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“My hair has been dry since using solid shampoo”. We sometimes hear that solid shampoo makes hair dry and dull. Sometimes they are even impossible to disentangle, they look like straw. Very often, the real responsibility for the dryness of your hair, lies with a lack of knowledge of solid shampoo, more than a real aggression of the latter on your hair. It is therefore important that you understand the reasons for your hair feeling dry by using strong shampoo. We will see in this article why solid shampoo makes your hair dry and dull. Then in a second part tips and solutions so that the solid shampoo does not dry out your hair. 

Why solid shampoo makes your hair dry and dull?

A process will take place when you go from liquid shampoo to natural shampoo. At first you may feel that solid shampoo is making your hair drier and duller. It is normal, it is the period of capillary transition. Here's what explains what your hair goes through during this time and why your hair is dry:

• Un adaptation time to be observed so that your solid shampoo does not dry out your hair

When you switch from liquid shampoo to solid shampoo, a hair transition will take place and a time to adapt for the hair to get used to the brand new product, is going to be necessary. The hair will then initially appear dry. He will be duller because it undergoes detoxification from the old chemicals found in liquid shampoos. Sometimes, in addition to looking dry, your hair will also be sticky at the root. This symptom is proof that you are adapting.

• A drastic change in composition in your shampoos can lead to the dry hair problem

Indeed, liquid shampoos and solid shampoos have absolutely not the same components in their formula. Liquid shampoos will be provided with water, silicones, quats, and sulfates. This formula represents 90% of the composition of liquid shampoos. They are responsible for the impression of shine and softness of the hair. Yet they act as a decoy. They give the impression of healthy hair, while they are responsible for the deterioration and drying of the hair. 

Solid shampoos are mainly composed of mild surfactants, which do not strip the scalp and hair. They are also composed of hydrating and nourishing natural vegetable oils; and essential oils packed with nutritional properties. This drastic change in composition can cause the solid shampoo to appear to dry out your hair. And I say "seems" because very often, the hair is already dry and dull before even going to the solid shampoo!

• Chemicals in liquid shampoos that act as a decoy 

Liquid shampoos do not treat your hair. On the contrary, they camouflage the symptoms of unhealthy and dry hair thanks to silicones and sulfates. The silicone will cover your hair with a film that will make it look shiny. Yet he goes drying out your hair in the long run because under this layer, they cannot breathe. The sulfate as it allows the base to wash the hair, will strip the ends and dry the scalp. 

• The effect of going natural on your hair

As long as you keep using products that are high in silicone and sulfate, there are no worries. On the surface they appear to be in good health. However, when you pass over the natural hair routine, that's when you notice the damage and the real health of your hair. Sometimes the reality is difficult to accept: dull, dry hair, split ends… Solid shampoos, having a more natural composition and softer surfactants, they do not act as a lure on your hair. The first few weeks your hair appears drier, but over time and as they adapt to your new products, they will only be lighter, more beautiful and healthier. So hang in there, this is just a bad time to go! 

We will see in this second part solutions and tips so that your solid shampoo does not dry out your hair. And this, especially by seeing the techniques to use your bar shampoo properly. But we'll also see that if your drying out hair problem lasts over time, the solid shampoo you are using may not be suitable for you. We will then see how to choose a solid shampoo to avoid dull and dry hair.

Solutions to prevent solid shampoo from drying out your hair

Solid shampoos can make your hair is dry and dull for several reasons. The first can be due to improper use of your natural shampoo. The second reason may be due to the composition of the shampoo which is unsuitable for your hair.

How to properly use your solid shampoo against the problem of dry hair ?

Here is our tips for using your shampoo properly and ensuring that your solid shampoo does not dry out your hair.

• Alternate between your liquid shampoo and your solid shampoo at the beginning. No need to go from everything to nothing overnight. Indeed, as we have seen, it often takes some time for the hair to adapt to get used to the solid shampoo. Alternating and gradually switch to solid shampoo, will allow you to have less dry and less dull hair.

• Do not apply your solid shampoo to the lengths and ends to avoid drying out your hair. The first function of shampoo is to wash, and therefore it necessarily has a light stripping action. No need to insist on your lengths, which will be cleaned simply with the flow of shampoo on them when rinsing. 

• Abuse pre-shampoo care as an oil or a mask to prevent your solid shampoo from drying out your hair. Then use a conditioner if possible natural, and always without silicones! If your solid shampoo dries your hair strongly, finish with a moisturizer in the form of a cream on damp hair or on dry hair depending on your preferences. 

• Rinse your solid shampoo well to prevent it from dulling your hair. Indeed, residues can stick to your hair, and thus weigh down and dry out your hair. Find out how to rinse your solid shampoo well in this article.

• apply a small amount of strong shampoo to prevent it from leaving your hair dry. Lather it in your hand, then apply to the scalp, massaging it gently. The solid shampoo only foams very little, so be careful not to use too much or it will dry your hair even more! Indeed, a shampoo that foams a lot does not mean that it washes well, but only that it is very high in surfactant. Starting from the same principle, you don't need to do several shampoos in a row. One application is enough.  

Tip: To help you recognize silicones, Cosmetics Observatory created an INCI list. This list lists all the components of cosmetics. By typing "silicone" in the search bar, you will have all the names of the ingredients that are listed as such. Easier to navigate ...

• Remember to nourish and hydrate your hair. Once a week, make yourself a nourishing mask based on vegetable oil (castor, argan, avocado or jojoba) or with shea butter. Very good ally to fight against dry and dull hair!

How to choose the right solid shampoo that does not dry out your hair?

If your problem with dry hair using your solid shampoo persists over time, it is probably not for you.. If possible, wait about two months before changing your solid shampoo. The time to have was at the end of the transition period. Do not hesitate to change it if your hair is too dry and it becomes split. Here are our tips for choosing a shampoo suitable for dull and dry hair problems:

•  To prevent your solid shampoo from drying out your hair, you must avoid attacking your hair with stripping products as much as possible and therefore favor gentle washing bases. This is because solid shampoo contains surfactants and some can dry out the hair more than others. Before buying it, take a good look at the composition and choose a product that contains either:

• Watch out for essential oils (ET) present in your solid shampoo which can make your hair dry. Indeed, it is possible that the EO are not adapted to your hair. They can be responsible for the problem of drying out your hair. This especially when they are present in too large a quantity. If you are using a solid shampoo with essential oils, try a shampoo without EO which may be more suited to your nature. 

• The solid shampoo does not necessarily contain moisturizing active ingredients. However, these prevent the hair from becoming dry and dull. Prefer shampoos with vegetable oils: coconut, jojoba, sweet almond, hazelnut and argan oil are the most suitable for nourishing and moisturizing dry hair.

• To hydrate your hair and prevent your solid shampoo from giving you dry hair, choose one containing a vegetable butter. Very often, you will find shea butter. But there is also mango butter or cocoa butter which is very effective against dry hair.

If you want to buy a solid shampoo for dry hair, find out in our article best solid shampoos for dry hair, the ingredients suitable against hair dryness ; and our selection of most effective shampoos to hydrate your hair.

It is normal that your solid shampoo dries your hair when you are in full hair transition period. There are solutions to reduce and compensate for the problem of dry hair and help you get through this change better. However, if your hair does deteriorate and dry out severely over time, shampoo is probably not for you. It will then have to be changed by following our advice above.