shampoo Might Be Ruining Your Hair
Ever since dry shampoo came onto the haircare scene, we’ve been obsessed. Of course, there’s good reason: This waterless wonder has saved many a luscious, pricey salon blowout from falling flat, shaved off tons of time in the locker room and creates a #wokeuplikethis look in a single spritz. But if you’re on the verge of overdosing on it — and by that we mean using it every morning and not washing your hair for days on end — it could be seriously messing with your strands. “The buildup from dry shampoo stays on your scalp, clogging the hair follicle, which may disrupt normal hair growth,” says Lucinda Ellery, a hair loss expert and founder of Lucinda Ellery Consultancy New York. In other words, too much stuff stuck on your scalp can mean big time hair thinning later on. And then there’s this: It turns out the oil-sopping powders can do too good of a job, sucking away your hair’s natural moisture, leading to unhealthy-looking, straw-dry strands and breakage that you’ll notice right away.
If all this is way too much to handle, there is hope (and no, it doesn’t involve going cold turkey). Your regular shampoo just isn’t cutting it as far as getting the gunk out of there. “The best way to clear away buildup is to use a clarifying shampoo and also stimulate the scalp with a massage,” says Dr. Dendy Engelman, a dermatologic surgeon at Manhattan Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery in New York City. Lather up with a clarifying shampoo once a week to deep clean your scalp and use dry shampoo responsibly — max out three days in between washes, and spritz it solely for spot treatments to freshen up hair rather than an all over substitute for real washing. Still freaking about the buildup issue? Then change up the dry shampoo formula you’re using. Look for natural ones (like Klorane Dry Shampoo With Oat Milk $20) that don’t have drying alcohol or chemical powders, which will be healthier for your hair and scalp, says Ellery. Bottom line: As long as you’re not dousing your hair with dry shampoo and going days without a good washing, you’ll be fine.
Give one of these clarifying shampoos a spin to balance out your dry shampoo habit.
1. Acure Organics Clarifying Shampoo Lemongrass ($10): This organic shampoo from this family-owned and -operated company focuses on cleansing your hair while keeping it super strong. It gets the job done with TLC, so it’s gentle enough to use on all hair types, and it’s very inexpensive — a true shampoo win-win.
2. Fekkai Salon Professional Apple Cider Clarifying Shampoo ($20): There’s nothing a little ACV can’t fix, right? RIGHT —including hair that is suffering from product buildup. This purifying blend will leave your locks squeaky clean and smelling super fresh.
3. Malin + Goetz Peppermint Shampoo ($20): Feel the tingle! This potent peppermint blend of cleansing, hydrating shampoo won’t leave behind any residue, so you’ll really feel how fresh it gets your scalp and hair. Taking a whiff of this stuff will also wake you up in the morning for sure.
4. Bumble and bumble Sunday Shampoo ($25): Start your week off with a good hair day! This weekly clarifying shampoo will de-gunk all the leftover junk that weighs your hair down (like hairspray and serums and styling creams). Even though it’s called Sunday Shampoo, you could get away with using it any day of the week.
5. Ouidad Water Works Clarifying Shampoo ($18): This citrusy cleanser gets your locks in tip-top shape while still leaving behind essential oils and moisture that keeps your scalp healthy and your hair growing. It’s also especially gentle on curls thanks to its ability to blast through residual build-up.
Okay, so tell us — how much dry shampoo do you use? Tweet us the answer at @BritandCo!
(Featured photo via Getty)
