Day 3 hair girlies know—you always remember your first time…using dry shampoo (geez, get your minds out of the gutter). Greasy roots and funky smell could now be banished in an instant, making all of our avoiding-hair-washing fantasies come true.
But a recent recall of certain dry shampoos has raised concerns about the safety of this product.
So, is dry shampoo bad for you? To find out, we went to a trusted source: the Environmental Working Group (EWG). They put us in touch with Dr. Homer Swei, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of the Healthy Living Science team that researches chemicals in everyday items.
Below, he answers our questions.
First, release your breath and relax your shoulders down away from your ears. “Not all dry shampoo is bad for your health,” Dr. Swei says, “because dry shampoo comes in many different forms.”
The main type to watch out for: aerosol. “Dry shampoo aerosols are of particular concern due to small droplets associated with increased inhalation concerns,” Dr. Swei says. “Non-aerosols have lower risks.”
Additionally, aerosol dry shampoos may contain the carcinogen benzene. “It’s an impurity found in some propellants such as isobutane. FDA recently found unacceptable levels of benzene in aerosolized products (and hand sanitizers),” he explains. “You may have also seen numerous recalls associated with high levels of benzene.”
EWG’s advice when it comes to dry shampoos:
“People need to avoid using these aerosols until the industry can fix these problems in the supply chain around benzene,” Dr. Swei says. “The supply chain of the propellants, the butane or propane fuel for the spray cans, must be affected to have these high levels of benzene in each of the aerosol products.”
In short, steer clear of the aerosols. Instead, choose non-aerosol dry shampoos like a few of our favorites below. And remember, even with these, moderation is key. Overuse of dry shampoo can lead to buildup, which can cause scalp irritation and even clog your hair follicles.
Skyline Dry Shampoo Powder
Price: $32
R+Co
Voluminous Dry Shampoo
Price: $32
Rahua
Scalp Revival Charcoal + Biotin Dry Shampoo
Price: $25
Briogeo
Pret-A-Powder Post Workout Dry Shampoo Mist
Price: $31
Bumble and Bumble
Non-Aerosol Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk
Price: $20
Klorane
Floof Dry Shampoo
Price: $14
Billie
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