For as long as I can remember, i've been the kind of girl who wants to get out of the house rather quickly. I have never woken up early to "get ready" and instead have always opted for the quick and easy, out-the-door kinda routine. Even my evening skincare routine and bedtime rituals would fall under the "quick and easy" category. Because this season of my life as a working mom of two little ones, i'm all about squeezing the most efficacy out of my effort. 

And when it comes to hair care-- i'm all about efficiency. 

Enter: Dry shampoo 👋

For years, dry shampoo has been in my arsenal. But when I decided to opt for "cleaner" products with fewer chemicals, I struggled to find one that actually worked, especially for dark hair. 

Ingredients I Avoid In Dry Shampoo (and WHY)

In recent years, there has been a lot of increased awareness around chemicals and health risks. In 2022, there was a large dry shampoo recall due to high benzene levels detected in popular aerosol products. Some of the recalled products included brands like Bed Head, Nexxus, Dove, Suave, and Tresemme.

And there have been multiple other recalls by the FDA on behalf of benzene exposure risks. These recalls include personal care products like sunscreen in aerosol sprays and other hair products like hair spray. 

So what's the concern with benzene? According to the CDC, benzene is a known carcinogen. High levels of benzene have been linked with blood disorders and blood cancers including leukemia. 

But it isn't just benzene that I avoid in my personal care products. Here are some of the other potentially harmful chemicals + ingredients I try to avoid:

• Artificial + synthetic fragrances are known to be endocrine disruptors (meaning they can affect your hormone levels)

• propellants like isobutane, propane, and butane (again, these are found in aerosol cans) are associated with non-reproductive organ system toxicity with long-term exposure 

The good news is that there are so many companies on the market today that are considering these dangers and wanting to provide better products. 

My Favorite Non-Toxic Dry Shampoo Brand

Quality dry shampoo products with organic ingredients are becoming easier to find— but I hate trying a bunch of new products. Not only is it expensive trying new products, but I hate being wasteful. So even if i don’t love something, I feel obligated to use it up.

So when i found out Primally Pure had an organic dry shampoo without toxic chemicals, I was stoked to try it! I already loved their deodorant and skin care products that have all-natural ingredients, so I felt confident trying their dry shampoo too!

 I was even more excited when I learned they had a product for darker hair colors, as well as one for lighter colors too.

Here's the ingredient list:

• Organic Arrowroot Powder

• Organic and Fair Trade Cocoa Powder

• Kaolin Clay

• Baking Soda

• Essential Oils of Organic Pink Grapefruit, Organic Lavender and Organic Peppermint (not only do these give the dry shampoo a fresh smell, but they also help support a healthy scalp 👏)

The difference between the Dark Locks and Light Locks powder formula is the amount of cocoa powder. Unlike most conventional dry shampoo that has a stark white powder, the Lighter Locks has a slight tint to it from the cocoa. I think this makes the scalp look a little less "dusty" from white residue (IYKYK). 

With that, if you have black hair, even the Dark Locks might be a little light-- if you have black hair and have tried this one, i'd love to hear you experience! 

Primally Pure is a brand I love to recommend because they really prioritize holistic wellness and quality in their products. If you are ever wanting to try their products, you can save 10% off your order with code KAELYN10 🎉

My Dry Shampoo Routine

I have very course, thick hair. And it has always leaned towards the dryer side rather than being greasy. So, for as long as I can remember, I could easily go a week (if not longer) between wash days. But around day 4 or 5 it starts looking a little extra shiny.

This is when I break out the dry shampoo for a little refresh! On Primally Pure's website, they recommend using it liberally at night to help absorb excess oil. I feel like this tip helped make the dry shampoo powder even more effective and results in less of that powdery look. 

During my bedtime routine, I sprinkle the dry shampoo along my part and the front strands of my hair (mostly focusing on the hair that will be seen). Then I braid my hair or twist it into a top knot and go to sleep. When I wake up, I brush my hair out and style it however i'm going to wear it for the day. 

PRO TIP: You know those "no heat curls"?? I love them. It is the easiest way to literally wake up and go. I've used dry shampoo, wrapped my hair around the curler, and then woken up the next morning and been out the door within 5 minutes. Easiest way to style your hair, stretch the time between wash days, and avoid any harmful ingredients. 

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