Dry shampoo can leave your roots feeling dusty (stock photo) (Image: Marina Demeshko via Getty Images)
Put down your can of dry shampoo, because there’s something lurking in your makeup bag that could tackle greasy hair in seconds. If you’re battling oily roots but haven’t got time to wash your hair, dry shampoo can prove invaluable. A swift spray and a quick brush through, and your roots can appear revitalised without needing to completely wash and restyle your locks.
However, dry shampoo comes with drawbacks, particularly that it can coat your scalp with a fine layer of powdery residue that leaves you longing to rewash your hair regardless. According to one skincare expert on social media, though, there’s a superior method to refresh greasy roots using a commonplace makeup product.
Zion Ko Lamm posted a video in which she revealed you can use micellar water to give your roots a rapid refresh between wash days. Many makeup wearers will have micellar water to hand as it’s most frequently used as a makeup remover, but it can also deliver impressive results on your scalp when you’re caught short.
She said: “To the girl who told me to use micellar water instead of dry shampoo for greasy and oily hair, I love you.”
In the caption of her video, Zion outlined how the micellar water functions. She explained she uses a cotton pad to dab the product onto her hair, and it operates by binding oil and debris together so they can be easily lifted from your hair.
She further explained: “Save this for next time when your hair is greasy, but you have two minutes and zero time to shower. This does not replace your shampoo. But when you literally can’t wash your hair and need to look presentable fast, this actually works.
“Instead of spraying it on the scalp, I use a cotton pad and wipe, since the whole point of micelles is that they bind oil and debris so you can lift it off. This way, you’re not just masking but removing and building up.”
Utilising micellar water instead of dry shampoo is effective because it is composed of molecules that have a hydrophilic (water-loving) head and a hydrophobic (oil-loving) tail. The hydrophobic side binds to oil, dirt, and other build-up, which is why the product is so proficient at removing things like sunscreen and makeup from your face.
However, it should be highlighted that micellar water is not a substitute for washing your hair and, similar to dry shampoo, it can leave your hair with some unwanted texture that may make you want to wash it anyway. While you won’t get powdery residue, some people claim micellar water makes their hair feel “sticky”, even though it does help it appear cleaner and less greasy.
Others vouch for the hack as a last-minute solution to greasy roots, though. Some commenters on Zion’s post said they have been using micellar water on their hair for “years”, whilst others insisted they would be giving it a try themselves.
One individual commented: “Genius. Can’t wait to try!”
Another added: “I’m going to try this!”.
There were also commenters who suggested other alternatives to dry shampoo, including baby powder and corn starch, which people recommend applying with a makeup brush.
For brunettes, one person said they mix corn starch with a small amount of cocoa powder to make the powder brown.
