Dry shampoo is a no fuss, quick and simple way to remove excess oil that builds up between washes. It’s a great way to save time, money and water and to use when you’re travelling and don’t always have access to wash your hair frequently. Natural versions are based on ingredients like tapioca starch and natural essential oils. They come packaged in cardboard or recyclable plastic tubs. Tinted versions for darker hair are usually tinted with cacao powder.

How does dry shampoo work?

Dry shampoo is used in between washes on oily or greasy hair. By sprinkling the powder in your hair it will absorb excess oil, giving you an extension until you're washing your hair next. It gently removes oil without the need to strip all of it out with a full wash. Place the powder on your roots, give your scalp a good massage until it's completely blended into your hair. Some brands we sell have 2 shades, one for light hair and another for dark hair. If you find you have some white residue, step up to the dark shade, or you can add a little cacao powder to your current batch. Start off with a small amount of powder and add more if needed. This can also correct the white residue issue. If you get the right amount for your scalp, it can also assist in creating a bit of volume and added body in your hair, giving your hair a new lease on life until you can do a full wet wash.

Why choose a natural dry shampoo over an aerosol from the supermarket?

Mainstream versions of dry shampoo in aerosol cans come with warnings. These warnings include reminding you to use them in a well ventilated room through to solvent abuse can instantly kill you. They are an extremely flammable aerosol using alcohol denat, butane and propane among other things. Rice starch is still the ingredient doing all the hard work, but you can get the same result getting the starch out of a container the old fashioned way, in sustainable packaging. Less waste, no warnings necessary. Batiste dry shampoo is the most popular mainstream aerosol brand.

How often should you use dry shampoo?

If you have oily hair, you may need to use it every day or two in between washes. Using a boar bristle brush can help take the natural oils in your hair from the scalp down the shaft, and sometimes this is enough for dry hair, but anyone who is prone to oily hair, the dry shampoo will save you a full daily wash and blow dry and give you a few extra days until you need to shampoo with water.

How do you wash dry shampoo out of your hair?

If you are a regular user of dry shampoos between washes, we recommend you either shampoo twice or use a clarifying shampoo formula which is created to give you an extra good clean. It's the type of shampoo you save for days when you've been out sweating all day or your hair is really dirty as it will strip away the grime but also some of your natural oils at the same time. We sell a few brands with a clarifying shampoo in their range.

Can dry shampoo replace your regular shampoo?

No. Dry shampoos do not replace washing with water and regular shampoo. A dry shampoo removes excess oil from your hair and scalp only. It doesn't matter if you wash with a liquid shampoo or using shampoo bars, a full wash with water and rinsing out and following with a conditioner is needed around once a week for most people.