Your Helpful Guide: When to Use Dry Shampoo

If there is one hair care product that deserves all the praise showered upon it, it’s dry shampoo. When used correctly, dry shampoo can magically revive limp strands, fix an overly-greasy scalp in minutes and take the place of your favorite texturizer (hello, beachy waves). Best of all, dry shampoo saves water, which means it saves money and precious resources.

Honestly, we could go on all day about the benefits of dry shampoo. But chances are, you’ve already heard plenty about this little godsend in a bottle (or jar, if you’re using our natural dry shampoo and living your best, plastic-free life). So, instead of wasting your time talking about things you already know, let’s take a look at when to use dry shampoo to reap the maximum benefits for your hair. Scroll on!

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Dry Shampoo 101: What You Need to Know

This probably goes without saying, but dry shampoo should only be applied to dry hair. If you use dry shampoo on wet or even damp hair, the product will clump up on the scalp and will not work as intended.

The general recommendation is to use it no more than once or twice a week. Using dry shampoo too frequently can lead to a buildup of the product on the hair and scalp. When left unchecked, this accumulation can block vital nutrients from reaching the hair follicle, making hair dry and prone to breakage. It can also make your scalp itchy and potentially lead to folliculitis.

When to Use Dry Shampoo

To be honest, there really isn’t a bad time to use dry shampoo. As long as you’re using it in moderation and not applying it to wet strands, you can use it anytime, anywhere. That being said, there are certain scenarios where using dry shampoo can seriously come in handy and provide double the benefits for your hair.

• Use It Before a Workout – That’s right — you should be applying dry shampoo before your workout, not after. When you apply dry shampoo to sweat-drenched hair, the product is more likely to clump together due to the excess moisture in your hair and on your scalp. This makes it less effective at soaking up the sweat on your scalp. Instead, try applying dry shampoo powder to your hair a few minutes before you start your workout. By giving the product a head start, you can keep your sweat in check all through your workout and better protect your strands from sweat-induced damage.
• Use It Before You Go to Bed – Dry shampoo is a lifesaver on mornings where you wake up late and don’t have time for a shower. But if your strands are particularly oily, you might want to try applying dry shampoo to your hair in the evening. The reason? Using dry shampoo at night gives the product the chance to soak up all the oils your scalp produces while you sleep, leaving you with perfectly refreshed hair in the morning.
• Use It While Camping or Traveling – Planning to do more camping and traveling this summer? If you don’t have access to showers, dry shampoo is a must-have. While everyone else is walking around camp with greasy hair, you can keep your mane looking fresh and oil-free all weekend long. The best part? The odor-absorbing ingredients in many dry shampoo powders can go a long way in keeping you from smelling like a campfire.
• Use It as the Final Step in Your Styling Routine – Most people know that dry shampoo can help prolong wash days and extend the life of blowouts, but not as many people are aware that it can replace your favorite texturizer or volumizer. For example, you can use dry shampoo instead of sea salt spray to create perfect beachy waves. Are you rocking a pixie cut? Skip the heavy pomades and dab a little dry shampoo into your mane instead for extra definition and polish.
• Use It to Fix Mistakes – Did you accidentally apply too much hair serum to your scalp again? No biggie — you can use dry shampoo to soak up the excess product. Allow the product to sit in your hair for a few minutes to work its magic. Then, brush out the excess powder with a gentle bamboo comb.

Choose the Right Product

While there are many dry shampoos to choose from, not all formulas are created equal. Worryingly, many dry shampoo products on the market still contain ingredients such as butane, isobutane and propane, which are associated with allergies and inhalation toxicity. Others contain artificial fragrances that may be hiding a cocktail of toxic ingredients.

If you’re looking for a dry shampoo without all the toxic chemicals, pick up a jar of our natural dry shampoo. Compared to traditional dry shampoos, our dry shampoo comes in an eco-friendly glass jar and is made with natural ingredients that are good for you and the planet!

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