If you don’t want to wash your hair everyday (and you shouldn’t anyway!) dry shampoo is likely one of the most used products in your repertoire. But before you blindly spray an influx of product at your roots each day, it may be worth asking if dry shampoo could be posing a threat to the longevity or strength of your hair, and which ingredients should be avoided for adequate maintenance.
We spoke with Dr. Dominic Burg, the chief scientist, hair biologist, microbiologist and trichologist for evolis Professional to find out what to look for and avoid within the ingredients list of your dry shampoo in order to preserve the health and structure of your locks.
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Talc
Although dry shampoo is generally safe for the hair and will not actually promote fallout or hair loss, products that include talc in their ingredients list should be avoided to keep your hair healthy over the years, particularly if you’re using dry shampoo regularly. “Talc can carry impurities if sourced cheaply, and being a mineral can persist on the scalp and hair, causing irritation and dryness if not cleansed regularly,” explains Burg of this common dry shampoo ingredient.
While talc may not cause increased thinning of your locks, avoiding a product that can cause buildup and irritation on the scalp will ultimately allow for healthier, well-cared for strands down the road.
Not sure what to look for in your dry shampoo in place of talc? “A better alternative is plant-based starches or powders e.g. rice starch,” suggests Burg. These starches will not cause as much itching or dryness on the scalp, avoiding dandruff and other hair issues.
Persistently scratching your scalp may also expedite hair loss, so finding and prioritizing ingredients that don’t bother the skin will generally maintain a stronger head of hair regardless of whether or not dry shampoo causes fallout.
Fortunately Burg notes that there are no long term side effects of regularly using dry shampoo, and it’s actually healthier for your hair to use this product than washing it daily and stripping the scalp of the natural oils that it needs to keep your strands hydrated. That said, if you aren’t washing your hair enough and ridding your scalp of the excess dry shampoo every few days, you may experience a number of uncomfortable issues over time.
“Overuse of dry shampoo without regular washing and conditioning could lead to: scalp irritation, dry hair, damaged hair, build up of ingredients on hair and a loss of luster and shine,” says Burg.
So long as you’re prioritizing scalp health and balancing hair washing with dry shampoo usage, Burg notes that you should not fear increased thinning or fallout with frequent use of this product. Scalp health is essential, however, and making sure to clear your hair of product buildup that can lead to irritation will make a significant difference in the overall appearance and wellness of your strands moving forward.
In order to achieve beautiful locks it is important to care for them, and dry shampoo without talc is a great product to elongate the time between washings without stripping your hair of essential oils.
