The Dry Shampoo Guide

Keeping your hair clean and refreshed makes all the difference to how you feel. We all know that when you’re hair and scalp dont feel good, you dont feel good! But washing every day is not always the answer, especially if you have curly hair or away for a festival or camping trip.. that’s when dry shampoo comes to the rescue!

Not sure how to use dry shampoo or why you should use it on your hair? Here’s why dry shampoo’s a total hair essential.

What is dry shampoo?

Dry shampoo is a hair product that’s designed to absorb excess oil and grease from the scalp and strands, giving the appearance of freshly washed hair without the need for water. It typically comes in the form of a spray, powder or foam and contains ingredients that help eliminate oil and odour, leaving hair looking and smelling clean.

Most dry shampoos are white and leave a residue on your hair, especially if you have darker locks. Our Scalp Refresh Anti-Dandruff Dry Shampoo is different - it helps refresh your hair and importantly scalp between washes without leaving a residue no matter your hair colour. Plus it’s safe for colour, chemically treated hair and hair extensions.

How does dry shampoo work?

Dry shampoo works by using absorbent ingredients such as starches, clays or powders that soak up the excess oil on the scalp. Scalp Refresh uses natural starches that are totally safe for your hair and scalp health. These ingredients help to lift the oil away from the hair follicles, leaving hair feeling lighter and less greasy.

Another way that dry shampoo freshens up your hair is with fragrances to help mask any odours. Transport yourself to a tropical beach, with Scalp refresh that has our signature pineapple fragrance, to lift your spirits (and hair!), even on the greyest Monday morning

Why you need dry shampoo in your hair routine

Dry shampoo is much quicker than doing a full wash and dry routine. It’s ideal for days when you want to tie your hair up or when you don’t have time to wash your hair (why does your hair always look limpest when you get up late for work?). Plus, it can stop you from over washing your hair, leading to a dried out scalp and strands.

If you’re travelling, heading out after work, hitting the gym or going somewhere where you can’t easily wash your hair (hello, festival season), adding a dry shampoo when you pack can save you serious time. It can help to breathe new life into second or third-day hair to add volume and texture too.

Finally, if you have thin or flat hair that struggles with lift and volume, dry shampoo can help add some oomph to your roots. If this is the hair vibe you’re going for, you’ll love our Texture Boost Volumising Dry Texture Spray. It’s a humidity-resistant, invisible boost of thickness for flat hair that lacks body and texture.

How to get the best results with dry shampoo

Dry shampoo is super-simple to use, but there are a few tips and tricks to try to make it easier than ever. Your hair doesn’t need to be greasy to use dry shampoo, it also works to add lift to fresh hair that's lacking volume. And you do need to apply it when your hair’s dry. You can use dry shampoo on any hair type too.

 Here’s how to apply dry shampoo:

1. Choose the right dry shampoo: Scalp Refresh doesn’t leave a visible residue and promotes healthy hair and scalp.
2. Apply correctly: keep the nozzle 30cm from your hair, apply directly to roots to refresh and soothe. You don’t need to add it to your ends.
3. Brush through: gently brush through your hair to distribute your dry shampoo evenly and absorb any excess oil.

Dry shampoo is a temporary measure to boost your hair, you’ll still need to regularly clean and condition your hair and scalp to remove product buildup and avoid clogged hair follicles. So when you’re ready, just wash your hair as normal and your dry shampoo will wash straight out with it. Hair Detox is a great weekly shampoo treatment that helps to reset your hair from product overload. 

Dry shampoo styling inspo

Need some inspo for styling your hair with dry shampoo? Here are three ways to use dry shampoo as part of your hair styling routine. These hacks will save you time and energy when it comes to washing your hair.

Date night do

If you’re heading on a date after work, you might not have the time (or the facilities) to wash and dry your hair. Not a problem with dry shampoo. Spray through your hair to boost your natural volume and refresh your style. It’s the perfect example of being low maintenance but looking like you put the effort in. Whether it’s someone new or your long term love, they don’t need to know your hair took you 5 minutes.

Festival hair

Along with face wipes and a tent, dry shampoo is an absolute festival essential. If you’ve ever been to one, you’ll know exactly what the shower situ is like. Plus, drying your hair can be a pain once you’re on-site. Skip the shower stress and spray your scalp and hair with dry shampoo when you wake up in camp. You can then style your hair in festival braids, half up and half down or in a bun. It’ll refresh your hair, add texture and make it way easier to style.

Post-gym refresh

If you’ve been pushing it to the limits with your workout, but you don’t have time to wash your hair, dry shampoo’s a lifesaver. Use a blowdryer to dry your hair, then spray dry shampoo through the roots and brush through to distribute. You can then style it exactly like normal. Whether that’s putting it in a claw clip, curling it or leaving it loose, dry shampoo’s gonna save the day.

Holiday hair

We all know the struggles of washing your hair on holiday, especially if you’re somewhere hot. The heat can make blow drying your hair a serious mission, and sometimes your styling tools just don’t work the same with the different voltages abroad. Keep cool and skip the heat by using dry shampoo to refresh your hair and style it up, away from your face for sweat-free (and stress-free) styling.