Why are dry shampoos harmful?

Dry shampoos — are essentially absorbents, most often based on starch, rice flour, talc, or kaolin. They absorb sebum, visually refreshing the hair, but do not cleanse the scalp, merely masking the dirt.

How dry shampoos contribute to hair loss

Clogging of hair follicles. Absorbing powders together with sebum, dead cells, and impurities form a dense film that:

• disrupts skin respiration;
• contributes to inflammation of the follicle openings (folliculitis);
• creates an environment for the growth of fungi and bacteria (e.g., Malassezia), exacerbating seborrheic dermatitis — one of the factors of alopecia.

Disruption of scalp microbiota. Constant use of dry shampoos with aggressive ingredients alters the skin's pH and kills beneficial microflora. This increases the inflammatory background, and with prolonged exposure activates inflammatory cytokines in the skin, suppressing the activity of hair follicles.

Oxygen and nutrient deficiency for hair bulbs. When the openings of the follicles are clogged and inflamed, microcirculation of blood is disrupted, and thus the delivery of oxygen, vitamins, and amino acids to the hair matrix is impaired.

This can lead to telogen alopecia — hair loss due to premature transition from the growth phase (anagen) to the resting phase (telogen).

The role of aluminum in the composition. Aluminum — is a neurotoxin that, with chronic exposure, can penetrate through the damaged skin barrier and act cumulatively at the local level.

Clinical consequences

Chronic use of dry shampoos can lead to:

• Telogen alopecia (temporary hair loss, hair falls out with the bulb);
• Androgenetic alopecia (if there is a predisposition, inflammation triggers accelerate its development);
• Contact dermatitis and folliculitis, which complicates the growth of new hair;
• In rare cases — traction alopecia, if hair is often styled in tight hairstyles without washing.