How to Use Dry Shampoo for Beautiful Hair In Any Sitch

Even if you're oiliest at your roots, don’t be afraid to use it on all of your hair. “It’s a great product for adding a bit of allover texture and strand separation,” says Sherry Heart, hairstylist and hair expert for Scunci.

“The biggest mistake that women make is spraying wet hair,” says Heart. “The powder can gunk up into a paste that won’t evenly distribute through the hair. It’s like what happens to sand when it touches water at the beach; it clumps.” (No time to dry? Try these 5 Totally Doable Ways to Style Wet Hair.)

Heart says holding your arm outright and spritzing from at least six inches away minimizes the white powder after-effect.

“Don’t panic about the white powder because you want it to soak up the oils,” she says. Let it sit for a minute or two, then blend it in with the rest of your hair with fingers or a brush. (Dry shampoo is one of the many ways you can extend the life of a good blowout. See 7 Ways to Extend a Blowout.)

Wait all you want, the powder won’t just go away with time. Heart recommends brushing it out with a paddle or round brush. Or, if you don’t have any tools handy, use your fingertips to lightly pat the powder into hair.

No matter the brand, all dry shampoos contain oil-absorbing ingredients that work wonders on second day hair—but avoid spritzing it on every day in winter. Those same ingredients that sop up excess dirt can cause your scalp to dry up, too, which can lead to flakes or dandruff. (Now that you've mastered dry shampoo, here's The Right Way to Wear All Your Makeup.)