image via dailyglow.com |
For most of my life, I dutifully washed
my hair every single day. I felt so fresh from my habit of daily
shampooing, imagining all the dirt and grime accumulated on my scalp
getting flushed down the shower drain to oblivion. Mind you, I
didn't even have oily hair. Yet, getting my lather on
psychologically uplifted me to sparkling, pristine levels of
cleanliness.
Fast forward to last year, when I
warmed up to the foreign idea of washing one's hair only three to
four times a week. In my adult life, I had gotten adventurous with
regard to my hair. I went through several color treatments and
experienced a couple of insane roller coaster rides between straight
and curly perms. The end result was dry, processed hair.
I had read that the longer, thicker,
and more processed the hair, the longer it can go between washes.
The oils from the scalp don't travel down the hair shaft as quickly,
so the hair tends to be more dry and requires less frequent
shampooing. Also, overwashing can cause hair color to fade and dry
hair out, leading to breakage and extra damage. Although I had the
research to reassure me that it was indeed ok to let a day or two go
without a washing, I still felt paranoid about greasy locks and hair
odor. My worries subsided when dry shampoo became my best friend.
image via schwarzkopf.com |
Dry shampoo is a waterless method of
cleaning your hair that works by absorbing oil/dirt and freshening up
your tresses with a fragrant scent. It usually comes in two forms:
loose powder or spray. Most of the popular dry shampoos on the
market come in a spray can. I road tested some of the top dry
shampoos for review after day-old washed hair and a strenuous work
out.
Klorane
Extra Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Extract
image via amazon.com $16.50 at Amazon |
Despite
the hefty price tag, this is my favorite dry shampoo. It uses a lot
of healthy ingredients, including natural polysaccharides and oat
extract. It is super gentle, which is great for anyone with
sensitive skin. Compared to other dry shampoos, Klorane has a light,
pleasant scent and leaves little to no white residue. In the rare
occurrence of seeing residue upon spraying, it was easily brushed
away with all of the impurities along with it, leaving me with soft,
clean hair.
Oscar Blandi Pronto Invisible Volumizing Dry Shampoo Spray
image via sephora.com $11.00 at sephora.com |
A common complaint with dry shampoos is
the white residue it may leave behind. This dry shampoo sprays on
clear, which makes it a great option for any hair color! The
ingredients will make you smile, too. Vitamin E and wheat proteins
strengthen and protect the hair shaft while the gentle starches
absorb excess oil and product build-up. However, I would recommend
this dry shampoo for people with normal to dry hair. Based on many
reviews, people with oily hair didn't seem to fare well with this
product. The gentle ingredients didn't prove to be strong enough to
combat the grease, and instead, weighed the hair down with more of an
oily look. I personally loved the results of using this dry shampoo
on my normal hair type. The lemon smell was fantastic. I didn't have
to deal with getting any white residue out of my black hair.
Overall, it did an impressive job of freshening and volumizing my
hair.
Batiste
Dry Shampoo
image via ulta.com $7.99 at ulta.com |
This dry shampoo does the trick, and at
usually less than $8 a pop, the price is right! It comes in several
scents, including Original, Fresh, Tropical, and Blush. I used
Original and enjoyed the pleasant lemon scent. The fragrance was
more heavy and chemical-like than the Oscar Blandi dry shampoo. The
pressure in the can is pretty strong so it is easy to end up with a
lot of the product in your hair. When I sprayed it on, there was a
high level of white residue. I looked like I used white Halloween
hair paint spray! However, do not be alarmed. After leaving Batiste
in for a few moments and brushing my hair, most of the residue
disappeared. A bit of massaging may be needed to really get all the
white out. Batiste seems to be a favorite among people with oily
hair, as the product quickly and effectively absorbs oil. I would
definitely recommend Batiste for anyone who wants a budget-friendly
option that works well!
Got 2b Fat-tastic Fresh & Full Dry Shampoo
image via drugstore.com $5.99 at drugstore.com |
I was very excited to try this dry
shampoo, as it was awarded for being the most valuable product and
one of the best dry shampoos. I happily followed the instructions to
use short bursts of the spray and was horrified to see huge flakes
attached to my strands. The residue was very opaque, and even with
all the brushing out and patting, the entire surface of my hair still
ended up looking chalky. This dry shampoo advertises its volumizing
power. With the stiffness the dry shampoo left behind, I can attest
to having more volume. I was not a fan of its strong perfume
fragrance. As for its value, the size of the can (it was the biggest
dry shampoo I have ever seen) does not reflect a long term of usage.
Many reviews online lamented about emptying out after less than five
uses. I'm not able to comment on this. I gave up on this dry
shampoo after a couple of trial runs and ending up with gray hair.
Although I had initially fallen in love with the packaging and its
accolades, I will pass on this product during my next shopping trip.
DIY Dry Shampoo
Baby powder is the old school solution
for the greasy, in-between shower days. I know that some of my
friends can get away with it, and others just have to pony up the
money for dry shampoo. Try it out for yourself. Pour some in your
hands, pat it in your roots, shake your head upside down, and brush
it out. I would opt for an unscented powder to avoid smelling like a
baby's bum. However, if you'd like the added benefit of
fresh-smelling hair, baby powder now comes in an array of aromas such
as lavender and other floral scents that aren't so...baby powdery.
image via intomars.com |
Other DIY recipes for dry shampoos
include:
- a little cornstarch for your roots
- ½ cup of unsweetened cocoa powder and 2 tablespoons of corn starch
- 1 tablespoon of salt with a 1/2 cup of cornmeal
- 1:1 ratio of ground oatmeal to baking soda
- 2:3 ratio of cornstarch to corn meal. Add a tablespoon or so of baking powder.
- 1:2 ratio of baking soda to baby powder
image via freshly-picked.com |
Just mix the ingredients for any of the
above recipes, shake onto hair (a salt or sugar shaker is an ideal
container), rub onto your roots, and brush/blowdry out.
Once you find the best dry shampoo that
works for your hair, always keep it handy. It will be a lifesaver
for the upcoming hot summer days, mornings when you wake up late,
during your travels, and any other time you need to freshen up. No
water necessary!
**This article I wrote can be found on pg. 72-73 of Graceful Chic Magazine Check it out and spread the word!
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