What Using Dry Shampoo Every Day Does To Your Hair

Dry shampoo is a quick and easy way to freshen up your hair in between showers. Whether you want to add some volume to your hair or get rid of any excess oil in your hair and scalp, dry shampoo can be a lifesaver, especially for people with greasy hair (via Cleveland Clinic).

Despite its name, however, dry shampoo isn't actually shampoo and it won't exactly clean your hair. Rather, it's an alcohol or starch-based spray-in product that soaks up and absorbs excess oil and grease on your scalp and in the roots of your hair, in order to give your hair a fresher and less oily appearance. But this doesn't mean that dry shampoo actually removes or gets rid of the excess oil in your hair. Since dry shampoo is a waterless, leave-in product, it doesn't rinse out the oil in your hair, it just makes it less noticeable.

Dry shampoo is a great product to use in between washes or when you're on the go, but it shouldn't be used on a daily basis. While it is not inherently harmful to your hair or scalp, dry shampoo should not replace actual shampoo. "Dry shampoos should not be used as a regular replacement for real shampoo, as they simply do not clean the scalp; they do not remove oils, dead skin cells, pollution, sweat or other products," Anabel Kingsley, the president and head trichologist of the holistic haircare brand Philip Kingsley, told Byrdie. "Remember, your scalp is skin and needs similar TLC to be healthy — and hair grows its best from a healthy scalp."

Using dry shampoo too frequently can lead to a buildup of residue on your scalp, which can clog up your hair follicles and lead to inflammation and reduced hair growth. That's why it's important to use dry shampoo for only a day or two in between washes. Although dry shampoo can be helpful, it shouldn't be a part of your daily hair routine.