Dry shampoo is a lazy girl’s dream come true. Who needs to hassle with getting undressed and wet, then applying various lotions and fixing your eyeliner? Not you. 

However, as miraculous as the stuff is, you shouldn’t rely on it too much if you want to protect your tresses. Here’s a guide on how often you should use dry shampoo and when you should give it up and shower. 

6 Times to Make Dry Shampoo Your Friend 

Nearly every woman should keep a bottle of dry shampoo in her medicine cabinet and perhaps her briefcase or backpack, too. Even if you have dark-colored locks, you can use the stuff to rescue you on multiple occasions. 

1. You Wake up Late

Either your alarm didn’t go off, or you hit the wrong button when you thought you reached for snooze. Either way, you now have time to grab a gingerbread latte or shower, but not both. 

The solution? A few spritzes of dry shampoo can help to tame your bedhead and soak up any sweat or oil that accumulated overnight. A quick wash-up at the sink and a dash of mascara will have you out the door looking fresh and polished in minutes. 

2. After the Gym 

You desperately want to meet up at the smoothie bar after your spin class. However, you don’t want to look like a drowned — and stinky — rat. 

Spritz a bit of dry shampoo on sweaty strands and let it dry while you use a disinfecting wipe to de-funk your armpits. Then, brush out your hair, and you’ll look like you barely worked your quads — until you start walking a little funny. 

3. Rainy and Humid Days 

Rain may be May flowers’ best friend, but it isn’t as kind to those of us with fine locks. Our curly-headed cousins get a body boost, but those with thinner hair fall flat. 

Enter the dry shampoo. You can spray your roots with a touch of this stuff after styling to prevent your look from falling flat. 

4. After Spending Time With Smokers 

If there’s anything worse than the smell of cigarette smoke, it’s the way the odor lingers on your hair and clothing. If you need help kicking the butts, you can find free resources to help you quit. 

However, sometimes, you can’t help hanging out with a stinky crew — such as when you visit your two-pack-a-day parents. On such occasions, a few spritzes of dry shampoo can keep your hair from smelling like an ashtray. You might still have to change your shirt, though. 

5. On a Road Trip 

Is there anything that feels more liberating than hitting the open road on a long weekend with no destination in mind? Who wants to hassle with hygiene? 

However, the shampoo brands many hotels seem to favor don’t do the most fabulous jobs on your ‘do. Plus, you might eschew the pricey room altogether and pitch a tent. Stay fresh with the help of your favorite dry shampoo — between that and wet wipes, you can bust that living-rough look and smell before returning to civilization. 

6. When Going Office to Evening 

After-work happy hours offer valuable opportunities to advance your career and hobnob with higher-ups in your organization. However, after a long day, it’s natural to look like a wilted flower. 

Perk up your appearance with a few spritzes of dry shampoo to revive weary locks. When you look better, it gives you the confidence boost you need to chit-chat with the head of the division where you hope to win a transfer. 

When to Give in and Shower

As you can see, dry shampoo has multiple virtues. However, you still need to make time for thorough grooming more than occasionally. 

Most experts agree that showering several times a week is sufficient unless you work in a coal mine. However, over time, dirt and bacteria accumulate on your skin. Going without showering for three days or more could leave these germs on your clothes and bedsheets, where they can lead to embarrassing breakouts. 

Furthermore, dry shampoos leave a small deposit on your tresses. Over time, this builds up and gets clumpy. When you go to brush your hair, you might find it impossible to run a comb through your tangles and suffer breakage as a result. The only cure is to wash it. 

How Often Should You Use Dry Shampoo? Whenever You Need a Quick Freshness Boost 

In the end, you should use dry shampoo as often as necessary to perk up tired tresses. However, please don’t use it as a substitute for a healthy grooming routine.