For many people, your hair never looks as good as it does when it’s been freshly washed and styled.
But this is often a long process to follow, and if you’ve got an early start in the morning, it’s not always feasible to carry it out.
This is when having a can of dry shampoo at home can be an absolute lifesaver – a quick spritz and your hair is instantly volumised and free of any grease.
It’s also great for using on-the-go, especially after exercising, which many people will be trying to do more in 2025.
However, using this product incorrectly could end up doing more harm than good – especially if you fail to deal with the residue when you do eventually wash your hair.
Dr Balwi, leading hair surgeon at Elithair, the world’s biggest hair loss clinic, has warned of how damaging dry shampoo really is and how often you can use it without risking hair loss.
He says that the biggest issue with dry shampoo is its potential to clog hair follicles, irritate the scalp and prevent hair growth.
Most dry shampoos contain ingredients like talc and silica, which absorb oils in the hair. And if these sit on your scalp for too long or build up, they form a layer on your scalp that clogs hair follicles.
As well as this, too much use or improper application of dry shampoo can irritate the scalp which impacts hair health. The chemicals in dry shampoo can dry out the scalp and absorb the head’s natural oils.
Dr Balwi said: “Follicle inflammation can occur when the scalp is irritated and hair follicles are clogged. This is where the hair follicle becomes inflamed causing them to become weak and shrink.
“If hair follicles shrink the hair growth cycle is affected, ending prematurely, and hair grows through thinner. The only way to reverse this is to treat the inflammation on the scalp.”
How to use dry shampoo safely
To avoid unnecessary build-up, dry shampoo should be used only two to three times a week. And when you’re in the shower, regularly wash your hair with clarifying shampoo to ensure your scalp is being thoroughly washed and residue from the dry shampoo isn’t building up over time.
You don’t need to spray a lot – instead, focus on the roots and avoid spraying directly onto the scalp. Opting for non-comedogenic dry shampoos can also be more suitable for people with sensitive scalps
