Dry cleaning the crowning glory

Only water, foam and blow dry ensure a good hair day. Well, so goes the conventional theory; as good and old as tried and tested. Dry shampoos ensure soaked-up oil, added volume and fresh smelling scalp. So read the claims. Do they even do anything or don’t they add to product build-up in hair? Well, so question the cynics. Decoding the what, why and whether of dry shampoos.

Do you need it?

First things first, why would anybody need a dry shampoo? “It definitely freshens up your scalp by absorbing a little grease from the roots but to expect it do anything more than that would be stretching it,” nods Ali from Ali’s Midaas—8, Chandigarh.

So, is it recommended? “They are definitely recommended if you are travelling, time-pressed or need a hair freshener on the go. Because what it basically does for you is that it easily delays your head bath by a day.”

However, he warns, “There’s no known or significant harm caused by dry shampoos unless of course you replace it with actual head wash on a regular basis or are allergic to spray formulations.”

As if there was a dearth of foamy soapy formulas (promising volume, thickness and shine) to choose from? Now, there’s dry shampoo to scout, test, shortlist and contend with. For those, who go by the good formulae swear by the ‘just like head wash’ effect that a good dry shampoo gives. Adds Ali, “Loreal used to come up with a dry shampoo but now it has discontinued the product.”

While several of the brands still use active ingredients like rice and oat starch to absorb oil, the next generation of dry shampoos have evolved. The latest formulae are known to deal with several other hair styling problems. You name it, volume, thickness, texture and they claim it.

Steer clear from…

Yes, desperate times call for real desperate measures. While the internet is replete with the uses of baby powder, make-up setting powder and even (baking soda, cocoa powder and cornstarch!) that might double up as dry shampoos, the experts ask you to stay a safe distance from any of the tempting and harmless kitchen ingredients.

“You can’t use baby powder instead of a dry shampoo. The white will show and even otherwise, its molecules are way thicker than the required consistency,” adds Ali. Tempted to spray on the magic dust?

—Manpriya Singh