The Best Dry Shampoo Powder Tips for Men

Dry shampoo powder is nothing new.

For hundreds of years people have been using waterless shampoo powder to keep their hair fresh. Shampoo wasn't a thing for a long time.

Shampoo powder has been making a comeback in recent years with women. For them, it's a great way to keep their hair fresh between washes and to add volume to their hair.

What about men? Should men use dry shampoos? The best dry shampoo powders work great for guys, too.

You shouldn't be washing your hair everyday anyway.  Shampooing your hair can leave it stripped of its natural oils.

You may have heard of the no poo method to hair care these days. It advocates healthy hair by not shampooing it. No poo doesn't mean not caring for your hair, though.

That's where dry shampoo comes in.

You can keep your hair clean without using shampoo as often. I like to think of it as a low poo method for hair care.

In this article I will review some of the best dry shampoos for men and give you some tips on how and when to use them.

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What is dry shampoo?

A dry shampoo isn't really a shampoo at all. It's a waterless solution that uses powder to clean your hair of sebum. Sebum is what makes your hair look oily, but it is very necessary for hair health.

Not enough and your hair is brittle. Too much and it's too oily looking.

Waterless shampoos will absorb the excess sebum using a starch like rice or corn starch. Some even have  clay powder.

The result is cleaner looking hair that also smells nice without having to wash it.

Dry shampoos can come in spray or powder form.

What is dry shampoo made out of?

The main ingredient in dry shampoo is some kind of oil absorbing substance and an aromatic to rid the hair of odors.

They typically use a starch, clay and vegetable powder and, sometimes chemicals, to absorb the sebum and clean the hair. You really have to read the label on dry shampoo powders. Especially the spray shampoo.

Spray dry shampoos will usually have alcohol and even a petroleum by-product. Obviously, these ingredients should be avoided.

Alcohol will dry out your hair and scalp and leave your hair brittle. It's used in the dry shampoo sprays to keep it from clumping your hair. It isn't necessary, though. There are non-aerosol and all natural dry shampoos like this one from Rahua that doesn't use alcohol or petroleum.

When to use dry shampoo powder

Dry shampoo is not meant to replace wet, traditional shampoo. It really is supposed to be used in between washing.

If you notice that your hair is looking a bit greasy a day or two after your last shampoo, then that's when you should use shampoo powder.

Then, a couple of days after that you can reapply it if needed. I wouldn't recommend using dry shampoo more than 2-3 times per week. And that is even if you are doing the no poo method for you hair.

Since it is a starchy powder, eventually it will build up in your hair and start to look gross. You'll notice that there are grainy looking bits of sebum saturated starch. Not exactly the look you were aiming for, I'm sure.

That's when you need to either use a regular shampoo to lather it out of your hair, or give it a good rinse with warm water.

Dry shampoo powder is a great travel hair care product. When you are on the road and need a waterless way to clean your hair then you really need this. On a long flight or if you are camping but still want to clean your hair, you will keep your hair looking, feeling and smelling clean even when your personal hygiene is being challenged. Dry shampoo powder is safe to bring on a plane since it isn't liquid.

Why men should use a dry shampoo

I am a big fan of the low poo method to care for your hair.

Many shampoos use harsh chemicals that do damage to your hair. Doing the low poo method will save your hair and let it adjust itself over time. Your hair will naturally balance itself and regulate how much sebum is secreted onto your hair.

A dry shampoo is the perfect solution for keeping your hair clean while trying to bring your hair back to it's natural state. It really fits in with the approach many men take with their hair. They want it to look good and still be maintenance free.

So many men think they must shampoo everyday. The damage they are unknowingly inflicting on their hair is a shame. If more men knew about low poo and dry shampoo powder then the problems many guys have with their hair would be gone.

If you do the low poo method and only shampoo occasionally, try a natural shampoo or hair product when you are ready to wash and style your hair.

Dry shampoo is a great way to treat fine hair. If you have fine or oily hair, dry shampoo will not only get rid of the oiliness and leave a nice matte effect, it will also give your thin hair some volume.

Fine, oily or curly hair can make it difficult to achieve the "just out of bed" look. Using a dry shampoo may be the answer you have been looking for. After applying the shampoo powder, let it absorb and then just ruffle your hair with your hands. Voilà! You've got a no fuss way to get that mussed look and cleaned up your hair in the process.

If you go to the gym or workout everyday then you are probably shampooing your hair one to two times a day and really killing all of your hairs natural oils. Try using a dry shampoo after the gym to keep it looking clean while absorbing the excess oil that was secreted when you sweat. Make sure your hair is dry when you apply it, however or it will clump up on you.

By not shampooing your hair as much, and using a good dry shampoo, you will notice that your hair is healthier, less oily looking and has more volume than ever before. it may take a few weeks, but the results will happen.

How to apply dry shampoo

Dry shampoo is meant to be applied when your hair is dry.

How you apply it depends on if you are using spray dry shampoo or dry shampoo powder.

Applying dry shampoo powder

You can either use it in the morning before you head out, or apply it at night before bed. When your hair is dry, use one hand to part your hair. With the other hand, sprinkle some powder onto the roots of your hair.

Part your hair again about an inch or two away and repeat. Do this until you have the top of your head pretty much covered.

Only shake a small amount. Too much and it will look really powdery and that is not how you want it to look.

If your hair is short, you can shake some powder onto the palm of your hand and rub it into the hair.

Let it sit for a minute or two and then brush it through your hair. Any excess will come out at this point. Then use your hands to ruffle your hair and rub it a bit onto your scalp.

You're good to go at this point. No need to do anything else. This takes less than 5 minutes to do.

For best results, apply it right before bed so the powder has a chance to absorb the oil.

Applying dry shampoo spray

Again, your hair should be dry when you apply the dry shampoo spray.

Part your hair with your hand and hold the can about 6 inches from your head. Spray the dry shampoo onto the roots of your hair. Try to not get any on your scalp.

Use quick sprays and move back and forth as you spray. Don't use too much or you will get a chalky look on your hair.

Part your hair again about an inch or two away and repeat until the entire top of your head has been sprayed. Now wait.

Let the dry shampoo do it's thing. Let it absorb into the hair for a couple of minutes.

Then massage it into your hair. If it looks a little chalky or powdery, you should brush it out at this point. If it's chalky, but, you have oily hair, then in about an hour or so it will go away.

For best results, apply it right before bed so the powder has a chance to absorb the oil.

Is dry shampoo powder safe for your hair?

Whenever I recommend a customer in the barber shop use a dry shampoo powder the next question is usually, "Is dry shampoo bad for your hair?"

The answer is no. I mean yes. Well, it depends.

There are certainly some dry shampoo powders that are bad for your hair. They don't use natural ingredients and can damage your hair and scalp in the process.

But, the same can be said of a traditional shampoo. Many contain sulfates and parabens that can cause cancer, or mess with your hormones.

Buyer beware. Always read the label and understand what the ingredients are before you buy. Not all hair products are safe for use. Dry shampoo is no exception.

If you have a skin condition on your scalp, then a dry shampoo is not a good idea. You should ask a dermatologist if it is ok. In all likelihood, you will be prescribed a steroid shampoo.

Don't use dry shampoo for more than a few days before washing or rinsing out. Your hair does need that oil and absorbing it with powder and not allowing the hair to absorb it will eventually cause your hair to get brittle.

I would say three days in a row should be tops before shampooing with traditional shampoo. If you are doing the no poo method then rinse your hair out well with warm water when you take a shower.

Here's a review of the Best Dry Shampoo Powders for Men

Before I get into the guide for the best shampoo powders, let me explain the criteria I used to put this list together.

I eliminated products that had damaging ingredients.

If the dry shampoo spray or powder had any alcohol or petroleum by-products in it, it was off the list now matter how good the results looked.

Any ingredient that would damage the hair after frequent use does not belong. Luckily, there are many natural dry shampoo powders on the market in addition to ones that don't use any harsh chemicals.

I excluded dry shampoos that had a funky odor.

Some dry shampoos just don't smell good. That all comes down to personal opinion, of course. Some, though, just smell funny to me and so I left them off the list.

Even some of the unscented ones had somewhat of a smell to them.

If you have to use a lot of it for it to work I didn't list it.

There are some shampoo powders out there that require dumping a lot of it or spraying a lot of it on to get the clean look you are going for. If you can't get more than a few weeks or a month out of one, then I decided it wasn't worth it. Of course, if you use it everyday for weeks, it will not last. And that is not how it is meant to be used, anyway.

The Best Dry Shampoos for Men

Best Overall Dry Shampoo

The Well Groomed Guy Dry Shampoo Powder

The Well Groomed Guy dry shampoo powder is formulated especially for men's hair.

Men and women have different needs for hair products since their sebum secretion is usually much different. Men tend to have oilier skin and hair and need a product that treats them with that understanding.

That's why I recommend this dry shampoo powder as the best choice for men.

Well Groomed Guy shampoo powder uses all natural ingredients to give you a healthy way to care for your hair. You won't be damaging your hair when you use this shampoo powder. The main ingredients are kaolin clay powder, rice flour and horsetail powder. Don't worry, horsetail powder is not an animal product. It is a plant!

You will get clean and fresh hair in just seconds when you use this dry shampoo powder. And it is scented with eucalyptus so it smells great. You hair will be left soft and style-able when you use this great shampoo powder.

A little goes a long way, so this bottle will last a while. Just sprinkle a little bit into your palm and rub onto the roots of your hair.

Though I love the old-school apothecary look of the bottle, the one drawback is that it doesn't sprinkle well. You have to put it in your hand since it isn't like a shaker. It pours out so be careful!

The bottle is 4 ounces and can travel since it is not a liquid. After the gym, on a long flight or just simply because you are trying the low poo method, you will get a lot of use out of this dry shampoo powder.

Best All Natural Shampoo Powder

Acure Organics Argan Stem Cell and Argan Oil Dry Shampoo Powder and Leave In Conditioner Bundle

This dry shampoo powder from Acure isn't formulated specifically for men, but it works great on short hair. As a bonus you get a leave in conditioner to keep your hair from looking dull after using the dry shampoo powder.

What's great about this shampoo powder is that one of the main ingredients is argan oil. Also known as Moroccan oil, it fortifies the hair and scalp. Whenever you can use an argan oil based hair product you should as it will work wonders on your hair. Even better is when you find a dry shampoo powder with argan oil!

In between washing your hair will look and feel clean without using any water. The leave in conditioner will hydrate your hair and give it body. The conditioner is made with argan stem cell technology making it even more effective at strengthening your hair. Argan oil has a high concentration of vitamin E, which increases the ability of cells to absorb oxygen leading to less congestion in the skin.

You can feel good about using Acure dry shampoo powder as it is organic, all natural and animal cruelty free.

Best Dry Shampoo Powder For All Hair Colors

Cultivar Organic Dry Shampoo Powder

Cultivar dry shampoo powder is great for men and women. The powder is very fine and absorbs the sebum quickly and without using too much powder.

The main ingredients are brown rice flour and corn starch, so it is very safe for your skin and hair. It's organic and all natural dry shampoo powder. I always try to use vegan or organic alternatives to conventional hair products whenever possible. As long as they work just as well, as this shampoo powder does, then there is no reason to use any harsh chemicals on your skin and hair.

It's easy to apply this shampoo powder as it has a twist top that controls the amount of powder it releases. You can apply it directly to your hair roots or put it in your palm and work it through your hair. The scent is a mix of cardamom and grapefruit for a light, citrusy scent.

A bonus is how eco-friendly the company is. Not only is the product organic and environmentally friendly itself, but there is minimal packaging and the container is a simple cardboard. It is easily recycled when you are done. or you could even reuse it for something else to reduce your trash.

Best Non-Aerosol Dry Shampoo Powder

Rahua Non-Aerosol Dry Shampoo Spray

 A dry shampoo spray is a great way to apply a dry shampoo powder. However, many of them contain toxic ingredients. They are unhealthy for your hair and to breath, as well as being eco unfriendly.

Rahua Voluminous Dry Shampoo Spray has the distinction of being vegan, cruelty-free and aerosol free. It's an all natural dry shampoo spray that is good for your hair and the environment.

The ingredients used are grown in the rainforest in a sustainable way.

How does it work?

The application is a breeze. Just part your hair and spray on the roots. A couple of spritzes does it, as a little goes a long way. With just a little bit of the shampoo spray you will get great texture, more volume and clean scented hair. Rahua Voluminous Dry Shampoo contains a proprietary blend of plant-based ingredients like cosmetic mineral clay, cassava starch, antiseptic star anise, and Madagascar vanilla bean to absorb the oil and sweat from your hair in between showers.

When you don't have time to shower but want your hair to look clean and smell fresh, Rahua dry shampoo spray is the way to go. Especially if you like the tussled, messy look.

The bottle is small so be careful when applying. Like I said, you don't need a lot to get the effect you are looking for so go easy and make it last. If you apply it as directed it will last you a while.

Best Dry Shampoo Spray for Dark Hair

Beauty by Earth Dry Shampoo Spray for Dark Hair

When you want to make sure that they dry shampoo powder doesn't look chalky or leave white residue on your hair, try Beauty by Earth. It goes on very lightly to absorb the sweat and oil from your dark hair.

It's safe on hair that is treated with heat, so if you use a hair dryer to style your hair, then have no fear. It's made for either women or men and is totally organic. Safe and effective on any hair type.

You only need a little bit to lighten up your hair and give it some nice volume. If you have longish hair then this is a very good option for you.

The non-aerosol spray is non toxic to breath and is gentle on your hair.

Dishonorable mentions

If you have been looking around for a dry shampoo, you have no doubt come across some other reviews. There are a lot that supposedly do a good job that I didn't add to the list. The reason why is that, although they might do a great job at giving your hair a clean and fresh look without water, they have a lot of damaging ingredients.

Here is a list of popular dry shampoos that will come highly recommended that I think you should stay away from.

• Klorane
• Bumble and Bumble
• Batiste
• Pssst
• Dove
• Big Sexy Hair
• Osis+

These are some of the worst offenders. They contain butane, alcohol and all kinds of other harmful ingredients. There really is no need to use anything that contains harsh chemicals that will be bad for your hair, skin and environment.

If you opt for a dry shampoo that I didn't mention in the reviews here, then please make sure you read the label carefully.

Final Thoughts on Dry Shampoo Powders

Waterless shampoo is a great tool to have in your hair product arsenal. When you don't have time to shower but need to have clean and fresh smelling hair then you should definitely have some dry shampoo powder stocked.

Take advantage of having hair. Rethink the way you care for it. Try the no poo or low poo method and see what happens. Use some dry shampoo in between washes. You have nothing to lose.

Take it from a bald guy, have fun with your hair while you have it! I wish I had hair just so I could try some of these dry shampoo powders for men reviewed here in this article!

Have you tried some of these or other dry shampoo powders? Let me know in the comments or on social media and let's talk about it. I want to spread the word that men should start using dry shampoos, too!