Dry shampoo is one of those products that just makes life so much easier. You don’t have to worry about not having time to wash your hair before going out if you have a dry shampoo bottle at home!
You obviously still need to wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner normally, so you wouldn’t be using the dry shampoo too often. This means that it might sit under the sink for some time.
Does dry shampoo expire? Dry shampoo does expire, but it has quite a long shelf life. Most dry shampoo bottles show an expiration date of three years, but it is best to use it within twelve months if you want to enjoy it at its best. The longer the dry shampoo is left to sit, the less effective it becomes.
If you have had a bottle of dry shampoo sitting on your vanity for some time and are unsure if it is okay to use or not, keep reading to find out more about whether it expires, and what to look for to know whether it is fine to use!
Can Dry Shampoo Expire?
Like almost every beauty product, dry shampoo can expire. It will not expire quickly, and most brands claim to have an expiration of between two to three years. The product will be fine to use in this timeframe if stored properly, but if you want the best from it, use it within twelve months.
The guideline of dry shampoo lasting for two to three years mostly applies to closed bottles, and if you have an open bottle that has been in the bathroom for longer than a year, then it is worth checking for signs that it is still okay to use.
One of the best ways to keep track of whether your dry shampoo is still okay to use or not is to check the expiration date on the bottle you have at home. Various brands of dry shampoo have different expiration periods, so it is best to stick to what your bottle says.
Keep in mind that the storage of the dry shampoo will also affect how long it lasts. It is best kept out of direct sunlight or heat, and away from dampness and moisture. A bathroom or bedroom cupboard, which provides a cool, dark space, is best for this.
By keeping the dry shampoo stored in the correct environment, it will last longer!
Can I Use Expired Dry Shampoo?
You can certainly take a chance and use dry shampoo that has been sitting in your cupboard for more than two years, but the results might vary.
You might find that the dry shampoo is absolutely fine and still works well, or you may encounter a problem or two.
One of the main issues with using expired dry shampoo is that it will not be effective at cleansing your hair like it would have been before it reached its best-by date. It might leave a residue in your hair that just makes your hair look and feel worse.
Expired dry shampoo might also develop an off smell, giving your hair an odor that clean hair should not have!
Another issue you might encounter is if the dry shampoo was left for a very long time, is that it causes scalp irritation, and this could cause itchiness too.
Using expired dry shampoo shouldn’t have any drastic effects, but it might just mean that using the dry shampoo would be pointless as it would not do anything!
How To Tell If Dry Shampoo Has Expired
If you are unsure whether or not your dry shampoo has expired, there are a few ways you can try to work it out. Rather try to see whether or not the dry shampoo is okay to use before spraying it onto your hair.
Expiration Date
The easiest and most obvious way to check the expiration date is to look at the date on the dry shampoo bottle. If there is no expiration date, the bottle should at least have a symbol with a number indicating how long the dry shampoo can last once it has been opened.
This isn’t always so clear, so you might just want to mark down when you purchased the dry shampoo and use it within a year or so.
Texture
If the dry shampoo has been left to sit for too long and it has expired, you might notice a change in the texture.
The chemicals or ingredients in the dry shampoo might begin to separate, and this could cause it to become clumpy.
Spray some of the dry shampoo onto your hand before applying it to your hair, and check the texture. It should be a very fine powder-like spray. If there are any clumps, see if they can be easily broken up, but if they are quite stubborn, it is best to not use the dry shampoo.
Smell
Often, when products like dry shampoo expire or start to go bad, they have a strange smell to them.
Test the dry shampoo by spraying some onto your hand or a tissue and smell it. If it smells normal and the texture looks okay, then it should be fine to use. However, if you notice any strange, off odors, then throw the bottle away.
Spray Mechanism
When left to sit for too long, dry shampoo might start to clump up and clog up the spray mechanism in the bottle.
You might notice that the spray doesn’t work as well, or that it keeps getting clogged up or stuck. It is almost impossible to clean out an old dry shampoo spray mechanism, so take it as a sign that the bottle has been left to sit for too long and you should purchase a new one.
Try to shake the dry shampoo bottle well or wipe away any residue from the nozzle to try to get it to work, but if this doesn’t help (and with very expired dry shampoo bottles it likely won’t) then it is a clear indication that the dry shampoo has expired.
Why You Should Change Dry Shampoo Often
With an expiration period of up to three years, you might not change your dry shampoo bottle too often, but it might be a good idea to do so.
There are various types of dry shampoo available, for dry hair, oily hair, and so forth, and you would obviously choose the one that suits your hair needs best.
The problem comes in when your hair needs change, which can happen every few years. The old bottle of dry shampoo you have sitting in your bathroom might not be what your hair needs anymore, let alone as effective as it is getting old, so it helps to upgrade your bottle once a year at least!
Is It Bad To Use Dry Shampoo Too Often?
Dry shampoo can be such a help when you simply do not have time to wash your hair, or when you need a little bit of a pick-me-up after the gym or before you go out.
However, using dry shampoo too often can actually be a bad thing! Dry shampoo should never replace washing your hair, it only helps to extend the time between washing. Using dry shampoo too often can lead to product build-up on your hair and your scalp.
This product build-up can cause a few different problems. It could make your hair feel heavy, it could cause your color to appear faded, and it could even lead to scalp irritation.
The oils and build-up of product on your hair and your scalp need to be cleaned regularly, and while dry shampoo can help freshen your hair for a bit, it does not help cleanse it of build-up.
Final Thoughts
Dry shampoo does expire, but it does have a fairly lengthy shelf-life. Most unopened bottles of dry shampoo can be kept for up to three years, and you can keep an opened bottle for up to two to three years.
However, it is recommended to use dry shampoo within 12 months to ensure that you are getting the best quality it has to offer and that the dry shampoo is catering to your current hair needs.
We’ll leave you with this tutorial from Michlenn Bocoboc on YouTube explaining how to use dry shampoo properly!
Related Questions
Here are a few more questions you might have on the topic!
Is dry shampoo actually shampoo?
Dry shampoo isn’t actually shampoo. It is not a cleanser like shampoo and doesn’t use water to clean the hair. Instead, it is made up mainly of alcohol, starch, clay, and talc, which help to absorb excess oil on the scalp and hair, making hair seem cleaner for a short period.
Being absorbent, dry shampoo works well to absorb oil and sweat after a gym workout.
How do I know the expiration date of a shampoo?
Most beauty products will have an expiration date on the bottle, but it will not necessarily be a set date. There is usually a small container symbol on the packaging, and within this small container, there will be a number, usually either 6 or 12. This is the number of months that you can use the shampoo or product for after opening.
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