Can You Use Charcoal Dry Shampoo on Color Treated Hair

Thank you Pantene for sponsoring this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I've always been amazed at the amount of products that have been created in the last ten years or so to deal with different hair styling and maintenance concerns. There are volumizing products, de-frizzing serums, styling creams, overnight treatments, heat protectants, dry shampoos and much more. As someone who uses all of these products on a regular/weekly basis, I appreciate that they help me create the look I love for my hair – voluminous, long-lasting waves with a little texture.

Using these products gives you your best hair possible, but a crucial step a lot of us are missing from our hair routines (and I've gotten out of the habit myself on and off over the years) is using a clarifying shampoo once a week to combat product build-up so you're not just adding more product to hair that still contains styling residue.

I'm camp "wash your hair a couple of times a week," but when you do shampoo, you need to really clean/de-gunk your hair. That sounds kind of gross, I know, but styling products, dry shampoo (whether it's a spray or powder formula) mixing with your hair's natural oils will cause build up (I learned recently that build up in your hair can result in hair gaining 4 percent of its own weight – OMG!)

You may have noticed that charcoal has become a popular beauty ingredient over the last few years. I personally use charcoal face masks (to help to purge pores and keep skin clear), charcoal teeth whitening powder (yes, it exists, yes, it's kind of weird, but it works), and now, charcoal shampoo and conditioner. I've been using Pantene's new Charcoal Collection shampoo and conditioner for about a month now (even taking it on vacation with us) and it's just what I needed for my weekly clarifying routine. Before you worry – the shampoo itself is transparent/light gray in color, so no worries about staining lighter hair.
Side note – I love the packaging and that the bottles have pumps. It's so easy and efficient.

If you're using hair styling products like serums and dry shampoo, not using a clarifying shampoo once every week or every few washes could be the mistake keeping you from healthy, shiny, voluminous hair.

I'm a twice a week washer – and while my hair isn't horrific or smelly or visibly greasy (thanks, dry shampoo) I have no qualms acknowledging that scalp oil, styling products and dry shampoo do build up in my hair and on my scalp. It's a given, and the price you pay for washing less often. In order to get the most from your hair and styling products, you need that clean slate to start with and using a clarifying shampoo once a week helps remove dirt and impurities, purify and resets the PH balance of your scalp.

Activated charcoal, the purifying ingredient in Pantene's new shampoo, works to detox hair by attracting impurities like a magnet and releasing antioxidants to help your hair look clean, voluminous and shiny (isn't science amazing?!) Pantene's Charcoal Collection Shampoo is a nutrient-infused formula with a Pro-V blend of activated charcoal, pro-vitamin B5 and antioxidants – and you (and I) will be delighted to know that it's also free of silicone, parabens and dyes. The Charcoal Conditioner is Pantene's first ever silicone-free conditioner. It rinses clean and doesn't leave any kind of residue on the hair, perfect for starting with a clean slate.

The other benefit to using a once-a-week clarifying shampoo? Your hair stays cleaner, longer. Yes, my friends, if you're getting all of the build-up out, it's like an insurance policy that you hair will actually be able to go 2,3 or (gasp!) 4 days without washing. Trust me on this! In fact, I took all of the photos in this post on hair that hadn't been washed in three days to prove it! Bottom line: use a clarifying shampoo once a week, especially if you're using styling products and dry shampoo – your hair will thank you!