Dry shampoos are hair care products that are meant to clean the scalp and hair without using the conventional methods of regular shampooing and drying one’s hair. Dry shampoos are generally starch or alcohol-based and are designed to absorb the excess oil and greasy debris in one’s hair and clean it. The products most often come in an aerosol spray form, though some are also manufactured in the form of a paste.
The advantages of the dry shampoo are many, with the primary one being that it is quick and convenient. The product is also said to reduce dryness and the loss of colorants that some people suffer from while using a regular shampoo. It also prolongs the effect of styling, making the whole process easier.
Ingredients used in dry shampoos
Dry shampoos are a combination of one or more of ingredients in various proportions, that differentiates one brand from the other. Most are either starch-based or alcohol-based.
- Starch
The scalp secretes a mixture of lipids known as sebum, which makes the hair oily and greasy. Starch being absorbent in nature, absorbs the oily buildup when applied to the scalp and hair, which then gets combed out. - Alcohol
Alcohol is an important ingredient in dry shampoo as it has an excellent capacity to suspend solids in it without dissolving them. It has the added benefit of evaporating quickly and causes a cooling effect on the scalp which instantly soothes a dry and irritated scalp. - Clay
Kaolin clay and Fuller’s earth absorb grease, and coat the hair, giving it a matte look. It works using the same principle as another ingredient used — starch powder. - Laminaria Saccharina extract
Laminaria Saccharina is made from a type of brown algae that has excellent absorption capabilities, making it an ideal ingredient for a dry shampoo. - Magnesium stearate
One would think that hair treated with a fine absorbent powder would tend to stick together. Manufacturers solve this issue by adding an anticaking agent such as magnesium stearate to their dry shampoos, to prevent hair from clumping. - Liquefied petroleum gas
The reason for the increased popularity of dry shampoo now, as opposed to the earlier powders, is the fact that it comes in an aerosol spray, making it convenient to use. Spraying helps apply and distribute the shampoo evenly in all areas of the scalp and hair. It also makes it easier to control the quantity of the product being used. This calls for the use of a propellant to force the contents into a fine spray. After the awareness of the disadvantages of CFCs, liquefied petroleum gas is an alternative to keep the contents in an aerosol can, pressurized in a liquid state. LPG is a mixture of propane, butane, and isobutane, making it flammable. This is why a dry shampoo should never be used near an open flame. - Perfume or Colorants
Most dry shampoos have fragrances to add a beautiful scent to hair. There are also dry shampoos with pigments added in various shades to prevent dullness of color, which could be caused by the powders in a dry shampoo.
