Dry shampoo: what can this trend product do?
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Dry shampoo is celebrating a revival. But what exactly is that? How does it work and how do you use it?
The alarm goes off: get up! Now? Way too early. And the hair looks. Oh no, today is the appointment with the boss. But now wash your hair and blow-dry it? Takes forever. Where’s the dry shampoo?
Women with long hair in particular will find themselves in this description – with the exception of the dry shampoo, perhaps. Many shy away from that. “Just spray it on without water? That’s disgusting!” find many. Or: “You can’t do that with dark hair. The residue looks like dandruff …” Is that true?
A few years ago only the good old “terry cloth” from the blue spray can was known. And yes, a white powder film lay on the hair and could only be removed by strenuous toweling. Was that where the brand name came from? In the GDR, sulfur powder was even used to get greasy deposits under control. No wonder that dry shampoo was frowned upon for a long time.
Everything passé! Today dry shampoo is back in fashion
The formulas are now so good that they are suitable even for dark hair and very dry hair. Excess sebum, which is deposited on the scalp and at the roots, is practically absorbed and the hair looks (almost) as freshly washed. “The products are based on silicate and starch mixtures. Some formulations also contain alcohol, which increases the absorbing effect,” explains Prof. Crisan Popescu, hair expert at the University of Aachen.
The application is simple: Step 1: Shake and apply only on dry hair. Step 2: Spray on the approaches in batches – with a distance of approx. 20 centimeters. Step 3: Leave on for one to two minutes. Now the product can be massaged in and brushed out. The order determines how the look works. If you rub it in, you get more volume. If you brush your hair, you get more shine. Tip: The dry shampoo can also be sprayed lengthways for extra volume. Then the hair looks dull. Dry shampoo is also suitable for updos or other elaborate hairstyles. Because: The hair becomes more grippy and can be styled more easily.
Is permanent use harmful?
Prof. Popescu considers regular use to be harmless: “Bedouins travel through the desert for weeks. The sand (silica!) Prevents excess fat from collecting in the hair.” Dry shampoo has a similar effect. However, regular hair washing cannot be replaced. “How often you should wash depends on the length of your hair. Longer hair can do without water and shampoo for three to five days, whereas short hair can be washed daily.” Baby powder or baking powder can also serve as a cheap alternative. Both absorb sebum and fat in a very similar way to dry shampoo. The advantage of dry shampoo: the scent, the volume that is created and the care ingredients.
Incidentally, the dry shampoo is an ideal companion for the handbag and sports bag. The hairstyle can be freshened up on the go and if you don’t feel like washing your hair after your workout, you can use the spray can. Disgusting? No! “Dry shampoo is not unsanitary. The scalp is actually cleaned by dry shampoo,” says Prof. Popescu.
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