Dry Shampoo: Something of a Unicorn

Apparently, dry shampoo is not a recent invention.

In late 15th Century Asia, there is evidence that people used clay powder to clean their hair (“Not All Dry Shampoos Are Created Equal!” on ChagrinValleySoapAndSalve.com, 7/26/15). According to Victoria Sherrow’s Encyclopedia of Hair: A Cultural History (2006), when people bathed rarely, women cleansed their dirty and oily hair with clay powders, and these powders were sometimes colored to bring decorative style to newly cleansed hair. Not to be outdone, the elites in 18th Century England and the United States kept their wigs and hair oil-controlled so their long hair – natural or synthetic – appeared even more privileged (cited from Susan J, Vincent’s Hair: An Illustrated History, published 2018).

I discovered dry shampoo after learning that we don’t need to clean our hair every day. Fact. Sure, working out makes hair sweaty, and humidity can generate frizz. In New York City, the tap water is very acidic. Sure, properly made bagels (the dough is boiled before it’s baked) benefit from this, and when you see the almost constant ring around your bathroom drain, it’s not rust; it’s oxidized water. You don’t need to saturate your hair with it every day.

So, if your hair style’s length is longer than cropped or gamine, what can you do if you don’t want to master the tying of bandannas and scarves, and while you love hats, you can’t wear them every day? Get a terrific shower cap and embrace dry shampoo. You’ve got choices here, and I recommend powder or aerosol. What follows are my favorites of each type.

What Perfects Our Cooking Does the Same for Hair – Powder Dry Shampoo

I’m about to reveal a big secret: some of the best powder-based dry shampoos’ primary ingredient is…wait for it…cornstarch. Yes, the stuff you use to thicken sauces, custards, and gravies. It’s flavorless, colorless, and feels like satin. You’ll see it called everything from Zea Mays, maize starch, and corn flour.

As much as it makes omelets fluffy, it mattifies roots that are too shiny and slick. Bonus: it adds volume to fine hair. And your scalp will not look like you dusted with baby powder. Because it reduces friction, you can brush or comb it through your hair when it’s gnarly or tangled. And available in two sizes (0.5 oz/$13, 2 oz./$28) and the ruler of this ever-growing kingdom is Bumble and bumble’s Prêt-à-powder.

The dispenser – a tiny hole in a squeezable bottle – helps you to avoid a common error in dry shampoo usage, which is over-application. A little really goes a long way. Dispense, say, half the size of a dime into the palm of your hand or onto your fingertips. Gently rub your palms together, and rake your fingers through your hair from top to bottom. Or, gently squeeze the bottle and move it along your hair’s part. Massage it into your scalp. To impart volume, move your fingers as though you’re picking up beads or something small. The results – smoother, thicker, happy scalp – are long lasting and can be boosted until the next time you shampoo.

Fast, Easy, and Touches Up in Five Seconds – Aerosol Dry Shampoo

There’s a terrific article in August 2021’s Vanity Fair by Deanna Pai that includes 14 dry shampoos. All of them are good, and my fave isn’t included. No worries; there’s room for every product that absorbs oil, adds volume, and smooths frizz. And for me, these are done best by Batiste.

Setting aside that it comes in two sizes (depending on your retailer of choice, and Ulta sells a 6.73 fl.oz ($8.99) and 13.46 fl.oz. ($15.46)), is available in multiple hair colors, includes formulations that defrizz, add volume, and impart shine, it is as dummy-proof as the original on/off light switch.

Shake the bottle, hold the can one foot from your head, and spray at your roots. Similar to blow drying your hair, separate and section it. Spray around your head in short bursts to ensure balanced distribution of Oryza Sativa (Rice) Starch, keratin (a protein source), and depending upon the version being used – Original (shown here), Bare, Volumizing, Hydrating, De-Frizzing, Hint of Color (Dark, Brunette, Blonde), scented (there are several of these), Waterless Cleansing Foam (four versions, that go on wet and quickly dry) – collagen, fruit extract, and/or fragrance.

You may want to comb or brush the product through your hair if using a Hint of Color, because your fingertips will have residual tint upon touching hair that’s been sprayed. Batiste refreshes your hair’s texture, style, and possibly tone.

While there’s no universal agreement about how often we need to shampoo our hair, sulfates are destructive, and acidic water strips the strands, oxidizes color, and undoes a mask’s treatment. Also, knowing that it takes a lot to make our body’s largest protein source dirty, dry shampoo needs to be your jam.