Well, get ready to feel better. Francesca Fusco, a dermatologist in New York City and a scalp expert, says she’s never heard of this claim. “I’m not aware of any clinical studies or reports stating that dry shampoo can cause baldness,” she says. “Baldness can be genetic, due to autoimmune disease, or due to an inflammatory disorder. I haven’t heard reports of baldness from any of my patients using dry shampoo.” Randy Schueller, a cosmetic chemist, adds that none of the ingredients in dry shampoos can cause baldness, especially not the way that some articles claim.

The problems people see with their hair from using dry shampoo are a result of the way they are applying the product. “People are irresponsible with their application of dry shampoo. Dry shampoo is meant to absorb the oil in your hair, not your scalp, so if it’s applied correctly it wouldn’t even come in contact with your scalp.  If you look at the directions of most dry shampoos, they say to spray it ten inches away from your head and toward the roots, and then brush it through your hair. Oftentimes when I see people use dry shampoo, they blast the spray into their head only centimeters away from their scalp. This doesn’t allow it to activate through dispersion, and instead it goes on wet, and basically gets smeared onto your scalp.  This can  cause irritation.” But even if you are applying dry shampoo correctly, it’s not necessarily good for your hair.  “Dry shampoos provide very little, if any, conditioning. That means you could experience split ends and breakage from brushing.”

The bottom line? Dry shampoo won’t cause you to go bald, and you can safely use it occasionally, but it’s definitely not a replacement for washing your hair with shampoo. “Dry shampoo is great when you are short on time or when you don’t have access to water, but it’s not a substitute for regular shampooing and conditioning, “Proper cleansing is necessary to maintain an optimal scalp environment. If you feel like you’ve developed a flaky scalp from using too much dry shampoo, we suggest using skin care for your scalp products.  We carry Revita shampoo and conditioner products that cleanse your scalp for optimal hair growth.