No white cast left behind.
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The struggle of using dry shampoo as a brunette is real. Chances are you’ve sprayed on dry shampoo and unknowingly walked out the door with a stripe of white in your hair. That’s because “dry shampoo is always formulated with a starch ingredient, which can leave a white powdery cast on dark hair if you don’t apply it correctly,” explains celebrity hairstylist and natural hair YouTuber Annagjid “Kee” Taylor.
Thankfully, you can prevent this dreaded residue by choosing a tinted or colored product. With that in mind, we conducted hours of research on the best dry shampoos for dark hair available today (we tried a few ourselves, too), evaluating each pick on key ingredients, how they sit on the hair, application ease, and results. After considering numerous products, we narrowed down our list to these top-performing dry shampoos for dark hair that will give your hair just-washed energy.
Tip
We love dry shampoos that are formulated specifically for brunettes but know that if you use any good-quality dry shampoo correctly, you won’t have to deal with a white, chalky cast any longer. The key? “Don’t use too much, let it sit, and brush it through,” recommends Taylor.
Best Overall
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo
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Key Ingredients: Patented Healthy Hair Molecule (OFPMA) | Hair Type: All | Size: 8.0 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This dry shampoo receives high marks from our editors with dark hair (actually, most of our editors love this one and use it regularly). The innovative formula contains a patented molecule that actually removes dirt and oil from the hair (no really).1 We love that it goes on totally invisible (as long as you spray it from about six to eight inches away, otherwise you’ll have to rub it in a bit). It contains odor neutralizers and a time-released fragrance that ensures your hair smells fresh and clean all day long.
Best for Thick Hair
Bumble and Bumble Prêt-à-Powder
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Key Ingredients: Pink clay, UV filters | Hair Type: All | Size: 1.3, 3.1, or 7.5 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No
This dry shampoo is made specifically for thick hair that’s wavy, curly, or coily. It’s got an ultra-nourishing formula that absorbs excess oil without stripping hair of much-needed moisture. Oh, and it’s completely invisible, so there’s no white residue in sight when you spray it onto dark hair. Users say a little goes a long way, so you’ll get great bang for your buck with this one.
Best for Curly Hair
Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo
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Key Ingredients: Sea buckthorn berry, rice starch | Hair Type: Oily | Size: 5.3 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Another great pick for wavy, curly, and coily hair, this softening dry shampoo refreshes roots and helps keep curls intact. We love how it cools the scalp upon application and includes ingredients like sea buckthorn berry, a powerhouse superfruit that has fatty-acid omega 7 which helps increase hair elasticity and hydration. Some did report it left their hair a little greasy, which may be a byproduct of that fatty acid.
Best Splurge
Philip B Everyday Beautiful Dry Shampoo
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Key Ingredients: Bergamot, orange peel oil | Hair Type: All | Size: 8.8 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
You deserve to treat yourself to this luxurious dry shampoo that extends the life of a blowout. It’s ultra-lightweight and goes on clear, so it’s perfect for darker hair. Just a few spritzes is all it takes—you’ll be amazed by how much body and texture your hair has. Also, its neroli scent is divine and will have everyone asking what fragrance you’re wearing.
Best for Deep Brunettes
Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo for Dark Tones
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Key Ingredients: Rice starch, argan oil | Hair Type: Normal | Size: 5.4 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Byrdie Editor-in-Chief & GM Hallie Gould loves this dry shampoo for the darkest of dark hair. It relies on rice starch to absorb oil and argan oil to nourish hair, so your strands will be seriously soft and touchable post-application. A bonus: it can help protect the hair from sun damage. One word of caution: It may leave a bit of a residue if you use too much or spray too close to the hair.
Best for Hair Growth
Briogeo Scalp Revival Dry Shampoo
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Key Ingredients: Charcoal, biotin | Hair Type: Dry, oily | Size: 1.7 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Keep your hair looking healthy with this powder dry shampoo that may also help it grow a bit faster. It’s formulated with biotin, a nutrient that supports hair growth.2 It’s also full of charcoal, which draws out oils and other impurities, and witch hazel to keep an oily scalp in check. Most find that it rubs in easily, but some users have noted it can feel chalky at times.
Best Volumizing
Verb Dry Shampoo for Dark Hair
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Key Ingredients: Pomegranate extract, Bilberry extract, rice starch | Hair Type: All | Size: 5.0 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This dry shampoo from Verb is lightly tinted to prevent a powdery look on dark hair and disappears almost instantly when you spray it on. It soaks up excess oil, nourishes with pomegranate and bilberry extract, and adds volume and body to your mane without weighing it down (we love a multipurpose product). We just wish the bottle was a bit larger since we go through dry shampoo!
Best for Light Brunettes
Klorane Dry Shampoo
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Key Ingredients: Oat milk, corn starch, rice starch | Hair Type: All | Size: 3.2 or 5.4 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
If your brunette hair is on the lighter side, we suggest trying this product from Klorane. The dry shampoo has a light brown tint that disappears in non-blonde hair, leaving grease-free volume, and flattering texture in its wake. Just a heads up, the formula can be slightly drying, so you may not want to use it two days in a row.
Best Non-Aerosol
R+Co Spiritualized Dry Shampoo Mist
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Key Ingredients: Glycerin, castor oil | Hair Type: Dry, curly, coily, thick | Size: 1.7 or 5.4 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Not a fan of aerosol cans? R+Co’s Spiritualized Dry Shampoo is our go-to for non-aerosal dry shampoo products. A few spritzes are all you need to perk up limp, unwashed locks—and you can bet it won’t leave a powdery residue. However, since the formula contains castor oil to moisturize dry hair, it might not be ideal for oilier hair types.
Important to Know
In light of the recent recalls concerning benzene-contaminated dry shampoos, we have removed any potentially impacted products from this round-up, including Dove Volume & Fullness Dry Shampoo, Batiste Hint of Color Brunette Dry Shampoo, Tigi Copyright Revitalizing Dry Shampoo, and Tresemme Between Washes Fresh & Clean, which were in the original version of this list. We will continue to update these stories as more information becomes available.
What to Look For in a Dry Shampoo for Dark Hair
- Tinted Products: Some brands make tinted dry shampoos for darker hair, which could help with the white cast you might get with other dry shampoos. “A product made for your hair color should always blend seamlessly,” explains Brown. That said, make sure you don’t let any dry shampoo sit too long before you start to work it into your scalp.
- Aerosol or Powder: According to Brown, it’s best to choose an aerosol product (over a powder) when it comes to dry shampoo for dark hair. “It will be lighter and easier to control the application,” she says. “This would help avoid a powdery appearance and limit buildup.” All of the products on our list are aerosol, except R+Co’s Spiritualized Dry Shampoo which is a mist.
FAQ
How do you use dry shampoo for dark hair?
Dry shampoo is used the same on all hair colors, but with darker hair, it’s important to apply the product correctly. “Apply the dry shampoo as directed, always focusing on the roots and then work the product in using your fingers,” suggests Brown. “You can also use a blow dryer on a low setting to help give hair an extra refresh.” This step helps distribute the product more evenly to prevent a white or powdery appearance.
Can you use dry shampoo every day?
According to Brown, you could use dry shampoo every day, but after two or three days, you will probably start to feel build-up and may even see it. Therefore, she doesn’t recommend it. “I also recommend using a detox shampoo to remove buildup if you use dry shampoo regularly,” she suggests. “If using the product to add texture or grit because hair feels too clean, try a texturizing spray and avoid the roots.”