6 of the best natural dry shampoos that don’t scrimp on efficacy

Courtesy of brands

Because swapping to a plant-based formula doesn’t mean you have to compromise on quality

Olivia McCrea-Hedley

8 December 2022

I can’t remember what I did before dry shampoo. For those mornings when you sleep through your alarm and have 15 minutes to leave the house, or the times when you just can’t be bothered to wash your hair, I can confirm that dry shampoo is a life (and time) saver. Anything that gives me a few more minutes in bed gets a ‘yes’ from me.

It’s the ultimate all-rounder: all it takes is a few spritzes applied to the roots and massaged in with fingers, or a little sprayed onto a hairbrush and worked through lengths to extend the time between wash days.

And on freshly washed styles (especially fine, flyaway hair types) it can also add volume and grip – perfect for styling up-dos.

More on hair care:

But, recently, opinions of dry shampoo – and beauty products in general – have been changing. The days of reaching for just any canister in the supermarket are over.

Now, we’re all being more thoughtful about what we put on and into our bodies. And the beauty industry is following suit, making major moves towards a more considered approach to product formulas; ones that focus on natural ingredients, rather than relying on potentially harsh chemicals. Great for you and the planet. What’s not to love?

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You see, dry shampoo has had a bit of a bad rap of late. In October, in the U.S., major consumer goods companies Procter & Gamble and Unilever recalled many of their dry shampoos due to fears over traces of benzene in its products.

It’s important to note that the levels found in testing ‘would not be expected to cause adverse health consequences,’ and no reports of adverse effects have been reported from using the formulas, but it still caused concern for some using dry shampoos.

Fortunately, our favourite hair brands are already way ahead of us on this and have had more natural dry shampoo formulas in the works for a while.

In fact, if you didn’t look at the ingredients list, you wouldn’t even know they’d switched to more plant-based formulas, they’re that good.

So, how do you use them? In the same way you would any other dry shampoo, ofc. Don’t even think about it.

Simply work your chosen formula into greasy roots, massage your scalp, brush it through (if you’re working with straight hair/styling an up-do) and I personally like to finish with a cold blast of my hairdryer to get rid of any residue and to add shine.

The best natural dry shampoos

Ready to make the swap? These are the most effective formulas to try now:

Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Biotin Dry Shampoo, £22

Briogeo is one of those brands that always gets it right.

This formula contains a host of natural ingredients, from charcoal to draw toxins out of the scalp to a mixture of clay, tapioca and rice starch to absorb excess oil.

It also helps to fight grease in the long run, thanks to its witch hazel extract, which with regular use can help to normalise oil production.

Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo, £21

The brand behind the cult blow dry bars also has a product range designed to extend your style for even longer – and even recreate the look at home.

This paraben, sulfate, phthalate and cruelty-free vegan formula banishes oil in just a few spritzes and contains golden root extract, which helps to prevent breakage and add moisture to hair.

It also comes in a travel size, which is great for popping in your handbag.

Davines More Inside Invisible Dry Shampoo, £24

This is a great option if you’ve got darker hair, as this formula is – as the name suggests – invisible. It leaves no white marks and no residue, just soft, clean-feeling hair.

It’s also made with 95.5% biodegradable ingredients and CO2-neutral packaging. A great all-rounder.

Rahua Voluminous Dry Shampoo, £30

This Rahua dry shampoo is as conscious on the outside as it is on the inside: it’s made with plant-derived, organic ingredients such as clay and cassava root to cleanse hair and add volume, plus its packaging features an environmentally friendly non-aerosol dispenser.

Bouclème Foam to Dry Shampoo, £18

This does exactly as it says on the tin. It starts off as a wet foam, which makes it the perfect option for refreshing curly hair (as powders tend to dry them out), and then as you work it in with your fingers, it turns into a powder to absorb oil from the roots.

It’s vegan and contains 97% naturally derived ingredients, too.