Are you too busy to be bothered with lengthy haircare rituals? Maybe your morning shampoo doesn't quite get you through the day. If you're looking for a haircare short-cut, consider dry shampoo, a simple and effective alternative to washing your hair with water. A long-time staple in hospitals and nursing homes, dry shampoo is now a popular between-shower pick-me-up for anyone on the go.

Like traditional shampoo, dry shampoo removes oil, dirt, scalp flakes and styling product residue from hair. Instead of rinsing away these undesirables, like water-based shampoo, dry shampoo absorbs them and is then removed from the head by brushing. This method of cleansing hair without water is commonly used by campers with no access to running water, business travelers who arrive at their destination with no time to shower before their meeting and hospital patients who cannot easily manoeuvre into a "shampoo-friendly" position.

There are two basic types of dry shampoo: the commercially sold kind and the kind you make yourself. There are many brands of dry shampoo on the market, readily available at pharmacies and beauty supply stores. They come in powder or spray form. However, the average kitchen and bathroom contain a number of products which can be used as a dry shampoo, for example: talcum powder, corn starch, corn meal, baking soda and coarse salt. Mixing elements with different textures, coarse and fine, can improve the quality of your dry shampoo.

Giving yourself a dry shampoo is simple. First, brush all the tangles out of your hair. Then, put about 2 tbsp. of your chosen substance into a saucer or shallow bowl. Dip your fingers into the "shampoo" or rub some into the palms of your hands. Begin by massaging your scalp. Next, rub the shampoo into your hair, from roots to ends. one section at a time. Then wait. Give the shampoo about five minutes to absorb the oil on your scalp and hair. Finally, brush your hair until all dry shampoo has been removed.

A dry shampoo can restore body and bounce to limp locks in less time than a shower, shampoo, conditioning and blow dry. By reducing the frequency of water washes, dry shampoo extends the life of color-treated hair, allowing for a little extra time between salon visits. A dry shampoo saves your hair from potentially-damaging blow dryers and hot styling tools . And, of course, if clean, running water is temporarily unavailable, dry shampoo will tide you over until you can get to a functioning faucet.

Dry shampoos can be messy. When giving yourself a dry shampoo, use as little "shampoo" as possible and plan on a quick sweep or vacuum afterwards. Dry shampoos may result in frizziness. If this occurs, a few drops of jojoba or vitamin E oil can restore order to unruly frizz. Different substances work best for different hair types. For example, coarse salt might cling to especially oily hair and cornstarch can make dry hair even dryer. Finding the right formula for your particular hair type might take some experimenting.