Dry Shampoo

Organic dry shampoo is an easy alternative to frequent washings for people with oily hair, or people who prefer to go several days between normal shampoos.  The basic idea is that you spray or sprinkle a fine white powder, usually including some cornstarch and a fragrance, onto your scalp.  Ideally, the powder then soaks up the natural oil (sebum), sweat, dirt, and other things that accumulate in your hair over the course of a day.  After several minutes of letting the powder sit in your hair, you comb it out with a fine-toothed comb, which hopefully brushes away the powder and all the nasty things that have soaked into it.  Organic dry shampoo is not a replacement for regular shampoo—it is not quite as effective at removing sebum, and it tends to leave a bit of white residue on the hair, which is particularly noticeable in darker-haired people.

Nevertheless, for people who exercise mid-day and do not have a chance to shower, or for very oily-haired people who no longer feel fresh just a few hours out of the shower, organic dry shampoo is a very appealing option.

Several organic dry shampoos are working to combat the problem customers have with the products leaving a white, powdery residue on the crowns of their heads.  More than a few organic dry shampoo companies now offer their products in several different colors: one company offers white, black, red, and brown versions. Like other dry shampoos, these are brushed on and combed out, but if any residue remains, it will hopefully be less noticeable.

Some dry shampoos are sprayed directly onto the hair, like a holding hair spray.  Customers complain some about these, due to their aerosol smell and the fact that they fill the bathroom with the corn and rice powders that these products use.  Response to organic dry shampoo in general is widely varied.  Some people swear by it, claiming that it is a lifesaver for in-between washing days.  Others find that their hair ends up being just as limp, greasy, and gunky as ever.  These products are not inexpensive, either.  You can expect to pay upwards of $20 a bottle, frequently as much as $30.  To find something that works for you, you may need to experiment a little, trying out different products.  If your local beauty supply store offers samples or “Try Me” products, it would be ideal.  Otherwise, carefully read consumer reviews online before going out to the stores.

Though not technically “dry,” there are other products that tout themselves as “dry shampoo,” frequently called “organic” as well, which market to customers with braids or cornrows that could use freshening up between washes but cannot be combed out or scrubbed with shampoo.  Generally, however, these products are little more than fragranced water, sometimes with extracts of lavender or aloe vera.  While the aloe vera may help keep your scalp from itching, and the lavender scent can keep hair from smelling too dirty, even the relatively low $5.99 price tag may not be worth it.