💨 Dry Shampoo – Worth it or not?
"Rapunzel, Rapunzel... Ew! Your colorful hair is greasy!" 😱
Yep, we’ve all been there: you're at your favorite festival, dancing your heart out, and by day two your roots are greasy. No way to wash your hair properly, but going out like that? Nope.
Dry shampoo could be your savior. But what is it really - and does it actually work? Let’s find out.
What is dry shampoo?
In simple terms, dry shampoo is a way to "wash" your hair without water. It’s usually made from rice or corn starch and often comes in a spray can you can buy at any drugstore. You can also easily make your own (DIY recipe below 👇).
The natural starch in it absorbs excess oil, helping mask greasy or stringy hair.
FYI: dry shampoo isn’t a new invention. In the 18th century, people used sand or flour to absorb oil (though that wasn’t exactly invisible). Thankfully, today’s formulas are much more hair-friendly and even come in shades for light, medium, or dark hair tones. Oh, and with all kinds of fragrances too!
How to use dry shampoo
Simple:
Hold the spray about 20–30 cm from your scalp. Focus only on the roots, not the lengths.
Let it sit for a few minutes, then brush out or blow-dry and style as usual. Boom 💥oil, be gone!
💡 Pro tip: For fine hair, flip your head upside down and spray the roots for extra volume.
It’s seriously that easy.
✅ Pros and ❌ Cons
The pros:
✔ Works instantly.
✔ Refreshes oily roots and revives vibrant color.
✔ Helps reduce hair washing, which helps maintain your bright Headshot tone longer.
✔ Adds grip and volume (especially great for fine hair!).
✔ Perfect for post-workout, lazy mornings, or when you’ve hit snooze one too many times.
✔ Insider hack: Apply before bed! You’ll wake up with volume for days.
✔ Can be used even after washing to keep hair fresh longer and make styling easier.
💡 Bonus: If your scalp gets oily fast, dry shampoo helps you stretch the time between washes. (More on that in our blog post about greasy hair.)
The cons:
⚠ Dry shampoo is not a replacement for real washing.
It’s great occasionally, but you’ll still need to wash your hair at least once a week.
⚠ Frequent use (especially powder-based ones) can irritate the scalp.
⚠ Overuse may lead to build-up—residue around the hair follicles, which can weaken the roots and lead to hair loss. 😬
⚠ Always wash out all dry shampoo before re-dyeing your hair—leftover product can mess with the color result.
🧪 DIY Dry Shampoo Recipe
For light hair, you can simply use baby powder—if you like the smell. But on darker hair, it can leave a white cast.
Here’s a universal recipe that works for all hair colors:
You’ll need:
A small jar or shaker bottle
2 heaping tablespoons of corn starch
Optional add-ins:
A few drops of essential oil (lavender, peppermint for oily hair, sage for the scalp)
Dark hair: add 1 tsp of cocoa powder or clay
Red hair: add 1 tsp of cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda to absorb extra grease & odors
Mix everything in your container and you’re done!
🧴 How to use your DIY powder:
Sprinkle a tiny amount on your roots (less is more).
If you don’t have a shaker, use a big makeup brush.
Let it sit for a few minutes. Rub in with your fingers or a towel.
Brush and style as usual. ✨
Have fun trying it out—your colorful hair will thank you! 🌈