Dry shampoo: Should you be concerned about hair loss?
LONDON -- A woman who recently sought medical help after developing a bald patch was told by doctors that her hair loss was caused by dry shampoo, sparking a debate about the much used time saver.
Nicole Baxter from Belfast posted on Facebook about her ordeal, urging her friends to wash their hair with shampoo and water instead of dry shampoo.
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According to her Facebook post, Baxter went to her doctor last year complaining of a bald patch on her head which "kept getting bigger".
"My scalp was also very itchy and flaky. I had wee red sores and blisters all over my scalp and a terrible burning sensation all over my head - to the point where I would wake up several times a night due to the discomfort/pain," wrote Baxter on Facebook.
After being referred to a dermatologist, Baxter found out that her condition had not been caused by alopecia -- a condition doctors initially offered by way of explanation -- but by dry shampoo.
"Dry shampoo caused me to now have this bald patch on my head -- which I still have and it may or may not grow back, but nothing can be done -- and a terrible scalp for ages," Baxter continued.
"Just wash your hair people!"
"It is not worth having this awful patch that I might be stuck with on the side of my head all because I can't be arsed to dry my hair," she continued.
Baxter's post went viral, gaining more than 28,000 shares.
Dry shampoo, which contains an oil-absorbing substance to soak up hair grease and make it appear clean, has seen a surge in popularity in recent years; with brands like Procter & Gamble, Unilever and L'Oreal launching their own dry shampoo products.
According to market research company Mintel, nearly one in five women in the UK use dry shampoo when they don’t have time to wash their hair. And, data from Unilever suggests that approximately 83% of U.S. women skip daily hair wash at least once a week, by using dry shampoo and conditioner.
Given dry shampoo's widespread popularity, how concerned should we be about a possible link to hair loss?
Leonora Doclis, Senior Hair Loss Specialist at The Belgravia Centre told Mashable that while they've seen anecdotal evidence suggesting a possible link, there's not any tangible scientific proof to confirm it.
"We have been aware of anecdotal evidence about dry shampoo supposedly causing hair loss or thinning since 2014, but there is still no research data to confirm that this is actually the case," Doclis told Mashable.
"It may be that users of this staple hair care product tend to brush or wash their hair less frequently, leading to the appearance of more hair fall."
However, Doclis also noted that the bald patch could have been caused by hair breakage rather than hair loss.
"Some hair products have been found to cause the hair to break off, mostly those containing strong chemicals that change the state of hair, such as permanent hair dye and bleach, so it’s worth checking the ingredients of your styling products and opting for the most natural if you are concerned," Doclis said.
"Whilst hair breakage does cause shedding and gives the hair a thinner, often slightly frizzy appearance, it is not actually a hair loss condition and ceasing usage of the product causing the problem should ensure the hair grows through more healthily."
A spokesperson for the UK's Cosmetic Toiletry & Perfumery Association (CTPA) said that products such as these are "subject to strict European safety laws to ensure they are safe to use".
"This kind of reaction is very unusual and CTPA is not aware of there being any general or recognised link between dry shampoos and hair loss," the spokesperson told Mashable.
In an emailed statement, dry shampoo manufacturer Batiste said that all its products are "analytically tested for compliance to European Regulations".
"Independent laboratories conduct in-depth safety assessments and clinical patch tests for all products prior to launch. All our products have been certified as safe."
"As with any beauty product whether it be on the hair, body or face we recommend that you follow the usage guidelines and stop using it if sensitivity occurs," the statement continued.
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Rachel Thompson is the Features Editor at Mashable. Rachel's second non-fiction book The Love Fix: Reclaiming Intimacy in a Disconnected World is out now, published by Penguin Random House in Jan. 2025. The Love Fix explores why dating feels so hard right now, why we experience difficult emotions in the realm of love, and how we can change our dating culture for the better.
A leading sex and dating writer in the UK, Rachel has written for GQ, The Guardian, The Sunday Times Style, The Telegraph, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Stylist, ELLE, The i Paper, Refinery29, and many more.
Rachel's first book Rough: How Violence Has Found Its Way Into the Bedroom And What We Can Do About It, a non-fiction investigation into sexual violence was published by Penguin Random House in 2021.
