Dry Shampoo

Dry Shampoo, Regular Shampoo – What’s The Difference?

First, let’s take a look at regular shampoo, like the bottle you have sitting in your bathroom right now. How does it clean the hair? Most people don’t really know how it works. First, it is water based. One of the main ingredients of regular shampoo would be surfactants, which help release the oil, grit, old gel, etc. that might be in your hair and on your scalp. Surfactants loosen these substances and make them able to be washed and rinsed away in water. This is the general way most shampoos work, from the poshest salon brands to the generic knock-offs from the dollar store. They may have additional ingredients, such as conditioners, plant extracts, fragrances and color enhancers, but they mostly all work through the same cleaning process.

So, how does dry shampoo clean the hair? Dry shampoo is powder based. Its main ingredient will be something with absorbent qualities. It absorbs the oil from the hair and scalp so that it can be removed by vigorous, thorough brushing. You brush out the powder, you brush out the oil. How clean the hair gets depends on how easily the powder comes out and how thoroughly you brush.

The second part of the dry shampooing process has to do with the freshening scent. A dusting with scented dry shampoo will provide a light fragrance treatment for those times when you prefer not to have your hair smelling like last night’s club or this afternoon’s pizza lunch. Some dry shampoos are unscented. Others have citrus, floral or classic perfume odors.

There are pros and cons to both kinds of shampoo. Some regular shampoos are harsh and can strip oil from the hair. Dry shampoo can leave a visible residue. Both, often include pleasant fragrances that make your hair smell nice and provide a pleasant mood boost.

Now that many consumers are “going green”, it’s worth taking a look at the environmental aspects of shampoos. Regular shampoos require a fair amount of water to rinse out. Dry shampoo may come in aerosol cans, which some consumers prefer not to use. Some dry shampoo is talc based. Talc is a mineral product. Today, some people like plant based powders such as corn starch or oat flour instead.

So what are the differences between regular shampoo and dry shampoo? Dry shampoo is good for when you need to freshen up, such as when you’re traveling, or for those times when you want to pick yourself up a bit but can’t manage a shower, such as when you’ve been sick in bed with the flu. To truly get your hair fresh and clean, though, you will want to use regular wet shampoo, along with your usual conditioner regimen. You might find it convenient to tuck some dry shampoo into your suitcase or gym bag, just in case.