Is dry shampoo bad for your hair?

I think by now we can all agree that dry shampoo is a staple in nearly every girl’s beauty cabinet.

For me, I wash my hair only 1-2 times a week, so dry shampoo happens to be one of my most-used beauty tools day in and day out.

And while there’s nothing more satisfying than spraying your favourite dry shampoo and watching your oily hair come back to life, there is unfortunately a downside to using this must-have product on the reg.

In fact, frequent dry shampoo use can lead to a number of problems that range from moderate to severe, depending on your sensitivity.

Here are some of the most common issues that dry shampoo can cause and how to fix them!

RELATED: Best shampoos for dandruff

Dry, brittle hair

One of the most common issues that dry shampoo addicts face is dry hair. While dry shampoo keeps your blowout fresh by soaking up all your unwanted oil, it also happens to soak up the essential oils your hair needs to stay healthy and strong.

Dry hair is an early sign of damage and can lead to breakage and hair loss, so if you’re noticing your hair is starting to lean towards the drier side, try using a hair mask or conditioning treatment once a week.

And it might sound counter-intuitive, but swapping out one or two days of dry shampoo for actual shampoo can really help as well.

bh recommends: bhave Deep Intense Conditioning Masque

Seborrheic dermatitis

Excessive dry shampoo use can lead to a scalp condition called seborrheic dermatitis, which manifests itself in scaly red patches, irritation, and dandruff. This can happen to dry shampoo users who frequently use it multiple days in a row as the scalp has essentially no room to breathe. As a result, a buildup of dry shampoo, oil, pollutants, and other hair products creates a breeding ground for bacteria and fungus to grow which can lead to seborrheic dermatitis.

As this is not an easy condition to fix once you have it, if you’re worried about developing seborrheic dermatitis, stop using dry shampoo as frequently and start using products formulated to soothe and repair an irritated scalp.

Pimples on your scalp

Another symptom of buildup, pimples or cysts on the scalp can be an annoying and painful issue for those who love dry shampoo. Breakouts on the scalp occur when the buildup traps bacteria. And while a small breakout here or there may not seem like a big deal (especially if it’s hidden under a full head of hair!), the more often you break out on your scalp, the more likely you are to scar. These scars can permanently damage hair follicles, preventing them from growing new, healthy hair.

To prevent pimples on your scalp, try using a clarifying dandruff shampoo or a shampoo with salicylic acid.

bh recommends: Aveda Invati Advanced™ Exfoliating Shampoo and Kérastase Paris Bain Divalent

Hair loss and balding

Possibly the worst problem of all, those who use dry shampoo regularly may experience hair loss. This can be for a few reasons, but it primarily occurs when the hair follicle gets damaged (from pimple scarring or too much buildup) and as a result, the hair falls out and/or the follicle stops being able to produce new hair.

It sounds scary, but if this is happening to you - don’t worry! With some love and care, your scalp will eventually heal and your hair will grow back. Unfortunately, you’ll have to stop using hair products for a while, including dry shampoo, to keep your scalp free from buildup, bacteria, and breakouts.

You may also want to invest in a thickening shampoo or a hair growth supplement.

bh recommends: Viviscal Maximum Hair Growth Supplements and Women's REGAINE Foam

*This article has been updated since its original publication date.

Do you use dry shampoo? Have you noticed any of these issues?

Image via @tahirybah

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Love bug 21 Feb 2021 12:41 AM

All these issues I've been having and I tried wandering from...I've recently been using a lot of dry shampoo and am getting a really irritated scalp and hair loss

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JaneyPooh 16 Feb 2021 7:58 PM

My hair hates to be overloaded with too much product. I have hair that needs moisture - so only a water wash will do for me.

JuJu47 15 Feb 2021 9:53 AM

I hate dry shampoo as my scalp feels itchy and my hair doesn't feel clean - possibly good for greasy hair but mine is on the dry side. Not for me thanks

Ali85 13 Feb 2021 9:38 PM

I have never been a fan of dry shampoo I do have it in case of emergency but would much prefer a proper wash.

Rose_P 12 Feb 2021 12:54 PM

I do use dry shampoo, but I’m not the greatest fan. I’ve just spent some time in hospital. I took it with me and used it in desperation.

misfortune8 11 Feb 2021 12:02 PM

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BeautySwan88 7 Feb 2021 4:46 PM

If using too much shampoo will lead to balding, I rather wear wigs in the future when it happens.

lgauci 27 Jan 2021 2:57 PM

I wont be using dry shampoo anymore. Thanks for this article BH.

neha.gamine 26 Jan 2021 11:10 AM

I love using dry shampoos and I agree overusing it can cause problems

Bartsky 24 Jan 2021 3:21 PM

I have tried dry shampoo a couple of times but not a huge fan.

philippa495 21 Jan 2021 5:25 PM

I love my Batiste dry shampoo, use it a couple of times a week in-between washes

Maryam Naeem 21 Jan 2021 12:45 AM

I do like dry shampoo but I tend to not overuse it and keep it occasional.

Eskimo82 6 Jan 2021 10:52 AM

Pre-covid I could not live without dry shampoo and used it almost daily between washes but since covid and now i'm working from home fulltime, I've only used it twice in 9 months. In that time I've definately noticed less hair loss when I brush and wash my hair. It also did give me quite an irritated scalp and dandruff (looking back I did use it excessively eek!), so I'm definately not going to be using it as frequently now.

Ellyloves 4 Jan 2021 2:14 PM

Don't use it too much

Ethelinde 4 Jan 2021 11:33 AM

I tried dry shampoo when it was initially trendy but realised pretty quickly how bad it was for my hair. My scalp gets irritated quite easily and the buildup was insane. Would rather just wash my hair than be lazy. Dry conditioner, on the other hand, has been a real game-changer for my hair!

lindylou 31 Dec 2020 9:58 PM

I do have some dry shampoo (it’s often in goody bags) but haven’t really tried using it. Luckily my hair doesn’t get too greasy but I should give it a go.

Sparkle 77 31 Dec 2020 4:23 PM

Like everything I guess, use in moderation but I wouldn't disagree with any of these issues.

RalucaP 31 Dec 2020 3:05 PM

I am not a huge fan of dry shampoo , I use it only occasionally.

GeeJ 31 Dec 2020 12:27 AM

Dry shampoo saved me on gym days back when I used to go to the gym.

RINNY 30 Dec 2020 10:10 PM

I have been guilty of overuse of dry shampoo in the past. It gave me the worst dandruff. Now I limit it to once a week and try to use a hair mask as well. My hair is still a bit dry so clearly it hasn't fully recovered yet!!

lgauci 10 Jan 2021 1:02 PM

I didn't know RINNY that overuse of shampoo can cause dandruff thank you for this info.

RINNY 10 Jan 2021 9:23 PM

I think there was a build of dry shampoo on my scalp, maybe I already had dandruff but it definitely exacerbated the situation

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