How To Make Dry Shampoo Work For Your Hair Type

One can never have too many on the go beauty products. For days when you don’t have time for a proper hair wash an excellent alternative is dry shampoo. This waterless hair care product can do more than just refresh your tresses and extend the life of a bouncy blowout. With so many uses for all different hair types, the benefits of dry shampoo might just surprise you!  Below, we’re sharing all you need to know about this absolutely essential hair care product and how you can add it to your hair-care routine.

How Dry Shampoo Works 

Dry shampoo or waterless shampoo revives hair by absorbing excess oils and residue from your roots for a refreshed look and feel. Since dry shampoo doesn’t require any rinsing, it’s ideal for when you’re traveling, pressed for time, or in between wash days. When you’re in need of a quick refresh, it’s perfect for adding some volume and bounce back to once lifeless locks. While dry shampoo is often associated with an aerosol spray, it can also come in an array of different forms, such as foam and powder.

No matter which formula you choose, dry shampoo is a pretty straightforward hair care product to use. If you're working with a standard dry shampoo spray, start by shaking the can really well. Then hold it a few inches away from your hair and spray directly onto oily roots and lightly throughout the rest of your mane to absorb oil. Finally, work it through your hair, and you’re ready to go. Also, keep in mind that dry shampoo doesn’t have to be used on unwashed hair. You can get your strands super clean and then use dry shampoo to pump up the volume and give hair a lived-in look.

If you are using a foam version of dry shampoo, you can work it through your strands just like hair mousse, making sure to focus the product on your roots. For loose powder formulas, you’ll want to shake the powder directly onto the oily base of your strands. 

When To Apply Dry Shampoo? 

Dry shampoo can be used anytime you feel that your oily roots are weighing you down and need a quick refresh. Using a dry shampoo at night can be your strand-saving grace because it will absorb excess oils while you catch some shut-eye and you can wake up and style your hair with no worries of greasy-looking locks. On the flip side, if you wake up with hair that looks less than perfect, a few quick spritzes of dry shampoo can help turn things around.

While dry shampoo is great in a pinch, it shouldn’t replace your regular hair care routine. This is a surefire way to end up with scalp buildup. The best dry shampoo will temporarily give you the appearance of clean hair—without actually cleaning it—but you’ll still need to use your shampoo and conditioner on the regular.

Dry shampoo can be paired with various hair care products to create a full hair care routine. We recommend using a dry shampoo like L’Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Air Volume Dry Shampoo with a purifying system like the L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Bond Strengthening Shampoo and L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Bond Strengthening Conditioner that purifies oily roots and hydrates without weighing hair down for beautifully fresh, flowing strands from root to tip.

So when you’re ready to put your waterless shampoo to use, remember these 3 simple steps to efficiently make it part of your hair care routine.

Step #1: Shake It Up

Before you put your dry shampoo to use, shake the can or bottle to get the formula mixed up and ready to work its magic.

Step #2: Focus On Your Roots

Your roots tend to be the first spot to get greasy, especially when you skip a wash or two. Whenever you notice a bit too much oil beginning to take hold at your roots, grab your dry shampoo and spray away, focusing primarily on your roots.

Step #3: Work Through  Your Mane

Once your roots have been tackled, continue to spritz some of your dry shampoo throughout your hair to add volume and soak up any oil that may be weighing it down.  Then blend the product through your hair (feel free to brush it through if possible). The L’Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Air Volume Dry Shampoo is a great dry shampoo for all hair types and the perfect dry shampoo for dark hair because it doesn’t leave behind any white residue.

Next: 4 Ways to Style Your Hair Using Dry Shampoo

Photo Credit: Matthew Kelly, Art Director: Hannah Packer, Creative Producer: Becca Solovay