Dry Shampoo
Dry shampoo is a time saver especially when it comes to styling 2nd day hair.
Most dry shampoos use isopropane, propane, and/or butane to create a powerful blast from an aerosol can, plus an overpowering scent to mask odor and alcohol to mattify oils. Hair is often left dry and/or sticky with residue from the product.
Why It's Effective
Innersense Refresh clears up excess oil and lightly lifts the roots of your hair - effectively refreshing 2nd day hair.
Leaves your hair feeling like hair - not stiff or sticky
Little to no scent
Foam to powder goes on wet - air dry or quickly blow dry after application
Invisible – does not leave white tint or powder residue
2.37 oz bottle is travel friendly
Contains tapioca starch and witch hazel to counter oil and honey to add body and shine. Many dry shampoos contain alcohol which dries out hair, but Refresh does not.
Why It's Safe
Aerosol dry shampoos contain propellants butane, isobutane, and/or propane which are highly flammable gases that can explode when exposed to high heat. Butane and isobutane can be contaminated with 1,3-butadiene which is a carcinogen.[2][3][11]
Most dry shampoos mask unpleasant smells with a strong fragrance. Companies are not required to disclose what makes up "fragrance" as it is considered a trade secret. Studies have revealed endocrine-disrupting phthalates in many fragranced products. Learn more about why you should avoid fragranced products in this blog post.
Innersense Refresh is non-aerosol foam formula that is free of fragrance and other harmful ingredients commonly found in dry shampoo:
Cetrimonium chloride – preservative that is a skin toxicant or allergen. Animal studies show developmental and reproductive effects in moderate doses.[4]
Benzyl benzoate – associated with allergies and dermatitis, and possibly endocrine disruption. Experimental studies show biological effects favoring malignant transformation on human breast cells for benzyl benzoate.[5]
Fragrance – mix of fragrance and chemicals associated with allergies, dermatitis, respiratory distress and potential effects on the reproductive system. Can contain unnamed toxic ingredients like phthalates which are associated with developmental and reproductive toxicity, endocrine disruption, and cancer.[6][7][8][9]
Phenoxyethanol- skin, eye, or lung irritant. In 2008, the FDA warned consumers not to use Mommy’s Bliss Nipple cream because it contained phenoxyethanol which was harmful to infants. The statement indicated phenoxyethanol could “depress the central nervous system and may cause vomiting and diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration in infants.” Phenoxyethanol remains a controversial ingredient and even “green” beauty products continue to use it as a preservative.[10]
Switch
Batiste contains butane, isobutane, propane, benzyl benzoate, fragrance, and cetrimonium chloride.
Oribe Gold Lust contains butane, propane, fragrance, and phenoxyethanol.
DryBar Detox Dry Shampoo contains isobutane, propane, talc, fragrance, bht, and alcohol.
How to Buy
Price at the time of publishing is $24.
Tips
I checked with Innersense on their inclusion of limonene and linalool in their ingredient lists since these are flagged by the EWG. Here is what they had to say:
“These are natural oil compounds that are considered as allergens and are required to be listed by EU standards as our products are globally compliant. Any product utilizing a fragrance derived from natural oils needs to list their natural allergens. These are not harmful but denotes that some can be allergic to them.”
References & Resources
[1] https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/isobutane#section=Fire-Potential
[2] https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/chemical-substances/challenge/batch-4/butane.html
[3] https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/chemical-substances/challenge/batch-4/isobutane-containing-1-3-butadiene.html
[4] https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/109158197227152
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3443608/
[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5093181/
[7] https://oehha.ca.gov/media/downloads/proposition-65//p65list091319.pdf
[8] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4097177/
[9] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14572300
[10] https://www.healthywomen.org/content/blog-entry/fda-warns-mothers-about-mommys-bliss-nipple-cream
[11]https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=458&tid=81
