To prevent color-treated hair from fading prematurely, people with dyed hair typically limit the number of times they wash their hair. Since frequent washes can strip color from your strands, it’s an important measure to take to prolong the dye.
No one wants to deal with excess oil or greasy hair due to infrequent washes, however, which is where dry shampoo comes in. Dry shampoo helps you maintain a fresh and clean appearance between sudsy shampoos. With dry shampoo, you can manage an oily scalp and revive your style.
To help you preserve your beautiful hues for as long as possible, I’ve put together a list of the top 10 dry shampoos for color-treated hair.
My Top 3 Picks for the Best Dry Shampoo for Color-Treated Hair
- Pureology Style + Protect Refresh and Go Dry Shampoo – Designed for use on color-treated hair. Doesn’t leave a visible residue.
- Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk for All Hair Types – Nourishes the scalp and hair and protects hair color. Buyers love its clean smell.
- Joico Weekend Dry Shampoo – Helps users preserve hair color while boosting volume. Leaves hair feeling soft and light.
What You Need to Know About Dry Shampoo
Dry shampoo hair treatments absorb oil produced by the scalp. Therefore, the main ingredients in most dry shampoos, such as corn and rice starch, and clay, absorb moisture.
Many dry shampoos also include denatured alcohol as a solvent and butane, isobutane, or liquified petroleum gas as a propellant. Propellants are used in the spray-on canisters of dry shampoo to emit the product. Some shoppers choose to avoid spray-on dry shampoos for this reason.
Buyers may also choose to avoid dry shampoos that include talc, which has been linked to cancer.
How to Use Dry Shampoo
It’s always best to read the recommended guidelines put forth by the company since they know their product best. However, there are some best practices for using dry shampoo.
For spray-on dry shampoo, shake the bottle first. Then, separate your hair into easy-to-manage sections. Hold the can about 12 inches away from your hair and spray the dry shampoo at your roots, focusing on oily areas.
After application, wait a few minutes before working into your scalp with your fingers. Finally, run a comb or brush through your hair to remove any residue and style your hair as desired.
For powdered dry shampoo, an applicator brush may help you achieve the best results. Use the brush to apply the powder at your roots after separating your hair into 1- to 2-inch sections using a dabbing motion. Then follow the same steps.
Pros and Cons of Dry Shampoo
All products have their pros and cons, and it’s important to understand what they are before making your purchase.
Dry shampoo pros include:
- Extending the life of colored hair due to less frequent full shampoos
- Sprucing up your style when you don’t have time for a wash
- Improving hair health since you don’t need to blow dry as often
- Nourishing ingredients that moisturize your hair and add volume
- A refreshing scent
Dry shampoo cons include:
- Dry shampoo doesn’t actually clean your scalp
- Potential for residue build-up and heavy-feeling hair
- Some dry shampoos can leave your scalp dry and itchy
- A too-strong scent
Overall, dry shampoo offers an easy, convenient method for many shoppers who want to refresh their hairstyle while protecting their beautiful hues.
Technical Terms You Should Know
Some of the technical terms used in marketing and when referring to dry shampoo ingredients can be confusing. Ie’ve explained a couple of technical terms related to dry shampoo below.
Alcohol Denat. – You’ll see this listed in the ingredients of many dry shampoos and it means denatured alcohol, an ethanol that includes additives to make it undrinkable. Denatured alcohol is a solvent that helps draw moisture and oil away from the scalp.
Oryza Sativa Starch – You’ll also this ingredient often. Oryza Sativa is actually rice, so it is simply referring to rice starch, which soaks up oil from the scalp.
If you see a term or ingredient you’re not familiar with, it’s best to quickly search the word online to find out a little more.
Product Review Process
When reviewing products, I provide the “People’s Choice,” searching for the items that have the most reviews and best ratings across the largest beauty e-commerce sites. My editors and I considered dozens of dry shampoo products and read a wide range of bloggers, reviews, and articles to find these top-ranking items.
I chose products designed specifically to keep color-treated hair safe, and carefully read through reviews to find out what buyers liked and didn’t like about each product before assigning it a ranking.
The Top Ten Dry Hair Shampoos for Color-Treated Hair
1. Pureology Style + Protect Refresh and Go Dry Shampoo
This discreet dry shampoo is made for color-treated hair. When used correctly, users report that it leaves little to no visible residue in the hair, no matter the color.
According to Pureology, all the company’s products are safe for color-treated hair as they contain no sulfates, which can strip color. The company’s patented ingredient blend (Antifade Complex) is infused into every formula to protect the vibrancy of your hues and ensure long-lasting color. Rice starch is the active ingredient in this dry shampoo but Pureology wants customers to know that sunflower seed, a UV filter, and Vitamin E also contribute to the dry shampoo’s ability to fight color-depleting environmental effects while adding to the hair’s shine. It has a light, subtle scent and soft feel that compliments almost any hairstyle. Shoppers can purchase a 5.28-ounce container of this dry shampoo on Ulta or Amazon.com for $28, which comes to $5.28 per ounce. You can also get the 5.5-ounce can on Sephora for $28.00.
With 100% vegan ingredients, it’s a great choice for vegan buyers.
2. Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk for All Hair Types
Klorane includes organically harvested oat milk to nourish the scalp and hair. Its gentle but effective ingredients help keep hair from drying out and color from fading. It’s good for all hair types and colors.
Buyers report loving this dry shampoo’s refreshing smell, and many users love that its ingredients don’t irritate the scalp.
Klorane has left preservatives, silicone, sulfates, and parabens out of this dry shampoo’s ingredients list. This plant-based dry shampoo’s active ingredients include oat milk and corn and rice starch. It’s vegan-friendly and has recyclable packaging.
Shoppers can purchase a 5.4-ounce container of the spray-on dry shampoo on Ulta Beauty’s website for $29, which is approximately $5.37 per ounce. Buyers also have the choice of purchasing a 3.2-ounce container for $20 on Amazon.com, which is about $6.25 per ounce.
This is a great dry shampoo for those with a sensitive scalp.
3. Joico Weekend Hair Dry Shampoo
Joico Weekend Hair Dry Shampoo preserves dyed hair while boosting your style’s volume. According to users, the nicely fragranced dry shampoo eliminates the greasy look caused by excess oil production and leaves hair feeling soft and light.
This dry shampoo’s active ingredients include bentone clay and rice starch. Joico designed this dry shampoo to help people retain their hair color for as long as possible and to provide a velvety feel and appealing scent.
This dry shampoo features notes of jasmine petals, apple, peach, and currant, in addition to muskier scents like sandalwood and coconut milk.
A 5.5.-ounce container is available on Ulta Beauty’s website for $18.50, which is about $3.36 per ounce. This dry shampoo is perfect for those who want to freshen their appearance while enjoying an all-day perfumed smell.
4. Nexxus Refreshing Dry Shampoo
Designed to increase your style’s volume, Nexxus Refreshing Dry Shampoo is a great hair product for those with colored hair and it works well on all hair types.
Users rave about this dry shampoo’s great smell and texture. The smell is reminiscent of Water Lily and Jasmine and it doesn’t feel sticky or leave a residue. Buyers also enjoy the way this dry shampoo leaves hair feeling soft and fluid.
Its active ingredients include alcohol denat and aluminum starch octenylsuccinate along with pearl extract and soybean oil, which nourish the hair.
According to Nexxus, all the company’s shampoos, conditioners, and styling aids are safe to use on color-treated hair. In fact, the products include unique technologies to keep your hair vibrant and all products undergo robust quality assurance and processing procedures to ensure quality and safety.
A 5-ounce container of this item is available for $14.99 at Target, which is $3.00 per ounce. It’s a good option for those with thin hair.
5. Living Proof Dry Shampoo
Living Proof Dry Shampoo is crafted not only to make the hair appear clean but to actually cleanse your scalp, creating a truly refreshed look. It’s made without phthalates, silicones, or parabens and it’s color-safe and good for all hair types.
Rice starch soaks up oil from the scalp while the company’s patented Healthy Hair Molecule works to help you easily remove the powder afterward for a cleaner feel. The dry shampoo also includes a strong-smelling fragrance and odor neutralizers, providing pleasant perfume throughout the day.
Users love how this dry shampoo’s unique ingredients bring life back to the hair without leaving any residue behind.
This dry shampoo is available on Sephora and Ulta in a 7.3-ounce container. It’s priced at $39, which is $5.34 an ounce. This is a good dry shampoo for those who want a cleaner feel while prolonging the life of their color.
6. Suave Professionals Keratin Infusion Color Care Dry Shampoo
Suave’s keratin-infused color care dry shampoo is made to provide multiple benefits, including hair color protection, a clean appearance, and improved body and manageability.
Active ingredients include alcohol denat and aluminum starch octenylsuccinate. Hydrolyzed keratin and silica are added for a healthy sheen.
According to Suave, this salon-proven, keratin-infusion dry shampoo refreshes hair and extends vibrant color between washes. After applying, hair is smooth and manageable, color is vibrant, and body is revived.
It emits a light mist and doesn’t make the hair feel heavy. Users love that it helps them keep their color bright and beautiful at a very affordable price.
Shoppers can buy a 4.3-ounce container of this dry shampoo on Amazon.com for $6.49, which is $1.51 per ounce. Overall, this is a great dry shampoo choice for those who want to extend the life of their color but have a budget to keep in mind.
7. Not Your Mother’s Beach Babe Texturizing Dry Shampoo
Not Your Mother’s Beach Babe Texturizing Dry Shampoo is good for all hair types and color-treated hair. It has an attractive toasted coconut scent and it’s vegan-friendly but affordable.
It’s sulfate, phthalate, and paraben-free and its active ingredients include alcohol denat and aluminum starch octenylsuccinate. The company wants users to know that this product is cruelty-free and is never tested on animals.
Buyers appreciate this dry shampoo’s delicious coconut scent and the fact that this shampoo leaves no residue. Users also rave about how well this dry shampoo performs at keeping hair fresh-looking while increasing body.
Shoppers can buy this product at Walmart in a 7-ounce spray can for only $4.93. That’s only .70 cents per ounce, making it a low-cost option. This is also available on Ulta for .99 cents per ounce.
8. Batiste Color Protecting Dry Shampoo
Batiste Color Protecting Dry Shampoo includes a UV filter that lowers your chance of color fade by 37%. It has an exceptionally lightweight feel and doesn’t leave a visible residue, so hair appears clean and flowy after use.
Rice starch and alcohol denat are active ingredients. The formula also includes keratin for improved shine and texture and the UV filter for color protection.
Buyers appreciate how efficiently it soaks up oil and leaves hair soft afterward. They also like the fact that it guards their hair color well.
It’s available on Ulta Beauty’s website for just $9.99 in a 4.23-ounce can, which is only $2.36 per ounce. A 6.73 fluid ounce can be bought on HarmonFaceValues.com for $8.99 (shipping not included). The sun protection this dry shampoo offers separates it from competitors, making it a good option for outdoorsy people.
9. Briogeo Scalp Revival Dry Shampoo
Briogeo Scalp Revival Dry Shampoo provides nourishment to the scalp, giving life back to your style. It’s also designed to remove toxins and bacteria from the scalp.
This dry shampoo’s formula is 98% natural and it has no artificial dyes, silicones, parabens, phthalates, or sulfates. Its active ingredients include corn and rice starch, biotin, clay and tapioca, charcoal, and witch hazel. The starches, clay, and tapioca soak up oil while the witch hazel normalizes oil production.
Orange peel oil and peach extract create a soft but fruity scent and it’s very light. Purchasers like that this travel-friendly powder product comes in a small, non-aerosol bottle.
The 1.7-ounce bottle is available on Sephora and Amazon.com for $24, which is $14.12 per ounce. This eco-friendly product is a good choice for those who want to protect color-treated hair and enhance their look without harming the environment.
10. Hair La Vie Dry Shampoo
The 100% vegan Hair La Vie Dry Shampoo is made in the U.S. and it works well for any hair type or color. It’s contained in a non-aerosol bottle to reduce environmental impacts and doesn’t include gluten, alcohol, parabens, or talc.
Instead, this dry shampoo relies on corn starch, soap nut, bamboo, black clay, and meadowfoam seed oil to degrease, deodorize, and enrich your hair and scalp. The dry shampoo’s scent comes from a combination of botanical oils from honey, coconut, peach, and lavender sage.
Buyers love how well its plant-based ingredients absorb oil and how healthy it makes their hair feel. It helps them sustain a fresh appearance between washes, extending their hair dye’s lifespan. And its non-aerosol bottle is a huge plus.
This eco-friendly dry shampoo is available on Amazon.com and Walmart for $29.99, which is $6.30 per ounce. It’s a great option for shoppers who want a vegan, naturally produced product.
FAQs
All of these FAQs were answered by Alicia Solorzano, a hairstylist @ Yacht Club Salon in Westminster, CO
1. Is dry shampoo better for dyed hair than regular shampoo?
I wouldn’t say that dry shampoo is better than regular shampoo or the opposite. I believe that dry shampoo helps get you through a couple or several days until you wash your hair.
2. Does dry shampoo ruin dyed hair?
I believe that dry shampoo can interfere with color application. In order to get the best results in full coverage of your color, it’s best to wash your hair 24 to 48 hours prior to your color application. Having clean hair with a little bit of natural oils is best for coloring your hair.
3. Is it bad to use dry shampoo before dying hair?
Yes, it’s also bad to use dry shampoo before coloring your hair. This basically coincides with the answer to question number two.
4. Can you use dry shampoo on just dyed hair?
Yes, dry shampoo is meant for dry hair. Dry shampoo‘s purpose is to absorb natural oils for your hair to appear clean and oil-free. Refreshed and styled.
5. What can I use instead of dry shampoo? (for example, baby powder)
Pureology has a weightless mousse that absorbs oils. I love using it when I run out of dry shampoo not only is it absorbing the oils but it’s giving more volume. I apply the mousse where it looks oily the most. Then pass a blow dryer for a couple of quick minutes. You’re good to go!
Using homemade products or products not designed for use on your hair isn’t recommended. For best results, use a dry shampoo that’s formulated for ideal performance.