A true savior for bad hair days, dry shampoo rescues your look in seconds. Even though it looks like magic, it’s easy to understand how it works! The formulas feature oil-absorbing powders—like rice or corn starch—that work like a sponge to hide excess oils. Available for you in two different presentations—spray and foam—dry shampoo leaves your hair instantly looking fresher and more voluminous. Once you learn how to use dry shampoo, there’s no going back!
Dry shampoo in spray or foam, which one should I use?
Formula-wise, there are a couple options at your disposal! The classic presentation of dry shampoo is the spray, an option that allows a precise application of the powder on the roots of the hair. More recently, a new player expanded your alternatives: the dry shampoo foam. Let’s see the details about the options available so you can pick your next favorite hair product!
Dry shampoo spray
When it comes to dry shampoo in spray, you can divide the category in two: on one side you have the regular white formula, and the other includes the tinted options (available in different shades, like the Nivea Fresh & Mild Dry Shampoo for Medium Hair Tones and the Nivea Fresh & Mild Dry Shampoo for Dark Hair Tones). When a dry shampoo in spray doesn’t specify the information regarding color, you can count on it being white. Both white and tinted formulas are comparable in the result—depending on your hair color, you may just need a little extra time to blend the white formulas.
Another distinctive result of dry spray shampoo is the matte finish. Whether you go for a tinted or white formula, you can expect to see the hair roots looking more matte than they normally would, even after rinsing all the oils out. This may be a bonus or a deal-breaker for you, so consider that before choosing! The powders in the formula also do A LOT for the hair body, adding volume and texture.
Pros of dry shampoo in spray
- Allow a precise application of the product on the roots;
- The formula blends in with your hair as you brush it off;
- It saves time when in need of a fresh hair look (compared to a rinsing shampoo);
- It saves water by postponing the hair-washing day.
Cons of dry shampoo in spray
- It leaves the hair looking matte (often described as too matte);
- Doesn’t work as good with very short hair as it works with long hair (based on the personal experience of this short-haired, ex-long-haired writer);
- The white residue of the formula may require some effort to disappear;
- It leaves the hair feeling textured to touch, and you’ll feel the product build up.
Dry shampoo foam
We’re all acquainted with the concept of foams for hair, but it’s not as intuitive to think of foam as a solution to eliminating excess oiliness. The truth is that the dry shampoo foam works incredibly well, even exceeding its spray competitor in some aspects. The foam is white, yet the formula becomes clear as you work it on your hair roots. Another worth-mentioning feature of this type of product is that it leaves the hair looking freshly washed, without coating the hair with a matte veil. The pros and cons of the dry shampoo foam may help you choose!
Pros of dry shampoo in foam
- Allows a fresh application with a foam texture;
- The clear formula leaves no white residue;
- Eliminates excess oil leaving a natural-looking sheen to the hair;
- It’s easy to spread evenly on the roots of the hair;
- It saves time when in need of a fresh hair look (compared to a rinsing shampoo);
- It saves water by postponing the hair-washing day.
Cons of dry shampoo in foam
- The foam may take a couple minutes to dry;
- Doesn’t feel a natural option to choose a wet product to conceal excess oiliness;
- It leaves the hair feeling textured to touch—usually less than its spray counterparts;
- Since it contains water in the formula, those with frizzy hair may need to blow-dry it.
How to use dry shampoo
First of all, you’ll need the chosen product and a couple spare minutes to work it on your hair. When it comes to product application, it depends on the champion you’ve chosen. So here are the different approaches, depending on the type of dry shampoo you’ve picked.
How to apply dry shampoo in spray
Let’s create a step-by-step to make dry shampoo application even simpler. And remember: trust the process!
- Step 1: Give the bottle a good shake;
- Step 2: Separate a section of the hair and spray the roots from about 30cm far. You may start from the top of the head and move downwards, or the other way around. Don’t forget the back of your head. At this point, your hair should have a visible amount of product, whether the formula is white or tinted;
- Step 3: Allow it two minutes to set;
- Step 4: Lastly, use a comb or your fingers to brush the product. It may take some effort to make the residue disappear completely.
How to apply dry shampoo in foam
You may feel nervous before jumping on applying foam to the hair roots, especially when your goal is to make the hair look cleaner. Let’s do it together and you’ll see how efficient it can be:
- Step 1: Give the bottle a good shake;
- Step 2: Apply a small amount of product on your hand;
- Step 3: Distribute the product on the hair roots and massage it in until it disappears;
- Step 4: Allow it a couple minutes to set and dry. You may then brush the hair and style it as desired.
When to use dry shampoo
It’s a misconception that you should only use dry shampoo when you feel the hair is oily. Considering the result that it leaves on your hair, you may use it on different occasions, depending on your desired results. To make things easy, we’re listing all the circumstances in which using dry shampoo can be a good idea!
- You may use dry shampoo after hair washing (with actual water) to prevent the oils to build up;
- Dry shampoo adds volume, so use it before hair styling to add extra volume to your looks;
- Use dry shampoo before bed to absorb oils as you sleep, and find fresh hair in the morning;
- Apply dry shampoo when the hair is feeling or looking oily and you don’t have the time (or the energy!) to wash it;
- You may apply dry shampoo to add texture and body to the hair—it will also leave your hair fragrant!
If you’re convinced that dry shampoo is the way to go, make sure to go to our website! We have more than 30 dry shampoo formulas in our catalog, and one of them is the perfect one for you.
