How to Use Dry Shampoo for Men

What dry shampoo actually does

Dry shampoo is an absorbent powder, usually starch or clay-based, that soaks up oil at the roots so hair looks and feels cleaner without water. It hides grease; it does not remove sweat, dead skin or product from the scalp.

For men with short hair it has a second use: the powder adds grip and a matte finish, so it doubles as a light volumizer on a flat, oily top. That overlap with texture powder is why some people use one or the other, but texture powder is built for hold, while dry shampoo is built for absorbing oil.

How to use dry shampoo, step by step

Aim at the roots, not the lengths, and give it time to work before you touch it. Most bad results come from spraying too close and brushing too soon.

Make sure your hair is completely dry. On damp hair the powder turns into paste.
Shake the can well, then hold it 15 to 20 cm from your head.
Lift the top with your free hand and spray short bursts at the roots along the parting, the front hairline and the crown, the spots that get oily first.
Wait one to two minutes for the powder to absorb oil.
Massage the roots with your fingertips to break up any white residue.
Style as normal. A quick blast from a dryer on cool helps lift the roots on longer tops.

How much to use on short hair

On short hair, less is almost always better, because there is so little length to hide any white cast. Two or three quick bursts across the top is enough for most crops, quiffs and short side parts.

Dark hair shows residue more than light hair. If you have black or dark brown hair, look for a tinted formula or one that sprays on clear, and massage it in thoroughly. On a fade, keep the spray on the top: the short sides rarely get greasy enough to need it, and powder on skin-short hair looks dusty.

Dry shampoo on gym days

Dry shampoo works best as a morning fix for oil, and less well straight after heavy sweating. Sweat is mostly water and salt, and powder sprayed on damp, salty roots clumps and sticks.

After a workout, a quick rinse with plain water and a towel dry is the better reset. Save dry shampoo for days you train at lunch and cannot rinse, and let your hair dry first. Our guide to keeping your hair right after the gym covers headbands and quick restyles.

Why you still need to wash it out

Dry shampoo leaves powder on the scalp, and layered over several days it builds up with oil and sweat. That build-up can leave the scalp itchy, flaky or dull, and some people find it clogs the hair around the follicles.

Use it to stretch a wash by a day, not to replace washing. On the next shower, shampoo twice if you used it heavily, massaging the scalp with your fingertips. If you rely on it every day, your shampoo schedule probably needs adjusting; our page on how often to wash your hair can help you find one that suits your scalp.

Good use: day two after a wash, before a meeting, on a travel day.
Poor use: every day for a week, on wet or sweaty hair, on an itchy scalp.
Stop and see a doctor or dermatologist if your scalp stays red, sore or flaky.

Aerosol, powder or foam

Aerosol sprays are the easiest to spread evenly on short hair. Loose powders, applied with a shaker or brush, give more control and suit people who dislike spray, but they can be messy. A few foam and non-aerosol mists are also available.

Whatever you choose, test it on a day you are not in a hurry. The right formula is the one that disappears into your hair colour and does not leave the scalp feeling tight.