Safer Dry Shampoo’s

Serious question: what did women do before dry shampoo? I think it might be the most practical invention of the decade/century. There certainly are dozens of dry shampoos on the market and it’s hard to know which one to try. Because there are so many dry shampoo’s on the market, some manufacturers are skimping on both the ingredients and the quality of the dry shampoo. And if you’re interested in safer beauty products (products without less-than-stellar ingredients), it’s even more difficult to know what to choose since there is so little regulation in the beauty industry, so I’ve gone out and done the research for you! I went ahead and tested six different safer dry shampoos for about a week each. I kept using the ones I liked best for the past two months to make sure I really actually liked them. All of these products are:
Dye-free, aluminum-free, paraben-free, Sulfate-free, phthalate-free

Why a Safer Dry Shampoo?

There is very little regulation in the beauty industry in the U.S., and very few harmful ingredients are banned, while in Europe over 800 harmful products have been banned. This includes makeup and haircare products–pretty much everything that we use on our bodies. Yes, the days of Aquanet are gone (I hope!), but it would be reassuring if there was more transparency with beauty products and that companies would be forthcoming with why they use certain ingredients. I think this will change in the coming years as there are several groups (especially Beautycounter representatives) that are lobbying congress as we speak for safer beauty laws. There are also concerns about the continued use of aerosol products and how they will impact the environment. I looked into 5 popular and not-too-pricey dry shampoos to see how they worked on my hair. Keep in mind that I have dark brown hair and wash it about every 2-3 days.

Aerosol Dry Shampoos

I know, I just said they were bad and now I’m talking about them. Why? Because they do work really well and I figure a lot of you probably still use them (I do, though I try to use them sparingly).

Best Smelling: Hair Food Dry Shampoo

I was really excited about this Hair Food dry shampoo because someone recommended it to me, but to be honest, I did not love it. The smell is truly lovely–white peach and nectarine! If you want a dry shampoo that makes your hair smell good, look no further. However, it didn’t absorb oil that well for me. It doesn’t spray on white, even with a lot of shaking. I don’t know if that’s what makes it absorb oil better, but that seems to be the pattern. I really wanted to like this one, but at $11.99, I would need it to do more.

My Favorite: Hask Chia Seed Dry Shampoo

This was my number one safer dry shampoo. This Hask Dry Shampoo has quickly become one of my favorites! It does the job of absorbing oil and keeping your hair looking clean and smelling good, and of course is
dye-free, aluminum-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, and phthalate-free. It does spray on as a white powder, but it rubs in quite easily. I’ve been using it now for about two months, and I keep reaching for it. It’s also very affordable at $6.49. Pick this one up on your next Target run ladies!

OGX Dry Shampoo

I was really excited to try the OGX dry shampoo because I LOVE their shampoo and conditioners! They are the most affordable safer shampoos on the market and they work well. Unfortunately, this dry shampoo just doesn’t cut it for me. It really didn’t absorb oil very well and gave more volume to my hair than anything. I’ve actually been using it more like hairspray than dry shampoo. They seem to have re-formulated their brand since i bought mine, so the new version might be worth a shot.

Non-Aerosol Dry Shampoos

This category of dry shampoos is definitely safer for the environment and they’re also a lot more compatible with dark hair. They are typically made with arrowroot powder or cornstarch – both of which absorb oil quite easily. These dry shampoos work best if you tease your hair a little before using them. The best way to apply these dry shampoos is with a big powder brush, or to dab them on the roots of your hair. Non-aerosol dry shampoos are actually more effective than aerosol at absorbing oil, but they don’t add the volume that many of us are looking for.

Franklin & Whitman Spring Garden Dark Hair Shampoo

I heard about this dry shampoo from my Beautycounter friends and I was excited to try it. I was surprised that I was pretty disappointed by it, though. I did not like the smell-grapefruit, rosemary, and eucalyptus–a combination I thought I would like. It also did not work as well as other powder shampoos I have. At $20, this was one of the priciest dry shampoos I tried.

Primally Pure Dry Shampoo for Dark Locks

I love a lot of other Primally Pure products, so I eagerly tried this dry shampoo and I loved it! Primally Pure uses kaolin clay and organic arrowroot powder to absorb oil and they have two versions–one for light hair and one for dark hair. This is one of the few dry shampoos that actually makes your hair feel softer. Unfortunately, both versions of the dry shampoo are sold out right now, but I will notify you guys when it becomes available again! And you can 10% with the code ‘theblissfulmomma’ on any of the Primally Pure products.

Whole Love Organics Dry Shampoo: A Favorite

This is actually the first natural dry shampoo I tried a little over a year ago when I started switching to safer beauty products and I still love it! It smells like chocolate and works very well at absorbing oil. Also, this jar will last you a very long time; I’ve had mine for almost a year and barely made a dent in it. It is made by a college friend of mine, Grace, and she is so passionate about making high quality organic products that work. You should definitely check out Whole Love Organics!