Dry Shampoo…to wash or not to wash…that is the question. Whether you’re a busy working mom, or a single gal living in the city, there are not many women out there who wouldn’t love a time-saving beauty product!! And if there is a dry shampoo that could give you the look of clean, refreshed, just-washed hair, I’ll take it!! The question is, does it exist?

Before I get into the actual review, here’s what’s happening to you hair when it’s “in-between” washes: your 100,000 to 120,000 or so hairs get weighted down with oil — which is really a combination of accumulated cell debris, chemical components of sweat and various tiny pieces of dirt picked up from the air — now if that doesn’t make you want to shampoo right now, I don’t know what will! But, there is the notion that it’s good to skip washing your hair. Some hair care experts believe that daily shampooing does too much damage to the hair, stripping it of its natural oils. So they suggest going several days to a week — or even longer — between wet shampoos and using a dry shampoo in between.

Dry Shampoos have been around for centuries, when washing with water was either too time consuming or sometimes just impossible. What Are Dry Shampoos And What Hair Types Can Use Them? to find out more about the history of dry shampoos and how to use them> Dry shampoo products use ingredients such as starches, clays, vegetable powders and various chemicals that will absorb oils. Some can be sprinkled on the hair, while others come in the form of aerosol sprays.

Years ago, I tried a few and either I ended up with a white head or a bathroom covered in powder. But, I’m a believer that some company will get it right and deliver on their promise without too much compromise. So, I’m ready to give these products another try.

I have naturally blonde, long, thin hair that tends to get oily at the roots and look limp and dirty within fourteen hours of shampooing (no joke!). So, without hesitation, I jump into two new dry shampoos on the market and hope for the best….

First, is Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Refreshing Dry Shampoo (around $5.99 — love the name!)

Application Directions: Spray generously on roots and throughout hair. Brush through to diffuse powder and watch it absorb any excess oil. Style as desired and enjoy your newly freshened hair.

Here’s What It Claims To Do:

-Absorbs excess oil

-Cleans with out weighing hair down

– Leaves a light, matte finish

Before ‘Clean Freak’ Application

Here’s What I Thought:

First, the application was easy in that it didn’t overly wet my hair and dried very quickly. It also left a very light, white powder that disappeared the minute I massaged it in. The scent was a little overpowering, kind of a chemical-powdery smell, but that faded after about twenty minutes, so it was bearable. I thought it lived up to the claim of absorbing oil — my hair looked naturally matte. It did LOOK clean, but I still didn’t think it FELT clean. And that is because it still leaves a film on your hair that weighs it down. So, after an hour, my hair felt heavy and had very little movement. So, overall I’d say this product was a 4 out of 5, with the “weighing hair down” being the only area where it didn’t live up to its claim. They should talk more about the invisible qualities of the dry shampoo, though! I thought it was impressive that it didn’t leave my scalp looking white and powdered!

After ‘Clean Freak’ Application

The second product I tried was TRESemmé FRESHSTART Dry Shampoo For Oily/Straight to Normal Hair (around $5.99)

Application Directions:

Step 1 Shake vigorously before use and in between spray bursts for best results.

Step 2 Lift sections of dry hair and spray lightly at roots using short bursts, holding 8-12 inches from head and leave-in for 1-2 minutes.

Step 3 Use fingertips to massage through roots and to distribute product evenly.

Step 4 Use throughout the day to absorb oil and refresh your style as needed.

Step 5 IF CLOGGING OCCURS, REMOVE NOZZLE AND RINSE NOZZLE UNDER WARM WATER. THEN RE-ATTACH NOZZLE.

Here’s What It Claims To Do:

The perfect solution to clean your hair without water anytime. The new formula, with Vitamin H & Silk Proteins, refreshes your straight syle by removing excess oil, impurities and odor to ensure your smooth look lasts. Dry Shampoo Smoothing instantly transforms lifeless limp and dull hair into fresh, healthy hair that is clean, shiny and smooth.

Here’s What I Thought:

The application on this one was not great. It came out much faster and heavier than the Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Refreshing Dry Shampoo product, so I was left with a wet and heavy layer on the areas I sprayed. This turned white and I had to wait 2 minutes for it to dry before I massaged it in. The whiteness really didn’t disappear so I felt like my hair looked grey. It had a nice floral scent that reminded me of shampoo. The oil was gone, but I now had grey, matte-looking hair. It didn’t look or feel fresh or clean. It also felt heavy and weighed down my hair, even more so than the Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Refreshing Dry Shampoo. I’d give this one a 2 out of 5, with the only positive being the scent.

So, overall the Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Refreshing Dry Shampoo was the preferred product for me! I’d definitely use it next time I need a clean-looking scalp in a pinch, and don’t have time to wash my hair… but I still don’t know if the ‘holy grail’ of dry shampoos exist yet, unless someone out there has found it?

Tell us, are there any dry shampoos out there that you swear by?

– Tina Haviland, product development expert

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