How to use dry shampoo so your hair actually looks fresh

Dry shampoo can be a brilliant shortcut when your roots look oily but the rest of your hair still looks good. It can also give freshly washed hair a little grip and lift. The trick is where you put it, how much you use and what you do after spraying.

Pic credit Emily Atack Instagram

The two-minute routine for greasy roots

1. Start with dry hair. Dry shampoo works best at the roots of dry hair. If you’ve just done a workout, let your scalp and hair dry first.

2. Part your hair into sections. Lift a section, apply a small amount to the roots, then move to the next. Focus on the crown, parting and areas around the hairline that look oily. You don’t need to coat your lengths.

3. Give it a moment. Follow the directions on your product, especially the distance to hold an aerosol can from your head. Let the product sit briefly so it can absorb oil before you touch it.

4. Work it through. Massage the roots with your fingertips, then brush or comb where it suits your style. If you can still see powder, keep working it through rather than adding more.

5. Check in natural light. A quick look near a window makes it easier to spot any residue along your parting or hairline.

Start with less than you think you need. You can always add another light application to a greasy patch; too much at once can leave hair feeling coated.

Want volume rather than an oil fix?

Apply a little dry shampoo to the roots at the crown, even if your hair isn’t particularly greasy. Let it settle, then massage the roots and gently lift them with your fingers. For extra height, change your parting or flip your hair to the opposite side for a moment before styling it back.

Fine hair can benefit from a light touch. The aim is a little texture and separation at the roots, not a cloud of product through every layer.

The night-before trick

If you know your roots tend to look oily by morning, try a small amount before bed. Apply it to dry roots, give it time to settle, then leave it alone. In the morning, massage or brush it through and see whether you need any more. This gives you a head start without piling on product as you’re heading out the door.

Remember: it’s a refresh, not a wash!

Dry shampoo absorbs some oil and can make hair look cleaner, but it doesn’t remove sweat, dirt or product build-up from your scalp. Keep washing your hair as often as your scalp needs, especially if you’ve been exercising or layering on styling products.

How to stop greasy hair in its tracks: five expert-approved tricks that actually work

You know the story: you’ve washed your hair in the morning only to find your roots looking greasy again by lunchtime. If oily hair is a regular occurrence, don’t worry as we have compiled our favourite tricks that can make all the difference.

Reconsider your washing routine

While it’s tempting to shampoo daily, over-cleansing can strip the scalp of its natural oils, potentially encouraging it to produce more. Instead, try gradually spacing out washes and opt for a gentle, balancing shampoo.

Put shampoo and conditioner where your hair needs it most

When you do wash, concentrate shampoo at the roots, where oil builds up, and keep conditioner strictly to the mid-lengths and ends.

Watch out for product build-up

Styling creams, oils and even dry shampoo can accumulate on the scalp, so introduce a clarifying shampoo once a week for a proper reset.

Then there are the less obvious habits: constantly touching or brushing your hair can transfer oils from your hands and scalp through the lengths, while an overdue pillowcase change certainly won’t help.

Last resort

And for the days when your roots still refuse to cooperate? Apply dry shampoo before they become greasy, ideally before bed. It has time to absorb excess oil overnight, leaving hair fresher and fuller by morning.

Need more help with your hair? Give us a call or drop into the salon.

Why your hair turns oily - and what to do it about it now

Here’s the thing: a certain degree of oiliness is not only normal, but necessary. The scalp produces sebum as a protective mechanism, keeping both skin and hair adequately hydrated. The trouble starts when this process tips out of balance, leaving hair looking limp and greasy rather than healthy.

1. Over-washing can backfire
It may seem counterintuitive, but washing your hair too frequently can make oiliness worse. Regular stripping of natural oils prompts the scalp to compensate by producing more sebum, often resulting in the very greasiness one is attempting to avoid.

2. Hair type plays a role
Straighter hair types tend to appear oilier more quickly. Without curls or texture to slow its progress, sebum travels easily down the hair shaft, making it more visible from root to tip.

3. Product choice matters
Not all cleansing routines are created equal. Water alone will not dissolve oil effectively, and relying just on conditioner can allow residue to build. A well-formulated shampoo is essential for properly removing excess sebum and maintaining balance.

4. Lifestyle factors contribute
Heat, humidity, exercise and heavy styling products all encourage oil accumulation. These external influences can turn an otherwise manageable scalp into a persistently greasy one.

The practical approach
Wash regularly—but not excessively—with a suitable shampoo, avoid overloading the hair with product, and tailor your routine to your hair type. In most cases, restraint rather than excess is the key to restoring equilibrium.

These are the three most common hair problems and how to fix them

Oily, dry or frizzy hair can leave you feeling deflated and like you hide under the duvet for the day. No need - here are our salon-approved tips to restore your hair to its former glory.

Problem: Oily, greasy hair

Solution: The best way to get rid of oily scalp and greasy hair is to improve your hair care regime. That means washing your hair with a paraben-free shampoo and conditioner to clear your clogged pores and scalp.

You could also try using a clarifying shampoo every so often, which can help reset the health of your hair. Diluted apple cider vinegar or tea tree oil also helps.

Problem: Dry scalp

Solution: Argan oil brings back moisture to your scalp and forms a protective layer against extreme heat. You also need to avoid using any heat-based hair styling products while suffering from a dry scalp.

Problem: Frizzy hair

Solution: Washing your hair less often and avoiding hot water can help with the frizz. Applying Argan oil can also add moisture to hair and protect it from excess heat.

How often should I wash my hair? The experts wade in

How often should you wash your hair? It’s a question we get asked a lot at the salon, and the answer depends on a few different things.

What happens if I wash my hair too much?

If you wash your hair too much, you can remove the sebum (the natural oil your scalp produces). This is vital to healthy, shiny hair. But don’t be scared of oily hair, because despite what shampoo brands want you to believe, washing your hair a lot can turn your good hair day into a bad day.

Most people don’t need to wash their hair every day or even every other one, and how often you do it depends on quite a few factors. The simplest answer is that you should wash it once it’s oily and feels unclean to the touch.

What other factors influence how often you should wash your hair?

Sebum (hair’s natural oil)

Oil is probably the biggest culprit behind what most people consider dirty hair, and it can leave hair limp and clumpy. How much oil you produce will depend on your age, genetics, sex and environment. Children and older adults don’t produce as much sebum as teenagers or 20-30 year olds.

Hair type

Straight and thin hair will need to be washed more often than thick or curly hair. This is because straight hair is easily coated by sebum, so it’ll look greasy faster. Thick, wavy or curly hair tends to be dry because the oil doesn’t coat the strands as easily. Sebum is actually a crucial part of well-defined curls, because curly hair needs more moisture to stay soft and prevent frizzing.

Sweat

As you might expect, a sweaty workout does your hair no favours. How much you sweat is a big factor in how often you ought to wash, or at least rinse, your hair. Sweat can spread sebum and make your hair look and feel dirty. It can also cause your hair to smell.

Why is my hair oily?

Why is my hair so oily?

Healthy hair produces a certain amount of sebum, or oil, as a way to hydrate your scalp and protect your hair. And the amount of oil you produce varies depending on your hair type, how often you shower and other lifestyle factors like that.

Sometimes this natural oil can collect on your hair, especially at the root - and this can look greasy or oily.

If this sounds familiar, then we’re here to tell you the causes of oily hair, products that can control oil production, and some home remedies for when your hair looks too greasy.

So what’s the cause?

The oil in your hair is part of your body’s defense system for the sensitive hair of your scalp. This oil mixes with sweat and dirt, coating your scalp and sometimes the top of your head, too. This is actually normal, so don’t panic.

How to fix it

Practicing good hygiene by washing your scalp often with a shampoo cleanses the oil and gives your hair a fresh start. But saying that, some hair types (straight hair for one, sorry guys) are prone to oil build-up and certain lifestyle habits, like exercise, over-use of styling products, and being out in the heat or humidity can add to your bad hair day.

Photo by Chris Slupski on Unsplash

Cause 1: Over-washing

If your hair is oily or greasy one of the causes could be over-washing.

Every time you wash your hair with shampoo, it sends the scalp the signal to produce more sebum. If you’re washing your hair too often, your scalp gets the message that it needs to be in oil production overdrive.

This can result in oily build-up on your scalp - and the greasy look you’re trying to avoid.

Cause 2: Hair type

Straight hair is especially prone to collecting oil because the hair shaft doesn’t have any texture or wave to it, so oil slides straight down the hair shaft and collects all over your head. It also makes oil in your hair more visible when hair hangs straight down.

Photo by freestocks on Unsplash

Cause 3: Using the wrong products

Another cause of oily hair is the type of styling products you use. Sebum is a type of oil, which means that simply washing it with water doesn’t break it up.

Rinsing your hair with just water or skipping the shampoo step and using only conditioner can allow oil to build up. While it might not be easy to spot the oil when your hair is drying, it quickly appears oily again only a few hours or so later.

That’s because only certain ingredients, found in most shampoos, can break down the oil that builds up on your hair.

Greasy hair? Here's why and how to fix it

Why is my hair so greasy?

As you’re probably already aware, healthy hair produces a certain amount of sebum, or oil, as a way to hydrate your scalp and protect your hair. And the amount of oil you produce varies depending on your hair type, how often you shower and other lifestyle factors like that.

Sometimes this natural oil can collect on your hair, especially at the root - and this can look greasy or oily. If this sounds familiar, then we’re here to tell you the causes of oily hair, products that can control oil production, and some home remedies for when your hair looks too greasy.

So what’s the cause of greasy hair? The oil in your hair is part of your body’s defense system for the sensitive hair of your scalp. This oil mixes with sweat and dirt, coating your scalp and sometimes the top of your head, too. This is actually normal, so don’t panic.

Practicing good hygiene by washing your scalp often with a shampoo cleanses the oil and gives your hair a fresh start. But saying that, some hair types (straight hair for one, sorry guys) are prone to oil build-up and certain lifestyle habits, like exercise, over-use of styling products, and being out in the heat or humidity can add to your bad hair day.

Reason 1: Over-washing

If your hair is oily or greasy one of the causes could be over-washing. Every time you wash your hair with shampoo, it sends the scalp the signal to produce more sebum. If you’re washing your hair too often, your scalp gets the message that it needs to be in oil production overdrive. This can result in oily build-up on your scalp - and the greasy look you’re trying to avoid.

Reason 2: Hair type

Straight hair is especially prone to collecting oil because the hair shaft doesn’t have any texture or wave to it, so oil slides straight down the hair shaft and collects all over your head. It also makes oil in your hair more visible when hair hangs straight down.

Reason 3: Over styling

Another cause of oily hair is the type of styling products you use. Sebum is a type of oil, which means that simply washing it with water doesn’t break it up. Rinsing your hair with just water or skipping the shampoo step and using only conditioner can allow oil to build up. While it might not be easy to spot the oil when your hair is drying, it quickly appears oily again only a few hours or so later. That’s because only certain ingredients, found in most shampoos, can break down the oil that builds up on your hair.

How often should you wash your hair?

How often should you wash your hair? It’s a question we get asked a lot at the salon, and the answer depends on a few different things…

If you wash your hair too much, you can remove the sebum your scalp produces - this is vital to healthy, shiny hair. And don’t be scared of oily hair, because despite what shampoo brands want you to believe, washing your hair a lot can turn your good hair day into a bad day.

Most people don’t need to wash their hair every day or even every other one, and how often you do it depends on quite a few factors. The simplest answer is that you should wash it once it’s oily and feels unclean to the touch.

But what other factors influence how often you need to wash your hair?

OIL

Oil is probably the biggest culprit behind what most people consider dirty hair, and it can leave hair limp and clumpy. How much oil you produce will depend on your age, genetics, sex, and environment. Kids and older adults don’t produce as much sebum as teenagers or 20-30 year olds.

TYPE OF HAIR

Straight and thin hair will need to be washed more often than thick or curly hair. This is because straight hair is easily coated by sebum, so it’ll look greasy faster. Thick, wavy or curly hair tends to be dry because the oil doesn’t coat the strands as easily. Sebum is actually a crucial part of well-defined curls, because curly hair needs more moisture to stay soft and prevent frizzing.

SWEAT

As you might expect, a sweaty workout does your hair no favours. How much you sweat is a big factor in how often you ought to wash, or at least rinse, your hair. Sweat can spread sebum and make your hair look and feel dirty. It can also cause your hair to smell.

Why is my hair so oily?

Why is my hair so oily? we hear you cry. Well, there can be many reasons for this and we’re here to help you get to the bottom of it.

As you’re probably already aware, healthy hair produces a certain amount of sebum, or oil, as a way to hydrate your scalp and protect your hair.

And the amount of oil you produce varies depending on your hair type, how often you shower and other lifestyle factors like that.

Sometimes this natural oil can collect on your hair, especially at the root - and this can look greasy or oily.

If this sounds familiar, then we’re here to tell you the causes of oily hair, products that can control oil production, and some home remedies for when your hair looks too greasy.

So what’s the cause?

The oil in your hair is part of your body’s defense system for the sensitive hair of your scalp. This oil mixes with sweat and dirt, coating your scalp and sometimes the top of your head, too. This is actually normal, so don’t panic.

Practicing good hygiene by washing your scalp often with a shampoo cleanses the oil and gives your hair a fresh start. But saying that, some hair types (straight hair for one, sorry guys) are prone to oil build-up and certain lifestyle habits, like exercise, over-use of styling products, and being out in the heat or humidity can add to your bad hair day.

Photo by Chris Slupski on Unsplash

Cause 1: Over-washing

If your hair is oily or greasy one of the causes could be over-washing.

Every time you wash your hair with shampoo, it sends the scalp the signal to produce more sebum. If you’re washing your hair too often, your scalp gets the message that it needs to be in oil production overdrive.

This can result in oily build-up on your scalp - and the greasy look you’re trying to avoid.

Cause 2: Hair type

Straight hair is especially prone to collecting oil because the hair shaft doesn’t have any texture or wave to it, so oil slides straight down the hair shaft and collects all over your head. It also makes oil in your hair more visible when hair hangs straight down.

Photo by freestocks on Unsplash

Cause 3: Products

Another cause of oily hair is the type of styling products you use. Sebum is a type of oil, which means that simply washing it with water doesn’t break it up.

Rinsing your hair with just water or skipping the shampoo step and using only conditioner can allow oil to build up.

While it might not be easy to spot the oil when your hair is drying, it quickly appears oily again only a few hours or so later.

That’s because only certain ingredients, found in most shampoos, can break down the oil that builds up on your hair.

Six of the best shampoos for greasy hair

Greasy hair is not a look anyone is striving for and even with the best dry shampoo in the world, sometimes the only answer is a good old fashioned wash.

And if you’re looking for a product to get rid of heavy duty oil without stripping your hair of its natural goodness, we’ve rounded up some of our favourites.