Who Invented Dry Shampoo? Will We Ever Know For Sure?

Have you ever had a busy week and didn't have time to wash your hair?

Enter dry shampoo. This magical invention is a lifesaver for busy people everywhere. But who invented it and how does it work?

Let's find out!

Do We Know Who Invented Dry Shampoo?

Here's the best timeline we could find!

And spoiler alert, we're still not really sure who used it first! You'll find lots of competing theories, different names, and bits and pieces of information, but nothing that's absolutely definitively agreed upon.

Since the beginning of time, people have had to do without sufficient water for prolonged periods. And knowing human behavior, people were probably running just as late back in the day!

We believe the use of powders for dirty hair has been around since the late 1400s when people in Asia first started using clay to clean their locks.

In the mid-1500s, clay powders became popular to absorb dirt and oil in Britain due to the lack of water for bathing. People also began to color the powders for a fashionable, decorative look!

By the 1700s when long hair for men and wigs were popular in both England and America, well-off patrons were able to use powders to absorb the increased dirt and oil.

In the late 1700s, the first written reference to dry shampoo in the US was related to using starches to deodorize and improve the color of wigs.

Since 1790, at least 71 patents have been filed for dry shampoo products in the United States!

In the late 1800s, we have record of barbers using a foam substance to help clean the hair. Talcum powder became available in the 1900s.

In the early 1940s, Minipoo became the first brand of dry shampoo powder to be produced commercially. The Stephanie Brooke Company produced the dry shampoo that was originally advertised as a solution to unexpected, last-minute plans and as a great option to keep up health and appearances when sick.

It wasn't until the 1970s that the first dry shampoo was introduced in aerosol form.

Dry shampoo has continued to grow in popularity due to its convenience, improved technology, and availability in the market.

So we have a lot of people to thank along the way for the dry shampoo product we use today.

Do you think the very first person to try it and share it with a friend could have imagined that you would be able to just order it up and have it dropped on your doorstep in a day or two? Amazing!

How Does Dry Shampoo Work?

Dry shampoo works by absorbing excess oil and dirt from the hair and scalp. It is usually sprayed onto dirty and oily sections of the hair and then brushed through to comb out the excess.

Some dry shampoos also have conditioning properties that help to keep the hair healthy and looking its best. On the other hand, it can also aggravate dry hair.

Why Use Dry Shampoo?

There are many reasons why people use dry shampoo. Some people use it because they don't have time to wash their hair, others use it because they want to extend the time between washes, and others use it because it is gentle on the hair and scalp.

No matter the reason, dry shampoo is a convenient way to keep your hair looking its best in a pinch!