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Dry shampoo vs Dry conditioner vs leave-in conditioner! A waterless dry conditioner softens hair and reduces frizz. Check out the best dry conditioners for your hair and how to use them!
You must know how helpful dry shampoo is when your hair is feeling extra greasy and you don’t want to shower.
But what about those times when your tresses get really dry and frizzy and you don’t want to risk using a leave-in conditioner for fear of making them greasy or limp?
Enter the dry conditioner! Yes, that’s a thing that exists. So let’s first get to what a dry conditioner really is!
Related: Best Dry Shampoo For Oily Hair
Related: Best Dry Shampoo For Color-Treated Hair
What Is A Dry Conditioner?
A dry conditioner is an aerosol product that usually contains ingredients like silicones or oils that help add moisture to hair and reduce frizz. Unlike leave-in conditioners these products are not liquid and dry immediately on contact. So they don’t leave hair limp or wet and can be used right after styling them.
Dry Shampoo Vs Dry Conditioner 2022
If you want to know the main difference between dry shampoo vs dry conditioner then read on:
Main Differences Between Dry Shampoo and Conditioner
| Dry Shampoo | Dry Conditioner |
| Helps reduce oiliness on hair | Adds moisture to hair |
| Usually contains starch or rice powder that help absorb oiliness | Contains silicones or oils that help nourish hair |
| Adds volume to hair | Reduces frizz and softens hair |
| Might be powder or aerosol spray | Usually an aerosol spray |
| Can cause hair to look too dry if used excessively | Can make hair limp if used excessively |
| Some dry shampoos tend to leave white residue on hair | Does not leave residue but can cause product buildup if silicone-based |
Benefits Of Using Dry Conditioner
Now that you know what a dry conditioner is and how it differs from a dry shampoo, the million dollar question is why should you use it? Well there are several reasons why a dry conditioner benefits hair. These include:
Reduces Frizzy Hair Instantly
Frizzy hair is caused by a lack of moisture in your strands. So using a dry conditioner is a great way to instantly reduce frizzy hair. The one advantage dry conditioner has over leave-in conditioner is that it’s not liquid and gives a dry finish. So you get rid of frizz without ruining your hairstyle.
Softens Dry Hair
If your hair is feeling very dry, then this conditioner is a great way to nourish it. Applying oils or serums can leave hair with a wet look and even make it look greasy. But that’s not the case with dry conditioners.
Helps Keep Your Blowout Looking Fresh
I’ve always noticed that my Brazilian Blowout doesn’t look as good on day two or day three. But using a dry conditioner helps your hair stay smoother for longer as it controls frizz and dryness. So it’s a fantastic way of making sure your salon-styled hair stays looking good in the coming days too.
Saves Time When Used With Dry Shampoo
Listen, sometimes you just don’t have time to freshly shampoo, condition and then dry hair. But if you still want hair that looks freshly washed and conditioned then using a dry shampoo followed by a dry conditioner is the best way to achieve this.
Can You Use Dry Shampoo and Dry Conditioner At The Same Time
Yes of course, you can use dry shampoo and dry conditioner at the same time. If you’re running out of time and do not want to wash your hair the traditional way then you can use a dry shampoo to remove the excess grease from your hair and then a dry conditioner to help moisturize hair.
Is Dry Conditioner Bad For Your Hair
Dry conditioner like every other hair product isn’t bad for your hair if you’re using it judiciously.
Excessive use of dry conditioners can cause product buildup on hair as the main ingredient in most of these products is silicone.
Now while silicone is excellent at controlling frizz by smoothening hair, it also coats hair strands completely. So unless you’re using a clarifying shampoo to remove this buildup any sort of hair treatments or oils cannot penetrate hair easily.
For this reason most hair experts believe products containing silicones are bad for hair and don’t recommend them.
Also, dry conditioners cannot be substituted for regular shampoo and conditioner. Washing hair is important to remove dirt, grime and bacteria.
Your cuticles are also open after a shower thanks to the vigorous washing motions and warm water, so a regular conditioner will penetrate strands better.
Dry Shampoo Vs Leave-In Conditioner
No dry shampoos and leave-in conditioners are not the same. Perhaps the main difference between the two products is that leave-in conditioners are used to moisturize and nourish hair while dry shampoos are used to reduce grease and oiliness.
Another chief difference is that leave-in conditioners can be liquid-based, oils or cream while dry shampoos are well…dry. They do not leave hair wet and
Dry shampoos contain starches from corn or rice and absorb oil from hair leaving strands looking more volumized. Leave-in conditioners on the other hand contain a plethora of ingredients including oils, butters, silicones, etc. that help soften hair, hydrate it and smoothen it to reduce frizz.
Dry Conditioner Vs Leave-In Conditioner: Are They The Same?
The difference between dry shampoos and leave-in conditioners is more obvious but what about dry conditioners and leave-in conditioners. Don’t they both nourish hair without the use of water?
Well, yes and no. Leave-in conditioner doesn’t need to be used right after shampooing like you would a regular conditioner. Dry conditioner can be used without shampooing hair too.
And yes, both of these products nourish hair, but the difference ends there.
The chief difference between these two products is the formula. Leave-in conditioners (even the leave-in moisturizing sprays!) have a liquid formula that stays liquid when applied on hair and gets absorbed into hair slowly and dries out eventually.
Dry conditioners on the other hand are not liquid. In fact they are essentially waterless. They dry instantly on contact with hair so are preferred by stylists over leave-in conditioners as they don’t disturb the texture and shape of a hairstyle when applied.
How To Use Dry Shampoo And Conditioner
You can use a dry conditioner alone or right after using a dry shampoo. Here’s how you use both these products.
Firstly, shake the bottle of dry shampoo thoroughly as they are usually aerosol cans and you’ll need to make sure you don’t just get the gas.
Next, keep the bottle of dry shampoo at least 8-10 inches away from your hair, spray the shampoo on the roots and massage the product in.
Gently rub the dry shampoo onto your scalp with your fingertips till no trace remains.
Now onto the dry conditioner!
Unlike dry shampoos, you don’t have to spray conditioner on your roots. In fact, I recommend you not doing it so as to avoid product buildup.
Similar to the way you spray dry shampoo, apply dry conditioner to the ends of your hair.
FAQs about Dry Conditioner For Hair
Have any more doubts about using dry conditioner for your hair, well I’ve answered a few frequently asked questions about this topic below. Check it out!
What is the best dry conditioner for curly hair?
The best dry conditioner for curly hair is one that uses oils instead of silicones to moisturize your hair. Silicones are heavy and can drag curls down reducing volume and leaving them limp. Also curly hair tends to be drier and frizzier than other hair types so it needs more nourishment. So look for ingredients like olive oil, argan oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil, etc when buying a dry conditioner for curly hair. And try to make sure this conditioner is silicone-free!
When should you use a dry conditioner?
You can use a dry conditioner whenever you feel your hair is looking too frizzy or dry. If your hair tends to look frizzy a day or two after washing then you can use it then. Another great time to use a conditioner is right after you’ve got a blowout or the day after to keep it looking fresh.
Can you use a dry conditioner every day?
No you shouldn’t. Even if you’re using a silicone-free conditioner the oils and other nourishing ingredients in this product can build up on hair over time. This can cause limp hair, dandruff and even hair loss if the conditioners cause buildup on the hair. So I suggest only using dry conditioners while styling hair or when it’s too frizzy and you need a quick fix.
If your hair is feeling really dry and frizzy but you’re worried about using a leave-in conditioner for fear of making it greasy then dry shampoo is your best bet.
The main difference between a dry shampoo and conditioner is that while a dry shampoo helps absorb grease and oil from hair to increase volume, a dry conditioner adds moisture in the form of oils to control frizz and leave hair soft.
A lot of stylists prefer using a dry conditioner after styling hair in a particular way as unlike serums or leave-in conditioners they do not wet hair or disturb it.
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