Is dry shampoo better than washing your hair? Short answer: No!

 

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I think sometimes my clients listen to what’s best for them.

Then, when things don’t go their way, they justify themselves by saying, “but you recommended it the last time I was at the salon.”

I hate interpretations or “hearing things in the middle.” It always leads to confusion, which can end up in uncomfortable issues.

 

And this was the case with my client Clara.

The last time she was at the salon, she kept complaining that she didn’t know what to do to combat the excess oil in her hair. And believe me, I understand her.

Greasy hair can be quite uncomfortable. Even if you wash your hair it looks dirty, and if you over-wash it, it increases the greasiness.

 

So,  I recommended she alternate, I repeat “ALTERNATE” the use of her usual shampoo for oily hair with dry shampoo. 

My words were “wash your hair twice a week with your shampoo for oily hair and once with the dry shampoo.”

 

I think my directions were clear, accurate, and precise.

What happened?

She visited me yesterday because she couldn’t bear the itching of her scalp.

What happened?

 

She had been using dry shampoo twice a week for fifteen days without alternating it with traditional shampooing.

Where did she get that idea?

 

Clara twisted my recommendations and accommodated them as she pleased.

Listen to me:  “using dry shampoo to keep your hair clean will never be better than traditional shampooing.” 

Why?

There’s at least one very simple reason.

 

Traditional shampooing is always better than dry shampooing

 Dry shampoo works by removing oil from the scalp.  Although it’s a very good oil because it keeps the hair follicles healthy and hydrated, it can be annoying in some cases.

 

If you have oily hair like my client Clara, you know what I’m talking about.

I’m talking about a relentless struggle to keep your hair from looking dirty all the time.

 And in these cases, alternating dry shampooing with traditional washing is very valid.  You avoid washing your hair and stimulating the scalp to produce more oil.

So, it’s like a vicious circle. You wash your hair so it doesn’t look dirty because of the scalp oil, and your scalp produces more oil.

 

That’s why I recommended Clara use the dry shampoo once a week. She’d avoid washing her hair and producing more oil.

 

Also you can use the dry shampoo to neutralize the oil in your hair if you have an important appointment and you don’t have time to wash your hair. 

Dry shampoo will neutralize the grease and give your hair a clean look by inhibiting bad odor.

But that’s about it.

 

 Dry shampoo doesn’t clean hair.  Instead, it only removes oil from the scalp and hair. It won’t remove the remains of gels, masks, or environmental dust.

So, dry shampooing is no better than traditional washing with water, shampoo, and conditioner.

 

And  you shouldn’t abandon the traditional wash to use only dry shampoo  either, as my client Clara did.

You should always wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner to remove the dirt.

What would happen if you don’t do it this way?

That’s what I’ll talk about next.

 

What can happen if you use dry shampoo because you think it’s better than traditional shampooing?

To answer this question, I invite you to use your imagination.

And again, you don’t have time to wash your hair, so you use the dry shampoo and make an updo.

 

And now tell me.

What do you think happened to your scalp and hair all these days that all it knew was dry shampoo?

 

Don’t think too much. I’ll tell you.

 Every time you washed your hair with dry shampoo and didn’t alternate traditional washing, your hair got layer after layer of dry shampoo. It neutralized the oil on your scalp and hair but didn’t clean it. 

 

The dry shampoo didn’t remove the dirt. But also, if you used the dry shampoo without traditionally washing your hair,   caused product build-up. 

 

And that product buildup can cause a bacterial infection in the hair follicles known as folliculitis.

And that will just bring itching and burning to your scalp, which you’ll need to get treated by a dermatologist.

 

That’s what will happen to your hair if you use dry shampoo with the idea that it’s better than washing your hair.

That’s why, after applying dry shampoo, you always need to shake your hair well and brush it until all the astringent dust is removed. And  don’t use dry shampoo twice in a row. 

 

You should alternate dry shampooing with traditional washing to remove product residue and dirt from the hair.

 

And if you choose to spray dry shampoo, remember that all aerosol sprays contain butane gas. It’s a chemical that dries out the hair and can also swell your scalp and cause hair loss.

 

If you don’t use dry shampoo correctly, you can also aggravate any pre-existing condition. For example, if you have dandruff, dry shampoo will only worsen it because of the residue it leaves behind.

So, only one question remains.

 

Why is it so important to wash your hair with water, shampoo, and conditioner?

Mainly because  shampoo removes any residue and dirt that may have clung to your mane. 

 

Also, the water penetrates inside the hair and hydrates it from the core so your hair stays healthy.

And the conditioner prevents frizz or drying.

Therefore, dry shampoo is only for any day when can’t traditionally wash your hair. Also, you can use it to alternate with your regular shampoo to control excess sebum if your hair is oily.

 

Conclusions

While dry shampoo removes oil from the scalp and hair, washing your hair the traditional way removes all kinds of dirt, environmental dust, and residues from other hair products.

If you use dry shampoo, wash your hair the traditional way to keep your scalp and hair healthy.