Dry shampoo isn’t something black women typically invest in and that’s a shame because it would probably benefit us and our unique hair wants and needs the most!
The right dry shampoo would definitely help keep sweat and excess buildup at bay since we can’t always wash our hair and scalp how we want to when everything is tucked away under styles like braids, twists, weaves, wigs, and the like more often than not.
However, it is important to note that it’s not at all like our regular run of the mill shampoo. It doesn’t suds up and it doesn’t necessarily super duper cleanse our hair, either.
So what does it do? Keep reading it to get the tea on dry shampoo, what it actually is and how to make it work for your textured hair.
What is it, what does it even do, and can I do it?
First things first, dry shampoo is an alcohol or starch-based instant cleanser that either reduces or absorbs oil, dirt, and other impurities with each application.
Different from other shampoos, you don’t need water to make it work, you spray it like hairspray and go.
Now the big issue with dry shampoo and textured hair is that this particular product is mostly used to reduce the appearance of stringy, oily looking hair—a problem black women with highly textured hair don’t typically have.
Furthermore, dried shampoos tend to spray white. And one thing about residue, baby, we don’t play like that!
Especially because the more kinks and curls you have, the more product residue is likely to get trapped at the root of your hair.
However, this won’t happen if you 1) grab a good, high-quality product and 2) use it correctly.
So here are a few tips to avoid the pitfalls of dry shampoo and take your hair straight to glory:
- Decide what you need it for. Do you really need dry shampoo? Maybe so or maybe no. This product is truly for those of us who will be going at least a week or two without washing our hair, sweat at the scalp frequently, or just have oily scalps in general.
- Section off your hair. This is not a product that you can spray all willy nilly. You need to go in with a strategy, which means you should be sectioning off your hair before you go in and spray. And once you do, hit the roots and scalp only!
- Make sure your hair is actually dry. One thing you don’t want is dry shampoo to mix with sweat, product, or water and clump up on your hair. Make sure your hair is very dry upon spray your scalp and roots.
- Spray from a distance. You might feel the need to get up close and personal with the spray, but please avoid the urge! The closer you are when you spray, the more likely you are to end up with that unsightly white cast afterward.
Just follow these basic tips and you’ll immediately see the clear benefit of using dry shampoo on your hair, no matter if it’s relaxed, natural, or even texturized.
Editor’s Pick: HASK Charcoal Purifying Dry Shampoo, $7
Not all dry shampoos are worth trying, but this Charcoal Purifying Spray from HASK is a must-have.
Formulated with activated charcoal, lemon peel, and grapefruit oil, this super refreshing dried shampoo absorbs oil, eliminates odor, and allows you to wear your hairstyle (including those long-term protective styles!) for even longer.
The Ethical Perks: This is 100% clean beauty! The ingredients don’t include any sulfates, parabens, phthalates, gluten, or aluminum starch.
It’s also a color-safe formula that works well with dyed or color treated hair, and is absolutely cruelty-free.
