Oily scalp isn’t the only scalp care concern on our radar. An imbalanced scalp can also consist of dryness, itchiness, stubborn buildup, and irritation. When our scalps are feeling less than their best, we like to make the most out of our scalp care essentials and opt for the best scalp care solutions—this is especially true when we’re relying on the revitalizing benefits of dry shampoo.  

Dry shampoo is great for extending the life of our favorite hairstyles, freshening up our strands post-workout, and disguising day-three hair, but the benefits don’t stop there. We’ve specially formulated our scalp-healthy, aerosol-free Scalp Revival™ Charcoal + Biotin Dry Shampoo to do more than just camouflage lackluster stands: it’s also fortified with nutrient-rich, naturally-powered ingredients that work together to give your strands a “glow up” and help your scalp health thrive. 

Dry shampoo is one of the most tried-and-true methods of prolonging the life of our hair but it’s important to understand how to use the different types of dry shampoos and how to properly incorporate it into a healthy hair and scalp routine. Dry shampoos have different benefits depending on whether or not they’re a dry powder or a spray and it’s essential to understand how often we should be using dry shampoos. Applying dry shampoo in moderation is key- too much of a good thing can result in less than desirable outcome for your scalp and hair health. 

Let’s take a closer look at the many ways our ingredient-driven dry shampoo promotes scalp and hair health.

How does dry shampoo work?

The concept of dry shampoo may seem contradictory- can a dry powder truly draw out impurities, combat excess oil and refresh your scalp? The short answer is, yes! First, let’s dive into why we may need dry shampoo:

Our hair follicles produce natural, beneficial oils called sebum. When we go a day or two without washing our hair these natural oils begin to trap dead skin cells, products (gels, hairsprays, oils) and clog the pores on our scalps.

An excess of oil paired with trapped build up and congested pores weighs down the roots of our hair which is what causes the greasy, sticky, lackluster appearance of  dull, limp, lackluster strands. 

All hair types and textures are equally affected by build up from natural oils on our scalps, however fine and curly hair types are especially susceptible to the adverse effects of an imbalanced scalp. If your hair is fine or curly you may find yourself reaching for dry shampoo more often than other hair types in between wash days. 

To combat excess oil, dry shampoos typically come in two forms- sprays and powders. Here’s a few key difference to keep in mind between the two:

Dry shampoo sprays

Typically made with talc and aerosols  which allows for an easier, more evenly dispersed application to our roots. 

While convenient, aerosol dry shampoos tend to include controversial synthetic  ingredients that are harmful to our health and the environment.

The results of dry shampoo sprays aren’t long lasting. If you love refreshing your strands with aerosol based dry shampoo sprays, you may find yourself going through bottles very quickly-- which can be expensive over time.

Dry shampoo powders

Typically made with clean, easily recognizable ingredients like clays (instead of problematic ingredients) that are safe for you and the environment.

Cleaner ingredients = naturally-powered nourishment. Thanks to the simplicity of naturally-derived ingredients in dry shampoo powders, your scalp gets a dose of nutrient-rich vitamins that boosts scalp and hair health. 

Each application relies on either starch-based ingredients or alcohol to soak up excess oil and product build up, add volume, and revive lifeless strands. These ingredients help to support an antimicrobial environment by inhibiting the overgrowth of bacteria that contributes to odor, dryness and flakes that can occur when we’re on day-three hair. Our Scalp Revival™ Charcoal + Biotin Dry Shampoo is a lightweight, refreshing powder that is formulated without irritating alcohol, aerosol-free, 6-Free™ and powered by plant-based clay and tapioca & rice starches.  

Getting to the root of scalp health

Healthy hair is rooted in scalp care. A congested, irritated scalp is a sub-optimal environment for scalp and hair health and it’s also a major contributing factor to hair loss, thinning and breakage. Dryness, irritation, and inflammation prevent your scalp from absorbing essential ingredients needed for healthy hair growth, which can eventually lead to hair thinning and loss. 

When we follow the principles of skinification and treat our scalps like we treat our skin—with essential nutrients to help balance oil production, relieve itchiness, and quell dryness and flakes—we establish the optimal environment for hair growth and long-lasting strength.

What causes an oily and itchy scalp?

An oily, itchy scalp isn’t just uncomfortable, it can leave hair feeling greasy, weighed down and looking limp.  As a top hair concern, that’s often a challenge to treat,  it’s important to understand how to care for your scalp and when you might need the help of a little dry shampoo. Let’s take a closer look at a few common reasons for these conditions: 

Seborrheic dermatitis: Another name for dandruff, this condition creates white or yellow scaly flakes, irritation and inflammation that stems from an overproduction of yeast, hormonal fluctuations, seasonal changes and anxiety disorders. 

Genetics: Your genes may hold to the answer to why your sebaceous glands produce an excessive amount of oil on your scalp. 

Psoriasis and eczema: These common skin conditions can create red, inflamed, scaly patches that are painful and irritating. 

Washing your hair too often: It may sound counterintuitive but over-washing your hair may cause more harm than good.

What natural ingredients are good for the scalp?

Nurturing your scalp with nourishing ingredients helps prep your scalp for instant results and long-term health. We’ve packed our dry shampoo with the naturally derived benefits of the top oil-fighting, scalp-balancing, and decongesting ingredients (without that stiff, chalky feeling and lingering residue) to help your hair and scalp shine: 

Binchotan charcoal (a traditional Japanese charcoal, derived from Ubame oak) draws out impurities, detoxifies the scalp and hair, and refreshes dull, day-three hair.

Clay and tapioca & rice starches absorb excess oil at the roots to revive, clean and extend the life of your blowout.

Witch hazel extract helps to normalize oil production to prevent an oily scalp, making our dry shampoo a solution-oriented product as opposed to just a temporary fix.

Biotin delivers essential nutrients to the hair follicle to support healthy hair growth.

Our favorite tips + benefits of our Scalp Revival™ Biotin + Charcoal Dry Shampoo

Scalp Revival™ Charcoal + Biotin Dry Shampoo is our go-to solution for revitalizing our strands and refreshing our hairstyles (it’s great for all hair types and textures!). 

• It’s aerosol-free: Aerosols can irritate and dry out our scalps- they’re also harsh on the environment. 
• It’s TSA-approved: Toss your dry shampoo in your carry-on without ever worrying about TSA restrictions. Destination: healthy hair!
• All of our Scalp Revival™ products are 6-Free™, vegan, cruelty-free, and eco-friendly.

• Shake well and untwist the cap to reveal the spray dispenser. 

• Part hair and squeeze the bottle to dispense evenly five inches away from hair, focusing mainly on your roots.
• Allow dry shampoo to sit for two minutes, then brush or finger-comb through the hair thoroughly until the powder is blended completely.
• Use with the full Briogeo Scalp Revival™ collection for a clean, healthy scalp.

Dry shampoo vs. washing your hair

As tempting as it might be to reach for your dry shampoo often throughout the week, we recommend sprinkling dry shampoo on your roots no more than twice a week for optimal results. As with all dry shampoos, using dry shampoo too often without regular shampoos can counteract the benefits, leading to congestion, irritation, itchiness, dandruff, buildup, and flakes. 

Dry shampoo isn’t meant to replace your regular shampoo and conditioning routine. We love using it to absorb oil and refresh our strands, and it’s a great way to manage and revive lifeless strands—however, dry shampoo doesn’t actually cleanse or condition your strands.

Our dry shampoo is made with scalp-healthy ingredients, and it’s a wonderful addition to a well-balanced scalp care routine, but it shouldn’t completely replace wash days. Relying solely on dry shampoo will deprive your hair of the essential moisture, vitamins, and hair-healthy ingredients that supercharge naturally powerful shampoos and conditioner .

Since your scalp is an extension of your skin, (and we’d never let dirt, oil and products sit on our faces for days!) it’s a good idea to cap dry shampoo usage at two times a week. We recommend dusting dry shampoo on your strands when your hair or blow out is feeling oily, weighed down, or in need of a quick refresh in between wash days. 

Regularly shampooing is still an important part of your regimen to maintain a healthy scalp and hair. Keep in mind that how often you should be shampooing depends on your hair type and texture:

If your hair is oily or dry: Experts recommend washing your hair at least twice a week. 

If your hair isn’t oily or dry: Experts recommend washing your hair 2-3x’s a week. 

If your hair is textured, curly or coily: Experts recommend washing your hair once a week to once every 2 weeks.