T or F: You can use 

dry shampoo every day.

Mirror Talkers study by Denise Baden, Professor of Sustainable Business from the University of Southampton

in collaboration with Eco Hair and Beauty and Green Salon Collective // funding from UK Research and Innovation // support from L'Oréal, Wella and Toni & Guy // research assistance from Stephanie Hodgson

OVERVIEW

ECO TIP 11: True or false: You can use dry shampoo everyday.

False. There are many benefits of introducing dry shampoo to your haircare routine but it shouldn't be used every day. If you use it several days in a row, you can get build up, so it is better to use it every other shampoo or as a booster several days after a shampoo. 

Read on for:

  • Health and beauty tips
  • Money saving tips
  • Eco savings and tips
  • Bonus tips
  • ...and much more!

HEALTH AND BEAUTY

Using dry shampoo instead of always shampooing your hair (especially in hot water) can be good for hair as it doesn’t strip natural oils from your scalp.

Using it can also save your hair from being blow dried too often which can make hair brittle

Dry shampoo can make it easier for you to style your hair and can even give it volume!

It can reduce colour fade. Just think: the less you rinse your hair out, the less any colour you've added to your hair will rinse out, too!

EXPERT TIP: Coloured dry shampoo versions can help to cover grey roots temporarily.

MONEY SAVINGS

Using dry shampoo can reduce energy and water costs by eliminating the need for washing and blow drying hair. 

FACT: Dry shampoo saves typically 8 minutes running hot water and 5 minutes blow drying. 

You also save about 62 litres of water every time you dry shampoo rather than shower and shampoo.

The cost savings of using dry shampoo once a week over a year saves approximately £80 per household.  

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS

Two major environmental issues are water scarcity and global warming

Using dry shampoo substantially reduces your water usage and emissions. 

Using dry shampoo can save about 8 minutes running hot water and 5 minutes blow drying.  That equates to approximately 1.04 kg CO₂e (carbon emissions) which is equivalent to the CO2 emissions from 220 hours of streaming on your smartphone (read more HERE). 

Using dry shampoo can save approximately 62 litres of water per shampoo. That’s 240 glasses of water! 

BONUS TIPS

1: Using dry shampoo is convenient. You can do it anywhere and you don't need access to water, making it great for festivals or camping.  

2. Using dry shampoo is fast. Especially useful to have if you share a bathroom and don’t have time in the mornings. You can quickly use it in the bedroom kitchen, car, outside, anywhere when you have a spare moment.  

 How long does your normal wash and dry take?

RELATED TIPS

HOUSEHOLD ACTIVITIES INVOLVING HOT WATER

Many of the above issues apply just as well to other household activities that involve hot water. Showering for less time, filling the kettle only as far as necessary and washing clothes only when you need to are all ways to save money and help the planet. 

SHAMPOOING LESS

Shampoo contains chemicals that can be very harsh on your skin and hair and strips natural oils from our hair making it brittle. Unless you work in a dirty environment or use tons of product, it is best to shampoo just once, you don’t need to rinse and repeat.

EXPERT ADVICE FOR USE

The best way to use dry shampoo is to just spray directly onto hair and rub it in, focussing on oily areas near your scalp. After it has been applied, simply brush it out. Your hair is now refreshed and easy to style!   


It's great to use dry shampoo once a week as a way to extend the life of shampoo

If you use it more than this, make sure you brush it out properly so it doesn’t clog. 

And, of course, the topic of this Eco Tip is to not use dry shampoo every day. If you do use it several days in a row, you can get build up, so it is better to use it every other shampoo


EXPERT KNOWLEDGE

Roughly 93% of the carbon footprint of shampoo, conditioner and other hair products is associated with heating water in the “use phase”. The remaining 7% is mostly packaging.

Simply put: products like dry shampoo that do not require you to be standing underneath hot running water for extended periods of time will significantly reduce your individual carbon footprint.

MINI FORUM - USING DRY SHAMPOO

Some people swear by dry shampoo and have perfected their haircare routine around it. Some people use it as a way to boost a shampoo several days ago. Some people alternate shampoo and dry shampoo days. Some people only use it occasionally or for festivals or camping. Everyone is different and everyone's circumstances are different so how you choose to use dry shampoo is entirely up to you and your lifestyle.

If you use dry shampoo– please let us know more about your routine - we’d love to hear your experiences

 

 

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