Why Does My Dry Shampoo Evaporate?

Dry shampoo came about as an excellent alternative for people who are sometimes too busy to wash their hair or for those people who are just too lazy to wash their hair every second day. It works great in emergencies when you are running late. But what exactly is this magical substance and how does it work? Let us first understand what dry shampoo is made of.

Basic Ingredients

  • Cornstarch - Your scalp secretes a mixture of lipids called sebum, which makes your hair look oily. White, powdery cornstarch binds to sebum’s fatty-acid chains and makes it easier to remove it.
  • Kaolin - Kaolin is a type of soft clay that absorbs grease and cloaks the shine of unwashed locks. It reduces the reflectivity of hair strands giving them a matte look.
  • Denatured Alcohol - Denatured alcohol is an excellent solvent for cornstarch and kaolin. It helps in suspending and carrying the oil-absorbing particles from the bottle to the hair strands, evaporates as soon as it absorbs body heat, creating a cooling effect on the scalp.
  • Liquefied Petroleum Gas -Spray-on dry shampoos require a propellant to force the chemicals out of the can and convert them into a fine mist and that is why Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is added to them. This is also the reason why you should never use dry shampoo near an open flame because LPG is a highly flammable substance and your hair may catch fire.

    • How does dry shampoo work?

    Both dry shampoo and spray-on shampoo works by absorbing oil onto a substance that can easily be washed or removed out of your hair. But, only hydrophobic soils, like natural oil and oil-based hair products are absorbed by the dry shampoo. It does not remove dead skin, actual dirt or other chemicals that make your hair look greasy.

    dry shampoo

    Also, it’s only the alcohol that evaporates; other ingredients stick around, leaving a light residue on your scalp. That is why experts recommend using dry shampoo only occasionally (or only in case of emergencies) between regular shampoos to prevent chemical damage to hair.

    Why Use Dry Shampoo?

    If it can cause damage to the hair, why do people still use it? There are several reasons why people prefer dry shampoo over traditional shampoo in certain conditions, and the most common ones are listed below:-

    • Takes lesser time than washing and drying hair- Getting late for a meeting and no time to wash your hair? Dry shampoo is the answer.
    • Reduces stripping of color- Say you are going to a party and don’t want your hair to look greasy, but you also don’t want the color you applied yesterday to fade, what do you do? Yep, you guessed it right, dry shampoo.
    • Freshens hair when coming from a sweaty or smelly situation- If you just got back from work and are too tired to take a shower, but your hair feels sweaty and gross, dry shampoo would probably be your go-to solution.

    How to Apply a Dry Shampoo

    Sprinkle the powder onto your scalp and massage it for at least one minute. Then use a brush or a wide-toothed comb to brush it down your hair if you would like, but this step is not necessary. (Some beauty bloggers recommend it and some don’t)


    Pros of Using Dry Shampoo

  • Convenience: - It saves you from the effort of washing your everyday especially if your hair gets greasy very soon after the washing routine.
  • Lessens heat damage: - If you will wash your hair less frequently, you will also blow dry or flat iron it less frequently which would result in less heat damage.
  • Volume: - Many beauty bloggers recommend using dry shampoo to create volume before hair styling.

    • Cons of Using Dry Shampoo

  • Less efficient: - While dry shampoo also does the job of removing dirt and oil, it is not as efficient as a wet shampoo. Therefore, it is not a complete replacement for hair washing. If continued for long without washing, the accumulated dirt and oil will make your hair look unhealthy and dirty.
  • Not for Dry Skin: - Dry shampoos are not suitable for someone suffering from dry skin and dandruff as it will only increase the problem.
  • It can be harmful if not chosen wisely: - Not all shampoos are created equal, some cheap brands contain that women often buy contains aluminum, which can be bad for your hair. Although, if chosen correctly, this con can be easily prevented

    • Do It Yourself- Dry Shampoo

    Yes, you read it right, you can make home-made dry shampoo because the ingredients used in commercial dry shampoos are not too hard to find.

    You just need a substance to absorb oil from your hair. You can use, corn starch, baby powder, rice starch, orris root, oatmeal, and clay. But if you are using clay, make sure it’s not contaminated with undesirable minerals or metals, or maybe just use some other ingredient from the list above.

    To obtain a fresh scent, you can add a few drops of lavender essential oil to one of these powders.

    Fun Fact of Dry Shampoo

    Dry shampoo isn’t just for people! Dry shampoos can also be used on furry pets, though the functions and ingredients of these pet products are a little different than the ones intended for humans.

    Efforts have been made to get the information as accurate and updated as possible. If you found any incorrect information with credible source, please send it via the contact us form
    Sky Hoon
    Hair Lover, Idea Starter. He started HairQueenie, which is ranked #27 in the FeedSpot Top 40 Hair Care Blogs and mentions in ManeAddicts and Tempest. Hair is not everything but something. He started Hairqueenie to share great hair products. Over time, he found there are more value to share answers to hair problems that cannot be found easily.
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