COULD THIS BE RUINING YOUR SCALP?
Many of us probably still remember that post that went viral on Facebook a few years ago that immediately shook the dry shampoo world! A woman from the UK had posted a photo of her bald patch on her head blaming her aerosol dry shampoo. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, just google ‘dry shampoo horror story’ and you’ll see.
I remember the girls at the office and even my friends were all talking about it and trying to scare each other off from using dry shampoos ever again (it lasted for a short while, I know a lot of them still use dry shampoo today).
The Controversy
Is it true? Can dry shampoo cause hair loss?
Alcohols are found in aerosol dry shampoos to speed up the hair’s drying time. The problem is they break down the hair’s natural lipid layer, which protects the cuticle, maintains structure, and gives hair that soft, supple feel. Over time, this can lead to dryness, brittleness, and even hair strand damage.
You want to avoid using aerosol dry shampoos with primary alcohols, look for the telltale ingredients on labels like: Alcohol Denat, Ethanol, SD Alcohol 40, Propanol, Isopropyl, and Propyl – all of which can strip moisture from your scalp and hair.
Dry Shampoo Is Not a Replacement for Shampoo & Water
What I found was that many consumers are not really aware of how to properly use dry shampoo. I’ve heard horror stories of women using dry shampoo for 2 weeks straight, skipping shampoo the entire time.
Here’s what you NEED to know if you use dry shampoo: if you’re spraying product and powders near your scalp, you must wash it out! Not 2 weeks later but one to two days later at the most. You don’t want to suffocate the hair follicle which can lead to dry brittle hair and possibly hair loss.
Tips to Know When Using Dry Shampoo
As a rule of thumb, use dry shampoo on the day of – or the day before – your regular wash day. This helps prevent product build-up and reduces the risk of hair loss
- AVOID aerosol-based dry shampoos. While they may seem convenient, they often contain drying propellants like alcohol, butane, and propane. These ingredients can strip your hair of moisture, leaving it brittle and more prone to breakage.
- Use a NATURAL dry shampoo to avoid the irritating propellants.
- Use dry shampoo to extend your hair wash schedule by 1 DAY not 1 week. For most people this means washing you hair every 2-3 days.
- I would even recommend doing a weekly scalp scrub to really make sure your hair follicles are free of product.
What Ingredients to Look For
Want to switch to a natural dry shampoo, but don’t know where to start? Here are the ingredients you should look for:
- Activated Charcoal – This powerful detoxifier draws out impurities and excess oil from the scalp, making it ideal for controlling stale odors.
- Rice Starches – Absorb excess oil and have a very fine particle size, unlike corn starch, that spreads evenly and won't clog hair follicles
- Apple Cider Vinegar – ACV lowers your scalp’s pH due to its natural acidity. This acidic environment can inhibit the growth of certain bacteria and fungi on the scalp.
I created my own dry shampoo using these key ingredients, and we made sure to develop a tinted version too – since so many people told us they were tired of the white cast most dry shampoos leave behind!
The Bottom Line
Using dry shampoo is the best time-saver and is a great way to help train your hair to need less washing, however, just make sure you’re using it correctly and not causing product build-up or dehydration... this is when dry shampoo can do more damage that good.
