9 Reasons You Should Be Using Dry Shampoo (And Why It Has To Be Natural)

We've all heard that skipping a proper hair wash every other day or so is best for our hair and scalp. But who wants to be seen out with dirty or greasy hair? Luckily, there’s dry shampoo, which soaks up grease and leaves hair smelling clean and fresh in minutes.

Is dry shampoo part of your natural haircare arsenal? If not, here's some dry shampoo uses and benefits you might not have considered.

What is dry shampoo good for?

1. It makes life easier.

If you don’t wash your hair for a few days, as sometimes happens when you're really busy or life gets in the way, the natural oils on your scalp accumulate and leave your hair looking gnarly and matted. Dry shampoo gets rid of the grease in your hair and scalp without the need for water or sudsing.

This is great for when actual washing is inconvenient, like when you’re traveling or have a toddler who won't let you out of his sight for more than a minute. It's perfect for those in-between days and if your hair is the type that doesn’t agree with daily washing.

Without dry shampoo, I have to wash my hair every 2 to 3 days. With dry shampoo, I can push that out to every 4 to 5 days.

2. You can use it anytime, anywhere.

If you buy a travel sized bottle of dry shampoo, you can tuck it into your handbag and have fresh smelling hair whenever, wherever. If you go to the gym during lunch but don’t want to go back to work with sweat matted hair, a quick brush of dry shampoo will revive your locks in no time flat. Dry shampoo is also great for when you’re heading off to dinner after a long day at work. It'll also be useful when you’re getting off a long flight and need to give your hair a boost.

3. It minimises hair damage.

Dry shampoo saves you from having to wash your hair every day. This means you're not pouring harsh chemicals on your head daily. You also avoid stripping your scalp of the beneficial oils that keep it healthy. If you usually wash your hair in the morning, apply dry shampoo before bedtime. The powder will absorb the excess oil as you sleep.

4. It gives your hair more body.

Dry shampoo instantly makes your hair look thicker, which is great for those with fine or thinning hair. If you usually rely on volumising sprays, try dry shampoo instead. It will do the double duty of absorbing excess oil and keeping your hair from going flat.

5. It saves your colour from fading.

Unlike regular shampoo, dry shampoo doesn't drain your hair of colour. It's particularly useful if you colour your hair blond, as some dry shampoos can leave a whitish cast that lightens hair and hides dark roots. This allows you to go longer between visits to the salon and ultimately save you money.

6. It helps your blowdry last longer.

Dry shampoo can also help you save money by extending the life of your blowdry. Because it gives hair thickness and texture, many stylists also use dry shampoo to keep hairstyles in place longer.

7. It’s good for the environment.

Washing your hair less frequently means you’re using up less water and adding fewer chemicals (by way of shampoo and conditioner) to the environment. It also means you're not using up energy to heat your bath water or to blowdry your hair.

8. It lasts for ages.

You don’t really need much product to keep your hair grease free. A shake or two should last you the whole day. Personally, my container of Acure Dry Shampoo has lasted me nearly a year.

9. It’s great for new mums.

We all know that just getting into the shower when you have a newborn can be tricky. If you find that you have no time at all to wash your hair, dry shampoo is the solution.

Natural dry shampoo vs. regular dry shampoo

Most mainstream dry shampoos contain aerosol propellants like butane, isobutane, and propane. These chemicals, which are derived from natural gas and petroleum, are what force the product out of the can. I wrote a smackdown on dry shampoos a couple of years back, if you want to get into the nitty gritty of what's in natural vs mainstream brands.

EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database gives butane and isobutane a score of 3-6 (moderate hazard) and propane a 3 (moderate hazard). The organisation notes that there is high concern for skin, eye, and lung irritation with all three substances.

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel labels these propellants safe as cosmetic ingredients. But if you want to keep your exposure to potentially harmful chemicals at a minimum, there are far safer choices.

Natural dry shampoos, like the ones from Acure, have none of these potentially toxic propellants. Acure Dry Shampoo is vegan and free from phthalates, sulphates, parabens, and other nasty stuff. It contains only organic corn starch (non-GMO), french white clay (kaolin), oat flour, slippery elm bark flour, Argania spinosa (argan) stem cells, ubiquinone (CoQ-10), lavender essential oil, and chamomile essential oil.

Acure has a dry shampoo made specifically for dark hair. This one contains zea mays (corn starch), maranta arundinacea (arrowroot) powder, kaolin clay, sodium bicarbonate, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) oil, mentha piperita (peppermint) oil, and theobroma cacao (cocoa) powder.

Acure also has a dry shampoo that's made for all hair types. This one contains zea mays (corn starch), maranta arundinacea (arrowroot) powder, kaolin clay, sodium bicarbonate, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) oil, and mentha piperita (peppermint) oil.

To use, just shake it on your hair, tousle through and leave for a few minutes. Then give your hair a good brush, and you're away!

Image: Acure