Then comes the day when you need to use dry shampoo, but you’ve run out. It’s too late to wash your hair, and you don’t have time to go buy dry spray, get back home, finish getting ready, and still get to work on time. So what do you do?
Enter the dry shampoo substitute. I know what you’re thinking – dry shampoo is already a substitute for regular shampoo. In a pinch, a sub for dry shampoo will work. We wanted to know what the best choice is when you need to tag in an alternative. We did some research and found some surprising options. As we tend to do, we tried them out (except for the last one that’s really weird). Here is what we found.
Why Dry Shampoo Works
Before we could identify which product is the best substitute for dry shampoo, we needed to know which attributes we needed to replicate. Sure, dry shampoo smells great, but that’s not what makes it effective.
In a nutshell, dry shampoo works by absorbing the extra oil in your hair. This oil tends to collect near the scalp, which is why you only put dry shampoo on your roots. Dry shampoos are formulated with alcohol or starch. These ingredients are the ones that soak up the oil.
There is also a powder element. This absorbs the oil and holds on to it. When you brush your hair, you are removing some of the powder, and the oil along with it.
Dry shampoo doesn’t replace cleansing with a regular shampoo, but it does give your hair that freshly washed appearance.
The perfect substitute will be powdery, brush out easily, and leave your hair looking clean.
The Best Choices for a Substitute
Cornstarch
While this ingredient is usually used for baking, it turns out you can use cornstarch in your hair care routine. As you could probably guess, cornstarch is derived from corn. This makes it vegan-friendly, and suitable for celiacs. It is highly starchy (duh), but when it comes to dry shampoo alternatives this is a great quality.
Pros:
Has the powdery texture of dry shampoo
- Is cheap to buy
- You probably already have it in your home
- Has no smell
- Brushes out easily
Cons:
- Messy to apply
Verdict:
Cornstarch is by far the number one choice for a dry shampoo substitute. It was super easy to use, and I didn’t have to go out to buy it. Using cornstarch gave my hair the same appearance as dry shampoo, and it brushed out without any problems.
The only downside is that it was messy to apply, and I had to wipe down the bathroom counters after.
Tip: Use a teaspoon to measure small amounts of cornstarch. This will help cut down on the mess.
Baking Soda
Sodium bicarbonate, more commonly known as baking soda, is another ingredient that is commonly found in baked goods. Many people also use it as a chemical-free alternative for cleaning their homes, and boxes of baking soda can be found soaking up odours in refrigerators everywhere.
This compound is a mild disinfectant, which makes it a great choice for removing oil.
Pros:
- Comes in small boxes
- Only need a little bit at a time
- No smell
- Long shelf life
Cons:
- Isn’t as effective as cornstarch
Verdict: If you don’t have cornstarch, baking soda will do the trick. While it isn’t as effective as cornstarch, you probably have some baking soda tucked away somewhere. Baking soda has a shelf life of nine months to a year, so the box you found hidden in the back of the cupboard might still be good.
Using baking soda may require some additional brushing to get it all out.
Tip: Start with a small amount and slowly add more if it is needed. We found it wasn’t as absorbent as the cornstarch, but adding too much too quickly made it difficult to brush out.
Translucent Powder
Setting your foundation with translucent powder is one of the simplest ways to get long-lasting wear during the day. The powder sits on top of the liquid or cream foundation and creates a barrier between your makeup and the elements.
Pros:
- It’s already in your makeup bag
- You won’t have any white residue
Cons:
- You need to apply it with a makeup brush
- You can’t use the powder on your face if you double dip
Verdict:
This isn’t our first choice, simply because the powder needs to be applied with a makeup brush. Chances aren’t good that you have a makeup brush set aside for you hair, so you’ll most likely end up using one that has previously been on your face. Before you can use it on your roots, make sure any cosmetics have been cleaned off the brush. Nobody wants to accidentally put blush on their roots.
Also, wash your brush before you use it on your face again. Some of the oil will stay on the bristles, and touching your face with it will transfer the oil to your skin. This is also true for the pot of powder. If you get oil on the brush, then put the brush back in the powder, you now have oil in your powder.
Tip: Try blotting the brush into your roots rather than using a sweeping motion. This will allow the powder to stay on your roots to absorb the oil, rather than get brushed away immediately. Also, portion out a small amount of the translucent powder into a dish to prevent oil transfer between the brush and your main stash of powder.
Cat Litter
When we were looking for dry shampoo substitutes, this option showed up – on more than one list, unfortunately.
Pros:
- None
Cons:
- It’s cat litter
Verdict:
Don’t do it. Just don’t.
Tip: Leave the cat litter for cats.
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