Dry shampoo is a saving grace product for those of us who cannot wash our hair every day. Studies have also shown that it is more beneficial to your hair to skip daily washes, in order to keep some of the natural oils present on your scalp.
However, while dry shampoo can keep your hair looking fresh in between washes, it can also hinder any color treatments your wish to apply.
Essentially, dry shampoo is going to absorb excess oil on the scalp while also adding texture to your hair. It is meant to be added to dry hair, and worked in with your fingers or a brush to fully absorb into your strands.
Especially if you are applying dry shampoo to your hair frequently, it can often cause a buildup of the product to occur on the scalp.
Can you dye your hair if it has dry shampoo in it? Although dry shampoo is meant to refresh your hair in between washes, it is not ideal to have any remaining residue from the product left in your hair before you are about to color treat it.
Whether you are looking to bleach your hair, color your roots, or dye your entire head, making sure the scalp is free of any dry shampoo buildup will help to make sure your hair color is applied evenly, thoroughly, and will last in the hair for the anticipated amount of time.
Below we discuss what dry shampoo is, the best ways to color your hair, and how to use dry shampoo with your color-treated tresses.
What Is Dry Shampoo?
Dry shampoo is a hair product that helps to absorb oils found on the scalp and root of the hair in between washes.
It is used mainly to absorb any grease or sweat that is present in the hair, whether from natural oil production, daily styling, or sweat from workouts or daily activities. Dry shampoo also helps to refresh the hair and give more texture and volume as well.
Dry shampoo is to be used on dry hair and does not need to be washed out after the application. It is typically applied to the scalp, crown of the head, and the roots of the hair where to most oil is present to be able to fully soak into the hair.
It is created with a combined list of ingredients that typically include alcohol and starch-based ingredients, like corn starch, to work effectively to soak up the excess oils, dirt, and grease.
Dry shampoo works to make hair look fresh and clean in between washes, especially for those with oily-prone scalps. It also works to create volume and texture for those with fine or limp hair.
Can You Dye Your Hair With Dry Shampoo In It?
When you want to color your hair, whether it be at home or the salon, it is best to apply the hair dye or bleach onto clean hair.
It is best to avoid using dry shampoo in the day or two leading up to your hair color treatment. It is also best to ensure the hair is free of any product buildup before applying the hair dye or bleach.
Dry shampoo can create a barrier for the hair from absorbing all of the hair dye, which can lead to an uneven application of color. The buildup of product from multiple uses can also interfere with how well the dye absorbs into the hair.
Many dry shampoos are also formulated with wax in their ingredients, which can create a barrier layer that prevents the hair dye from properly adhering to the hair strands.
It can also prevent the hair dye or bleach from penetrating into the hair shaft deeply or at all. If the hair dye is unable to adhere to the hair well, or even absorb into the hair shaft, it can cause patchiness in the hair when the color is rinsed away.
Dry shampoo and the buildup of product can also interfere with the color pigment of the dye. It can often cause the pigment to appear lighter on the hair, which can be affect your desired outcome for the color.
The various ingredients in each of the products, hair dye and dry shampoo, also have to potential to react badly to one another when mixed together.
If the ingredients do not respond well to one another, that can cause more damage to the hair, especially when used with bleach. It can also cause potential irritation or negative reactions to occur on the scalp.
Best Methods For Dyeing Your Hair
If you are doing an at-home hair dye application, or are going to the salon for a professional color application, it is best to wash your hair 24 to 48 hour prior to your color treatment.
Especially if you have used dry shampoo in the interim from your last wash, it is important to remove all the buildup of product before your color your hair.
Washing your hair a day or two before your color treatment will allow the scalp to produce its own natural oils by then, which can help to comfort the scalp when the hair dye is applied.
You want to add the hair dye or bleach to dry hair. It is best to section the hair first, before applying any hair color, to create smaller sections to work with the ensure every strand is properly coated.
If you are coloring your hair at home, it can be helpful to buy extra hair dye just in case, especially if you have long or textured hair to make sure you have enough to thoroughly drench your hair.
Many at-home kits do come with the required accessories to color your hair, but it is important to make sure you have the proper tools to apply the dye or bleach precisely to the desired sections.
A small brush to apply the color, rubber gloves, and an application bottle are all crucial pieces to dyeing your hair quickly, easily, and mess-free.
Before you apply the hair color, you want to detangle each section of the hair to apply the color properly. The ends of the hair are more porous and can absorb the color more quickly, so you want to start at the roots first and work your way down the hair shaft to create a seamless color application.
After all the hair dye is thoroughly applied, you want to leave the hair down for the required amount of time the dye is to sit on the hair.
This helps to avoid any patchiness or unevenness that can come from twisting the hair into a tight bun to let the color sit. It is also helpful to apply lotion or Vaseline to the hairline at the start of the application, to help prevent against the hair dye staining the skin.
Once the dye has sat on the hair for the required amount of time, you want to rinse and style the hair with color-protecting products afterwards.
When To Use Dry Shampoo with Color Treated Hair
If you have color-treated hair, you can still use dry shampoo, however if you are planning to have a fresh application of color you will want to avoid using the product a few days beforehand. Dry shampoo should not affect or fade your hair color after it is applied and in the time between touch-up appointments.
There are many different types of dry shampoos to look into, and depending on the color of you hair you can look for a product that is tinted. The tinted dry shampoos work especially well for those with darker hair, to avoid the white cast that can sometimes appear with the typical dry shampoo.
As with any hair products, you want to ensure you are choosing the right dry shampoo for your hair type and texture. If you have textured or dry hair, you want to look for dry shampoos that can add moisture to the strands, as bleaching or dyeing can be drying.
When applying the dry shampoo, part the hair in sections so you can spray the product as close to the root as possible. After applying the dry shampoo, it is best to let it sit on the scalp for a few minutes to fully absorb the excess oils.
Once several minutes have passed, you can massage the remaining product into the hair with your fingers or by combing through with a brush to disperse the product.
While dry shampoos can work to keep the hair looking fresh in between washes, it is not meant to replace actual deep cleaning shampoos, and any product buildup should be washed out often.
Conclusion
Overall, dry shampoo is a valuable and helpful product to keep in our hair care routine. While washing the hair every day can be potentially harmful and drying to our tresses, dry shampoo can give the appearance of a just-washed head of hair.
However, as helpful as the product can be, it can also be a hinderance when wanting to apply a color treatment to your hair.
To achieve the best application of hair dye during your color treatments, you want to make sure the scalp is completely clear of any product residue, especially dry shampoo buildup, for an even and thorough application.
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