If you use dry shampoo, you’re going to want to stop as soon as you’ve read this.
While there aren’t a lot of options for people who want to keep their hair refreshed without having to wash it and wait for it to dry, dry shampoo is no longer the best option.
Long gone are the days when giving yourself a little spritz to freshen up was all the rage, as more and more people are becoming aware of just how grim dry shampoo is for your scalp.
Sure, the waterless shampoo does exactly what it claims to do, but at what cost?
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The alcohol or starch-based products have has concerns raised about their safety, particularly when it comes to your head health.
It’s all fine and dandy to use it every now and then for an emergency refresher before an event for which you have no realistic time to wash and dry and then style your tresses.
But don’t get using it too often.
According to science writer Rebecca Joy Stanborough, MFA, it can damage your hair and cause scalp problems.
Dry shampoo doesn't actually clean your hair
She explained to Healthline that dry shampoo doesn’t actually clean your hair at all.
There’s not even shampoo in the ingredients list, it’s just starch and alcohol which absorbs the oil from your hair.
It also doesn’t remove any nasties from your hair, so if you’ve been using it for a couple of days, the built-up residue and grime in your scalp is going to be gross.
Not only does it not clean, it can also lead to your hair breaking thanks to the alcohol, which can dry out your locks.
When your hair becomes dry, the fibres can crack when you brush or style it, leading to breakage.
Dry shampoo can damage your scalp
It can also lead to your follicles becoming clogged up, which can then cause your scalp to itch, or even give you to folliculitis, a bacterial or fungal infection.
You might even get dandruff from leaving this residue all over your scalp, which is just causing far more problems than it’s solving.
The residue can also give you seborrheic dermatitis, which is red and painful.
Definitely not something you’ll want to have.
Aside from the scalp issues, there’s something pretty serious about using the product all the time.
It could be linked to cancer.
Potential cancer risks of dry shampoo
This is because some dry shampoo brands add talc, which before it’s processed can contain asbestos.
There's even a suspected link between asbestos-free talc and ovarian cancer.
As there isn’t much research for this correlation, the American Cancer Institute recommends avoiding talcum powder products.
So, dry shampoo not only doesn’t actually clean your hair, but it can also be dangerous to your health.
It simply makes it look cleaner via its starches and alcohol.
While using it sparingly can be fine, overusing it could make your hair break and your scalp itch or develop dandruff, or an infection.
If you want to steer clear of any of these issues, stick to washing it.
Britt Jones