If you have fine, greasy hair, these are the dry shampoos that actually work
Searches of “greasy hair” are up by 3,050 per cent over the past month, according to Google trends. While it’s something that many people with fine hair have to deal with regularly, according to Dr Sara Imani from haircare brand Faith In Nature, the cold weather has an impact, too. “The cold can cause dehydration to our scalp, and as a result our scalp skin tries to overcompensate by producing more sebum, our naturally occurring oils,” she says.
While dry shampoo has been designed to absorb grease in-between washes, it’s not the nicest to use. If you have dark hair, in particular, dry shampoo can deposit an obvious ashy residue on the hair. But we’ve come a long way – here are some tips for using dry shampoo for yourself.
If you’re going to use an aerosol, here’s how
“Always shake your dry shampoo first, this will ensure minimal residue as the formulations can settle,” says leading hairdresser Sam McKnight. He suggests misting some Lazy Girl Dry Shampoo (from £12, spacenk) into your roots, then blasting with a cool hairdryer. “If you are on the go and don’t have a dryer to hand, brushing your hair is the next best thing at removing dry shampoo residue and keeping hair looking shiny and refreshed.”
It’s important to remove this excess residue, says McKnight, as otherwise the residue will feel heavy and greasy quicker. “If you want to focus on a certain part of your hair such as a fringe or the hairline you can mist dry shampoo onto a natural bristle brush and brush through,” says McKnight. “It’s an easy way to pinpoint where you need it.”
Try a brush applicator
The chic French make-up artist Violette Serrat developed Frange Puff (£38, violettefr), a compact, chic, non-aerosol, and designed with a built-in brush, because she needed a solution to keep her fringe voluminous and fresh all day long. “When I first got a fringe, I was so excited – I love that slightly messy, undone look that’s so quintessentially French. But by lunchtime, they’d always fall flat. I wasn’t a fan of the crunchy aerosol sprays, and I wanted something portable and light.”
It’s refillable, too, and the brush is washable, so it’s better for the environment. And if you don’t have a fringe, no problem. “This product is also great for absorbing grease along the hairline, in your parting, or really anywhere on your scalp that could use a little refresh,” adds Serrat.
Wet wipe your hair (yes, really)
McKnight developed Lazy Girl Cleanse Cloths (£17, spacenk) for cleaning your hair on the go. “It all really started backstage, models were running from show to show. And they would arrive with heavy greasy fringes, hairlines or roots – sometimes they have been on the back of a motorbike – and they have sweaty hair at the nape of the neck.”
His towelettes are fantastic if you want to start afresh with your hair without washing. And if you’re worried about the environmental impact, fear not: they are fully biodegradable and can go into your compost heap.
