Many people wonder if they should use dry shampoo before or after straightening. If that’s you, don’t worry as we have you covered. In this article, we explain everything you need to know about using dry shampoo when straightening your hair.
Quick Answer to ‘Do I Use Dry Shampoo Before Or After Straightening’?
You should always apply dry shampoo after you have finished straightening your hair. Applying dry shampoo before straightening your hair can make the dry shampoo ineffective.
Dry shampoo is a helpful tool as long as it is used properly, or else it can cause damage to your hair and leave you vulnerable to heat damage.
Read on to see why it is more effective to use dry shampoo after straightening, what happens when you use dry shampoo with other styling treatments, and how dry shampoo can react to heat and damage your hair.
Using dry shampoo after straightening
To get the most out of your dry shampoo and to give your hair better care, it is best to use dry shampoo after straightening your hair.
Part of the reason why is that applying heat styling treatments to dry shampoo will render the dry shampoo ineffective.
However, using dry shampoo after straightening your hair will also help you avoid causing significant damage to your hair.
Many manufacturers of hair straighteners will tell you to only use the tool on clean hair that has no product in it.
This does include dry shampoo, as it only gives your hair the appearance of cleanliness but does not actually clean your scalp.
With that in mind, it is best to straighten your hair before applying product to it.
Once your hair is straightened and you are ready to apply dry shampoo, the process is simple.
Be sure to spray the dry shampoo six inches away from your hair and avoid applying too much, as it can stain your hair with white spots.
Wait a few minutes before combing your hair so the dry shampoo has time to work its magic. Now you have straightened and shiny hair!
What happens if I use dry shampoo before straightening?
It may sound sensible to clean your hair with dry shampoo before styling it, but when it comes to dry shampoo, the opposite is true.
In fact, using dry shampoo before straightening your hair can cause negative effects and even reverse the desired effect of dry shampoo entirely.
Dry shampoo is designed to absorb natural oils and sweat that build up on your hair without having to get your hair wet.
Here is a list of some of the key ingredients that make up the base of most dry shampoos:
- Alcohol
- Starch
- Clay
- Talc
These are the four ingredients that soak up oil and grease and give the appearance of cleaner-looking hair.
However, dry shampoo is only a refresher and does not actually clean your scalp.
Dry shampoo will only hide the oil and sweat, which means your hair is technically not clean.
With that in mind, if you were to straighten your hair after applying dry shampoo, the heat from the styling process would actually reverse the effects of the dry shampoo.
Applying heat to hair with dry shampoo in it will only release the oil back onto the hair and will bake the ingredients of dry shampoo into your hair, which can dry out your hair.
What about other styling treatments?
Any other hair styling treatments that apply heat can cause the same issues if you use dry shampoo before styling.
For example, applying dry shampoo before using a curling iron will result in the same reverse effects.
When it comes to styling your hair using heat, it is best to apply dry shampoo once you are done styling your hair.
Some recommend using a blow dryer to help distribute dry shampoo through your hair. You can do this, as long as you have a hair dryer that has a cool air setting.
Hot air from a hair dryer could have the same adverse effects of straightening hair that has dry shampoo in it. Cool air can help you use and style dry shampoo into your hair without causing heat damage.
How dry shampoo reacts to heat
Applying heat to dry shampoo will cause it to release the oil and sweat it absorbed back onto your hair, leaving your hair looking greasy and dirty.
However, it can also cause your hair to become brittle and suffer from heat damage.
Part of why this happens is due to the way dry shampoo functions.
In the process of it taking away built-up oil on your hair, it also dehydrates your hair, leaving it brittle.
Applying heat to brittle hair can cause it to break easily, make it appear dull and dry, and make split ends more noticeable.
Additionally, if you use dry shampoo often, it can result in build-up or residue left in your hair.
When heat styling treatments are applied to hair with residue on it, the residue can become baked into the hair, causing the hair to appear unclean.
Does dry shampoo damage my hair?
Heat styling treatments do not mix well with hair that has dry shampoo on it, but does dry shampoo alone cause damage to your hair?
Even if all you do to style your hair is brush it and blow dry it, you may be wondering if using dry shampoo is even worth it.
Dry shampoo is helpful when it comes to making hair look more refreshed and less greasy. However, it is not a substitute for actually washing your hair with shampoo and water.
Relying too much on dry shampoo can result in residue build-up, clogged pores, and even rashes and inflammation.
If you have dry hair, excessive use of dry shampoo can dry your hair out even more and leave it prone to damage, even if you do not style your hair with heat.
The residue from excessive dry shampoo use can also lead to dandruff.
However, dry shampoo in itself is not damaging to your hair provided you use it in moderation.
Conclusion
When it comes to straightening your hair, it is best to wait until you are done styling to apply dry shampoo.
Not only will this make your dry shampoo more effective, but it will help you avoid damaging your hair.
Lastly, though dry shampoo is a helpful tool, it is not a replacement for washing your hair, so be sure to give your hair the care it needs.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
If you apply dry shampoo before straightening your hair, it will render your dry shampoo ineffective and make your hair look greasy. Applying dry shampoo after straightening your hair will maximize the effectiveness of your dry shampoo and help you avoid damaging your hair.
If you are using a styling treatment that applies heat to your hair, you should apply dry shampoo after you are done styling your hair. Like straightening hair, applying dry shampoo before styling with heat can result in your dry shampoo not working and damaging your hair. However, you can use a blow dryer on dry shampoo as long as the hair dryer is set to the cool air setting.
Yes, dry shampoo will react badly to heat. Heat will cause the dry shampoo to release the oil and sweat it absorbed back onto your hair, leaving you looking greasy. Additionally, the ingredients in dry shampoo, such as alcohol, can become baked into your hair, causing your hair to be brittle and prone to heat damage.
Dry shampoo does not cause damage to hair as long as you use it in moderation and remember to wash your hair and scalp regularly. Relying too much on dry shampoo will result in residue buildup which can lead to clogged pores, dandruff, dry hair, and rashes or inflammation. However, using dry shampoo once in a while will not damage your hair.
References
- https://www.webmd.com/beauty/what-is-dry-shampoo
- https://www.evolvesalonspa.com/blog/2020/2/19/the-dos-and-donts-of-using-dry-shampoo
- https://www.prevention.com/beauty/a20499665/dry-shampoo-mistakes/
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