EcoLiving Ideas

By Chryso D'Angelo on Aug 15, 2012

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As the busy mom of a toddler, I’m always on the go, so I don’t get to shampoo my hair as much as I’d like (eating and bathing with soap come first and second).

Often, a last-minute peek in the mirror before heading out the door reveals–gasp—grease monkey mane! I normally pull my waist-long locks into a top bun and hope no one notices my oily crown. Recently, however, I discovered a quick fix: dry shampoo.

It’s not a glamorous product. In fact, you never see gorgeous models with lustrous bouncy locks hawking it on T.V. However, it is the secret hair weapon used in Hollywood!

“Dry shampoo helps you go longer between washes and adds texture to limp hair that needs some extra body,” says Julien Farel, owner of Julien Farel Salons worldwide. “I use it a lot when I’m prepping actors and models for photo shoots.”

Perfect post workout, after a long flight or during camping trips and other outdoor adventures (where bathing facilities are scarce), this product also scores an A+ for the environment by conserving water and extending the life of a blowout, resulting in less frequent use of electricity and reducing your carbon footprint. It's the perfect product if you're going green!

Numerous dry shampoos come in the form of a shake bottle (picture baby powder), while others are delivered via a propellant like butane (which replaced chlorofluorocarbon gasses as propellants in the 1980s after those were found to contribute to the diminution of the ozone layer).

Most blends contain starches (including rice and tapioca) and pure essential oils (like caraway, basil and peppermint) and manage to leave out parabens, aluminum, and talc. What better way to freshen up your follicles in a flash? I tested four brands. Here’s what I found:

1. Zosimos Field Straw Simply Sprinkle Dry Shampoo

Safety:
• This company had ‘champion’ status on the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics' Compact.

• This product hasn’t been ranked on the Skin Deep database, however 228 other Zosimos items have (their rankings have ranged between 0-2 in safety (low hazard).

Environmental responsiveness: The ZB studio reduces its carbon footprint by using 100 percent wind power and reports that it only patronizes suppliers that use sustainable harvesting practices, grow pesticide-free plants and produce Certified Organic and or natural ingredients. Some of the groups ZB studio supports include the Denali Citizens Council and Reef Check Australia. This company does not test on animals.

Packaging: Recyclable; the container is made of white cardboard and is lined with parchment paper.

Results: Shake this odorless blend of ingredients through six tiny holes and dust it over your head. But don’t use too much! The first time I tried this, I powdered my hair like Martha Washington and there was no getting it out! I learned–and fast—that a very little goes a long way (which is also nice on my wallet). I also like to sprinkle a touch on my fingers, then work it into the oily spots around my scalp in the crown area. This stuff works and it’s got such a low hazard rating—fantastic!

Ingredients from packaging: Iris Bermanica (Orris) Root; Organic Maranta Arundinacea (Arrowroot); Zea Mays (Corn) Starch.

Practicality: $13 (0.16 oz.)

2. Rene Furterer Paris Naturia Dry Shampoo

Safety
• This company had 'non-signer' status on the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics' Compact.

• This product ranked 6 out of 10 in safety on the Skin Deep database (moderate hazard).

Environmental responsiveness: The brand uses renewable botanical sources to source its 100 percent natural active ingredients.

Packaging: Recyclable

Results: It’s no surprise that this product won Allure Magazine’s Best Beauty Award in 2010. Rice and cornstarch powders provide cleansing action while clay and silica powders absorb excess oils and impurities. After a comparison of the products, I realized my hair was the softest, the fullest, and felt most 'oil-free' after using this product. Plus, the light aroma of basil, mint and blackcurrant is lovely. While it does carry a ‘moderate’ hazard warning, there is no denying that it gets amazing results and delivers a high-quality finish.

Ingredients from packaging: Butane, Propane, Isobutane, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Starch (Oryza Sativa), SD Alcohol 39-C (Alcohol Denat), Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Carum Carvi (Caraway) Seed Oil (Carum Carvi), Cyclodextrin, Cyclomethicone, Fragrance (Parfum), Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Iron Oxides (CI 77499), Isopropyl Myristate, Kaolin, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil (Mentha Piperita), Ocimum Basilicum (Basil) Oil (Ocimum Basilicum), Silica.

Practicality: $12 (1.6 oz.)

3. Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo With Oat Milk Non-Aerosol Spray
Safety
• This company had 'non-signer' status on the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics' Compact.

• This product ranked 6 out of 10 in safety on the Skin Deep database (moderate hazard).

Environmental responsiveness: KLORANE uses only plants grown by their own farmers. As a result, the brand can ensure that sustainable farming techniques are practiced, and that each plant offers 100 percent traceability in order to guarantee purity and safety.

Packaging: Recyclable.

Results: I love the non-aerosol, eco-friendly bottle. However when I attempted to administer the powder onto the top of my crown by spraying the top down as the directions advised, the very fine white powder just slightly fell onto my forehead and face. Like other butane-free dispensers in this category, I realized that sprinkling some on my hand and applying to the oily centers of the scalp works best. This product is virtually fragrance-free and bolstered my hair follicles, but it seemed to take a little longer than the others to apply.

Ingredients from packaging: Oryza Sativa (Rice) Starch (Oryza Sativa), Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Hectorite, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Flour (Avena Sativa), Kaolin, Silica, Cyclodextrin, Fragrance (Parfum).

Practicality: $7.50 (1.06 oz.)

4. Frederic Fekkai Au Naturel Dry Shampoo

Safety
• This company had 'non-signer' status on the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics' Compact.

• This product ranked 6 out of 10 in safety on the Skin Deep database (moderate hazard).

Environmental responsiveness: There is currently no available information on Fekkai's environmental protection efforts.

Results: The pointy applicator on top of this bottle makes it easy to scatter the dry powder on your scalp instead of all over the bathroom sink. Rice starch and corn starch do a great job of eliminating excess oil and neutralizing odor. However, there is a slight aroma that’s hard to describe. It’s neither pleasant nor offensive, but it adds a sense of ‘fabrication’ to the powder that takes away from the fresh factor you so want to find in a hair product that’s meant to make you feel cleaner.

Practicality: $23 (3 oz.)