Lately, I seem to be getting asked a lot of questions about dry shampoo! I thought a little post about this genius product was in order. There are a few application tips that will help you get the most out of your dry shampoo, and I want to share my current favorites!
Dry Shampoo Tips You Should Know
You probably aren’t using enough. I shake up the can really well, part my hair and spray, spray, spray at the roots of my hair. I hold the can about 6-8 inches away, and I flip sections of hair around so that all of the top of my head is covered.
You need to work the dry shampoo into your hair a little. Many women forget this step, just spraying in a little and thinking that’s it, all done. But, you’re not! Spray it in, and let it sit for a few minutes. Then come back and either brush your hair or just move your fingers around in your hair. This will take care of any powdery look and distribute the product.
Many brunettes think they can’t use dry shampoo because it can look a bit powdery, but that just isn’t true! Look for a tinted dry shampoo (I have a few favorites below), or use the next tip.
You can apply your dry shampoo before bed instead of in the morning! When I do this, I use a little extra and just spray it and don’t brush it around. In the morning you won’t be powdery, I promise! Something about the night before helps a lot!
Finally, dry shampoo isn’t only for soaking up excess oil. It also adds texture to your hair, which is great for those of us with silky hair that is difficult to hold styles! I love to spray a little in my hair right before I put it up or curl it. The added texture makes styling much easier and it holds much longer.
The Best Dry Shampoos
For Brunettes:
Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo Dark Tones
At Sephora, Birchbox, Nordstrom
Best for Volume:
Herbal Essences Biorenew White Grapefruit & Mosa Mint Dry Shampoo
at Amazon or Target
Best for Clean Hair Feeling:
Playa Pure Dry Shampoo
at Playa
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo
at Living Proof, Sephora or ULTA
Best for Super Oily Hair:
Klorane Dry Shampoo with Nettle Oil Control
at Sephora, Birchbox
I’m a doctor, a mommy and a bit of a beauty addict. If you let me, I can take 2 hours to get ready in the morning. Really. I'm on a quest for faster beauty that works!
Thank you so much for these tips.
Thanks so much for this post! Are these all pregnancy safe?
Yes! You don’t need to worry about hair products 🙂
Hi! Thank you again for all the resources. So no issues with aerosols?
I wouldn’t breathe them in directly, but in general I always hold my breath while spraying an aerosol and then step >6 feet away.
Check out the dry bar brand dry shampoo too! If you’re looking for volume, the triple sec from them is super!
Hi! I’m trying to find a dry shampoo without protein ingredients in it, as my stylist said I’m using too many products containing protein. I can’t find a straightforward answer elsewhere, and you give good advice: what’s the best dry shampoo without protein?
Thank you!!!
I think that dry shampoo doesn’t usually have protein in it, it’s found in regular shampoos and conditioners for volumizing or repairing hair, sometimes treatment and styling products. This is one of my favorites, I hope that helps!
Hi! So I was wondering if the ingredients in these dry shampoos are pregnancy safe. I know you generally say hair products are not usually a concern but I figured since dry shampoo sits on my scalp all day I’d ask. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this for so many people. It’s a true peace of mind.
Bumble and Bumble Pret-a-Powder:
Zea Mays (Corn) Starch , Montmorillonite , Tapioca Starch , Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Flour , Silica , Polysilicone-22 , Fragrance (Parfum) , Hexyl Cinnamal , Linalool , Citronellol , Limonene , Coumarin , Geraniol , Butylphenyl Methylpropional , Potassium Sorbate
DryBar Detox:
Isobutane, Propane, Dimethylimidazolidinone Rice Starch, Alcohol Denat., Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, AMP-Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract, Citrus Junos Seed Extract, Cyperus Esculentus Root Oil, Prunus Insititia Seed Oil, Panthenol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Isopropyl Myristate, Fragrance, Cyclopentasiloxane, Acrylates Copolymer, Aqua (Water, Eau), Magnesium Carbonate, VP/VA Copolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Butylene Glycol, Talc, Pentylene Glycol, BHT, Linalool, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Eugenol, CI 77491/77492/77499 (Iron Oxides).
Oribe Gold Lust:
Butane, Propane, SD Alcohol 40-B (Alcohol Denat.), Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Fucus Spiralis Extract, Tetraselmis Chui Extract, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Powder, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Hull Powder, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Commiphora Myrrha Resin Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract, Disiloxane, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Magnesium Carbonate, Bis-Carboxydecyl Dimethicone, Diisopropyl Adipate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Butylene Glycol, Aqua/Water/Eau, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum/Fragrance, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool
The Bumble and Bumble and Oribe are ok
Drybar has a chemical sunscreen (ok for nursing, but not pregnancy)
Hello! Can you please tell me if my favorite dry shampoo is pregnancy safe?
Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo
Ingredients:
butane, Propane, SD Alcohol 40-B (Alcohol Denat.), Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Fucus Spiralis Extract, Tetraselmis Chui Extract, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Powder, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Hull Powder, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Commiphora Myrrha Resin Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract, Disiloxane, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Magnesium Carbonate, Bis-Carboxydecyl Dimethicone, Diisopropyl Adipate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Butylene Glycol, Aqua/Water/Eau, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum/Fragrance, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool
Thank you so much! Your blog is such a life saver and I appreciate all the time and care you put into this!
This is fine
Would Batiste Dry Shampoo be safe for pregnancy?
Butane, Isobutane, Propane, Oryza sativa starch, Alcohol denat., Parfum (Fragrance), Coumarin, Distearyldimonium chloride, Cetrimonium chloride.
Yes, it’s ok 🙂
Batiste xxl volume dry shampoo seems like my comment keeps getting deleted for the last 2
Months ??
You’re likely in the spam filter as I don’t have any other comments for you, I can view by both your email address and IP address. This isn’t a post where I answer questions on product safety, and I need an ingredient list. I get asked about hundreds of products a day (no exaggeration) and I do NOT hunt down ingredient lists for readers, as names of products and ingredients vary by country and even stores within a country. Finding all of the possible lists for your product around the world could take me hours. This tells you where and how to ask: how to ask about product safety
Ok sorry! for some reason it seemed to get deleted, thanks so much!! i love this product hope its safe for pregnancy Batiste XXL volume dry shampoo: the ingredients are:
Butane, Isobutane,propane,oryza sativa (rice) starch, alcohol denat., talc,silica,parfum(fragrance), cocoyl hydrolyzed keratin, plukenetia volubilis seed oil, cetrimonium chloride, distearyldimonium chloride, tocopherol, limonene, butylphenyl methylpropional, linalool, hexyl cinnamal.
Safe for pregnancy and nursing
yay so excited thank you again!
Are regular corn starch and organic cocoa powder safe to use as dry shampoo during pregnancy?
Yes, though they won’t work very well. There are plenty of actual dry shampoos that are pregnancy safe, check out the Batiste list
Thank you for replying! What are your thoughts on aerosol and certain ingredients in store dry shampoos being linked to cancer though? It’s the only reason I’m considering a natural dry shampoo alternative.
There is no actual evidence that has convinced anyone of a causal link. There are very poorly done studies with associations. I don’t know any physicians recommending avoidance.
Do you feel it’s better to try something more natural with all the cancer concerns of dry shampoos? I use one almost daily
No, the evidence really doesn’t support that, the studies are very poorly done. Just don’t inhale the spray when you use it.