Dry shampoo recall leads to search for alternatives
In late October 2022, "Potentially elevated levels of benzene" in some dry shampoo products caused a voluntary recall of many different brands of dry shampoo. Famous Unilver brands like Dove, Bed Head, Nexxus, and others are included in the dry shampoo recall.
Benzene is a known carcinogen, which means that it can cause cancer. The thought of possible benzene contamination in dry shampoo may be a cause for alarm. No worries, we have you covered!
While this may seem like a setback, it is a great opportunity to switch to a more natural option like using handmade charcoal soap and water to wash your hair. So if you don't mind getting your hair wet then this is the alternative for you. If you cannot get your hair wet or have no access to water for washing your hair, then just make sure not to use one of the dry shampoos that were on the voluntary recall list.
What are some of the ingredients in handmade charcoal soap?
Handmade charcoal soap is made with ingredients like vegetable oils, sodium hydroxide, and essential oils and does not contain any harmful chemicals like benzene. The sodium hydroxide is fully used up during the creation of the soap during a process called saponification, and it makes the handmade soap safe to use on both your skin and your hair. A handmade soap bar made with charcoal may also be more affordable than store-bought dry shampoo because it has more uses than shampoo. So why not give it a try? Your hair will thank you!
Use charcoal soap bars not dry shampoo to wash hair
For those of us who are fans of handmade soap, the idea of using it as a dry shampoo alternative might seem a bit odd. After all, we may have always thought that handmade soap is meant for cleansing our bodies, not our hair. But there are many benefits to using essential oil bar soap containing charcoal as a dry shampoo alternative! Here are just a few:
Activated charcoal handmade soap is scalp friendly
Handmade soap made with shea butter, activated charcoal, and essential oils is gentle on the scalp. Many commercial dry shampoos contain harsh chemicals that can strip the natural oils from your scalp, causing irritation and dryness. Handmade soap, on the other hand, is made with natural ingredients that are gentle on your skin and won't strip away your scalp's natural moisture.
Charcoal & shea butter soap cleans hair without stripping moisture
Handmade soap leaves your hair feeling clean and refreshed. If you've ever used a dry shampoo and been left with a powdery residue on your hair, you know how unpleasant it can be. Activated charcoal soap will leave your hair feeling clean and refreshed without being harsh and without stripping moisture from your hair.
Handmade soap is good for your hair! Homemade charcoal soap has more natural skin and hair-loving ingredients like oils and shea butter, unlike the ingredients in many commercial dry shampoos. This means that using handmade soap as a dry shampoo alternative may put you more at ease about what you are using to wash your hair.
Use a dilute apple cider vinegar rinse to help with pH balance
Hair has a pH of around 5 and may range from 4.5 to 5.5, while handmade soap typically has a pH of 9 to 10. A DIY diluted apple cider vinegar rinse has a pH of about 4.5, which is slightly acidic. This makes it the perfect choice for restoring the pH balance of your hair after washing it with handmade soap.
No benzene contamination in charcoal soap!
Using handmade charcoal soap with lavender and tea tree oil, shea butter, and lots of other great natural ingredients means you do not have to worry about possible benzene contamination like you might have to do if you were using a dry shampoo aerosol that was subject to the recent voluntary recall. Relax and enjoy the more natural way to wash your hair. Try a bar of charcoal soap as your dry shampoo alternative today.
What other dry shampoo alternatives are there to that do not involve water?
If soap and water is not an option for you to wash your hair, then a dry product may be what you have to use but just make sure to avoid one that is part of the voluntary recall of dry shampoos. You could try applying cornstarch, arrowroot, or baby powder on your scalp and brush it through to the ends. The problem with dry shampoo is some people are left with a white residue. The addition of a little activated charcoal powder or unsweetened cocoa powder to the other dry ingredients may help a little if you have dark hair. Some also find that bentonite clay is helpful for adding to a DIY dry shampoo. But unless you have no other choice and have to use something dry for cleansing your hair, handmade and cannot use water, charcoal soap and water to wash your hair is a great alternative
Conclusion:
Does the Unilever dry shampoo aerosol voluntary recall have you scrambling to find an alternative to dry shampoo for washing your hair? If you're looking for a gentle, residue-free dry shampoo alternative that will improve the appearance of your hair, look no further than handmade charcoal soap! Made with natural ingredients that are gentle on the scalp and good for your hair, charcoal bar soap is an excellent choice for those who want to ditch commercial dry shampoos in favor of something more natural and that gives you less worries about what you are using to wash your hair.