Dry shampoo is a quick and easy fix for refreshing oily roots, but its utility doesn’t end there. It is a game-changing hair product for many reasons. Still, despite its popularity, dry shampoo is not always the easiest product to apply. Moreover, now there are many variations of dry shampoo that tend to different hair types and textures that don’t necessarily come in the classic aerosol version. 

Naturally, to find the best dry shampoo for your hair type, it's important that you understand the difference between different types, and how to choose the right product that sits well on your hair. To address all your burning questions, we’ve consulted one of India’s leading dermatologists, Dr. Rinky Kapoor, to find out the correct way to use a dry shampoo without damaging the hair. Here’s what we learnt.

What is Dry Shampoo?

Dry Shampoo is a type of hair product that reduces hair greasiness by soaking up excess oil from your hair in just a few seconds. Unlike wet shampoo or conditioner, dry shampoo doesn’t need to be washed out of your hair. People usually use a dry shampoo either to add instant volume to day-old (or two to three day-old) hair, after a sweaty workout, or to extend the life of a salon blowout.

How to Choose the Right Dry Shampoo for your Hair Type?

At present, dry shampoo comes in many different varieties including aerosol, powder, foam and spray. Depending on your hair type, each of these types will give you different results.

• For thick, oily hair, powder-based dry shampoo works best as it can soak up the oil and tame the volume. 

• For fine hair, a spray or aerosol dry shampoo works best as it dries quickly and adds more volume. On the flip side, if you use powder on fine hair, the product can weigh them down. 

• For curly hair, it’s important to choose a dry shampoo with moisturising properties. Normally, people with oily scalp don’t usually need added moisture, but those with curly hair do. 

• For coloured hair, choose a colour-tinted dry shampoo as it blends better and comes handy when your roots begin to grow out. 

All in all, choose your dry shampoo as you would any other skincare product. Read the product description thoroughly to make sure that a formula’s features tend to your hair type. If the confusion remains, aerosol dry shampoo is always a safe bet. 

Step by Step Guide to Using Dry Shampoo Correctly

Once you’ve picked out your dry shampoo, learn how to apply it correctly, so as not to end up with stiff strands or white roots. Follow these steps for best results.

Step 1: Prep & Part
Start out by brushing your limp greasy hair. This will distribute the oil saturated at the top all the way down to the bottom. If you are using a spray, foam or aerosol dry shampoo, make sure to shake the bottle well so that the product formula is evenly distributed and applies evenly on your scalp. You don’t need to do this for powder-based dry shampoo.

Next, grab a comb and part your hair into small sections. You can start by creating a horizontal part in the oiliest section of your hair and work through the subsections moving up or down.  

Step 2: Aim & Apply
The rule here is to not go overboard with the product. Apply the dry shampoo only on the oily areas, and not the entire scalp. The thicker the hair, the more product you need to soak up the oil. 

If you are using a spray, foam or aerosol dry shampoo, aim the bottle directly at the roots but hold it one foot (12 inches) away from your roots. Keeping the proper distance is extremely important because spraying the product too close can leave a residue on the scalp that’s hard to remove.

Step 3: Pause & Massage
Wait for the dry shampoo to dry for 2 minutes. Although you can see the results of a dry shampoo almost instantly, it’s better if you let it sit for a few minutes. Then, you can massage the product into your scalp with your hands to distribute the product more evenly. If you see any residue even after the massage, flip your hair to one side and brush your hair from roots to ends. Then flip it over to the other side and brush again. 

Key Takeaway

It’s important to remember that a dry shampoo cannot replace a real shampoo and conditioner. It can make the hair look fresh for one or two days; think of it as an emergency solution rather than a permanent recourse. Dry shampoo doesn’t cleanse your hair, it simply hides the dirt and the grease. Dr. Rinky Kapoor states, if you use it (dry shampoo) regularly, say three to four times a week, it can cause product build-up in the scalp, and you can end up with bacterial infection, fungal infections, etc., or have an itchy scalp. Hence, regardless of your hair type, you should wash your hair at least twice a week.