Is Dry Shampoo Bad for Your Hair and Scalp? We Asked a Trichologist

woman touching her hair

Stocksy / Design by Camden Dechert

There's something about second- or third-day hair that gives us all the feels. It has this amazing volume and gritty texture that just can't be achieved after a fresh wash and style. For many, this is where a love affair with dry shampoo begins.

And while the product is perfect for a refresh after the gym or when your scalp is a little too oily but you don't have time for a wash, some folks loathe dry shampoo. Their reasoning? It's supposedly terrible for your hair. But is that just a myth? We asked trichologist Anabel Kingsley and dermatologist Neil Sadick, MD, to shed some light on whether or not dry shampoo is damaging to your hair, along with some other crucial things we should know about the product. Read on for what they told us.

Meet the Expert

  • Anabel Kingsley is the president and head trichologist of Philip Kingsley, a holistic haircare brand.
  • Neil Sadick, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist, founder and president of Sadick Dermatology, and director of the Sadick Research Group.

Is Dry Shampoo Safe for Hair?

Yes, dry shampoo is safe for your hair—but it can't replace traditional shampooing. According to Kingsley, dry shampoo in and of itself will not damage your hair or scalp. However, what can create problems is the fact that dry shampoo may encourage you to stop cleansing your scalp as frequently as you should.

"Dry shampoos should not be used as a regular replacement for real shampoo, as they simply do not clean the scalp; they do not remove oils, dead skin cells, pollution, sweat or other products," Kingsley says. "Remember, your scalp is skin and needs similar TLC to be healthy—and hair grows its best from a healthy scalp."

Kingsley adds that not properly cleansing your scalp often enough can create problems such as flaking and itching—and a flaky scalp can lead to hair loss. "Keeping the hair follicles clean prevents occlusion and inflammation that leads to thinning hair later in life," explains Sadick.

As for whether or not dry shampoo can dry out your hair strands, Kingsley argues it's unlikely, so long as you're regularly (and correctly) shampooing and conditioning.

How Does Dry Shampoo Work?

Dry shampoo works by soaking up excess oil and buildup from the scalp and roots of your hair thanks to absorbent ingredients such as starches. The ingredients in dry shampoo differ from brand to brand. Most are aerosol sprays, but dry shampoos are also available in powder, foam, or paste formulas.

Who Should Use Dry Shampoo?

Those with fine or straight hair may benefit from dry shampooing the most, but anyone can use dry shampoo to style their hair. Remember: Dry shampoo doesn't actually clean the scalp or strands; rather, it helps absorb excess oil and sebum. Therefore, those with oily strands may get the most use out of the product.

How Often Should You Use Dry Shampoo?

It's fine to use dry shampoo for a day or two between shampoos and as a daily styling aid (a few spritzes on the crown can add body to limp strands). What should be of more concern, however, is how to care for your hair on days when you're actually washing it. "If you only wash your hair once or twice a week, you should double cleanse (as in shampoo twice) and then condition as usual," Kingsley says. "For infrequent hair washers, I also recommend using a daily anti-microbial scalp toner and a weekly exfoliating scalp mask to give your scalp a little helping hand."

Picking a Dry Shampoo

"When choosing a dry shampoo, opt for one with ingredients that benefit your scalp," Kingsley says. Her top-pick? Philip Kingsley's One More Day Refreshing Dry Shampoo ($34), which was designed to give you one more day of not shampooing and contains soothing and anti-inflammatory zinc, bisabolol, and allantoin. We also like Living Proof's Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo ($30), which uses technology to help remove the powders; it's said to be oleophobic, which means it even repels dirt and oil. There are also several great drugstore dry shampoos to choose from.

The Final Takeaway

Overall, dry shampoo is perfectly safe and fine to use—as long as you do so correctly. Not intended to be a daily substitute for standard shampoo, dry shampoo should only be used as a styling aid and properly washed out regularly.

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