7 Best Dry Shampoos for Colored Hair Without White Cast Residues

Written by Camelia Smith

Updated on July 12, 2023

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we may earn from qualifying purchases.

I’ve had days when I looked like Cruella De Vil.

With random gray, dusty, and chalky residues in my newly colored hair.

Not because I intended to. But my dry shampoo simply wouldn’t blend in.

If you use dry shampoo on colored hair, whether it’s natural or dyed, you may experience common issues such as white patches, powders that won’t brush out, visible streaks, clumps, and the product caking on the hair.

It’s rare to find a dry shampoo that just magically disappears into dark-colored hair without making a mess.

We didn’t want this to be a game of chance.

As a group of girls with different hair colors (dark, brunette, blonde, and red), we put 17 dry shampoos to the test.

The result?

We narrowed down the list to the 7 best dry shampoos for colored hair we can confidently recommend,whether your hair color is natural or dyed.

Check them out …

1. Pureology Style + Protect Refresh & Go Dry Shampoo

The Pureology Style + Protect Refresh & Go Dry Shampoo is a premium-quality hair product that cleanses and refreshes color-treated hair without leaving white residue.

Pureology Style + Protect Refresh & Go Dry Shampoo

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It uses rice starch (Oryza Sativa) to absorb excess oils, dirt, and impurities from the hair, leaving it clean and revitalized. Rice starch is a dry white powder, like flour. It’s tasteless, odorless, and highly absorbent. When used in dry shampoos, it helps to reduce greasiness, mattify the hair, and extend the hair-washing routine for longer.

The Pureology dry shampoo comes in an aerosol spray can, which ensures that the rice starch distributes evenly throughout the hair for effective cleansing and oil absorption. The fine mist from the aerosol also prevents the product from caking and leaving residue on the hair.

Pureology Go works well on color-treated hair because of its unique and patented Anti-Fade complex formula.

The Anti-Fade complex includes natural ingredients such as sunflower seed oil, melanin, vitamin C, and synthetic UV filters to safeguard the hair from oxidative damage caused by environmental factors. This helps to preserve the vibrancy of colored hair and prevent it from fading over time.

Although there are mixed reviews about the scent (baby powder smell), it’s not overpowering. The trick is to brush out or comb the dry shampoo through the hair to blend it in.

Most users agree that the Pureology dry shampoo consistently performs well on various hair colors, going by the 720 customer reviews on Amazon, 325 reviews on Sephora, and 34 reviews on LovelySkin. The use of rice starch through an aerosol can, combined with the Anti-Fade complex, makes this dry shampoo an effective and convenient option for refreshing color-treated hair while protecting it from fading.

As a bonus, this dry shampoo is also sulfate-free, paraben-free, and 100% vegan.

So how does it compare to other dry shampoos?

We compared it to Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk, and here’s what we noticed …

Pureology dry shampoo was better because of its ability to cleanse and refresh the hair without leaving white patches. The Klorane dry shampoo does have its perks of being equally clean and pure, but it was too powdery. It was difficult to apply, and the results were less than satisfactory on color-treated hair.

The only flaw in the Pureology dry shampoo is that it contains Butane and Propane, which are considered volatile organic compounds (VOCs). You may have to do a patch test before using it. Therefore, this product may not be the best choice if you suffer from allergies.

But given all the dry shampoos we’ve reviewed, the Pureology Style + Protect Refresh & Go Dry Shampoo is our best pick.

To use it:

1. Shake.
2. Mist throughout the roots.
3. Brush from roots to ends.

You can buy it from Amazon, Ulta, and Sephora.

2. Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo Dark Tones

The Moroccanoil dry shampoo is excellent for refreshing and reviving darker hair in between washes. Specifically created for brunette and dark hair, it is tinted.

Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo Dark Tones

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Jasmine, a verified buyer on Amazon, rates it as 10/10 for not showing up as white on her hair. Marina, another buyer, reported that it was recommended by her hairdresser, while a third one, Sophie, says that it blends out perfectly with no white streaks and feels invisible in her hair.

Another customer reported that it does leave a slight brown tint, but subsequent reviews and seller feedback suggest the use of a brush or comb to prevent it from happening.

Moroccanoil is a haircare brand known for its authentic argan oil-based products designed to nourish, moisturize, and protect the hair. Their products are widely used in professional hair salons and featured in notable media sources such as InStyle, Elle, and Vogue magazine. They were the first brand to pioneer argan oil-infused haircare products.

Their signature tinted dry shampoos, which come in two formulas for dark and light hair tones, have won multiple beauty awards, namely:

• Editor’s Pick Award, TotalBeauty.com Beauty Awards, August 2015
• Best for your Hair, Latina Magazine Latina Beauty Awards, July 2015
• Elle International Beauty Awards Editors Choice 2017
• Instyle Magazine Best Beauty Buys 2021

Like all Moroccanoil hair products, the tinted dry shampoo is also infused with argan oil along with vitamin E, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and rice starch to draw out excess oil and dirt from the scalp.

Compared to Pureology dry shampoo, Moroccanoil is equally good in terms of performance and quality ingredients. The only differences are that the latter is not classified as vegan and is smaller in size.

Moroccanoil dry shampoo is available on Amazon, Ulta, and Sephora in two sizes: 65 ml for around $12 and 205 ml for around $26.

The small size (65 ml) makes it ideal for traveling or carrying around in your handbag for a quick refresh when you’re on the go.

To use it:

1. Shake well.
2. Use only on dry hair.
3. Hold the can 10 – 12 inches away.
4. Spray on your roots.
5. Let it dry, then massage it on the scalp.
6. Brush out to remove any excess.

3. Eva NYC Freshen Up Invisible Dry Shampoo

The Eva NYC invisible dry shampoo is a weightless spray that cleanses the hair without water, absorbing sweat, oils, odors, and impurities while reactivating texture and volume.

Eva NYC Freshen Up Invisible Dry Shampoo

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Here’s why it works so well to stay invisible on color-treated hair:

Like the Pureology dry shampoo, the EVA NYC dry shampoo uses rice starch, a light and porous powder that quickly soaks up oils and gunk from the scalp. You may notice the white mist when you spray it. But don’t worry. The correct way to use it is to burst and rub it until it completely disappears. You can use a brush or your fingers to do so.

I’ve used it for 2nd, and 3rd-day hair, for pre-workout and post-workout freshen-ups, and to de-lank my roots on days when I decided to skip washing, and the Eva NYC dry shampoo has been to total lifesaver. It can keep my hair fresh for up to 2 days from a single use!

I have dark brunette hair, and this invisible dry shampoo blurs in perfectly.

Here are some of the common mentions about this product according to reviewers from various online retailers:

The positives:

• I have darker roots and a dark blonde balayage with super greasy hair, and I approve!!
• The scent is heavy, but it works great.
• It is invisible on my brown hair and has no residue.
• No tacky film on the hair like most dry shampoos.
• It’s easily blendable on dark brown hair.
• Better than Oribe and Kerastase dry shampoos.

The negatives:

• Cheap perfumey smell. It’s like sweet, floral, baby powder.
• Some white streaks and a stringy feel to my hair.

The mixed reviews on the scent are understandable, as it is a tad strong. However, it does get better after a few uses, so don’t give up too easily!

You can also try using less if you’re worried about it being too intense.

As for the white streaks on the hair, they can be avoided by not spraying too much of the product too close and distributing it properly so that it disappears into the hair.

Here’s a quick comparison with another product I love – The Oribe Gold Lust.

I’d pick the latter if I had to choose between the Oribe Gold Lust dry shampoo and the Eva NYC. Oribe hair products are lush! But they are expensive. The Gold Lust dry shampoo for 63 oz is almost $50! The Eva NYC, on the other hand, is around $14. And both have similar ingredients.

So yeah, the Eva NYC invisible dry shampoo is a bargain when you consider all the benefits it offers compared to premium products in this category.

The most important thing is that it works on blonde, dark blonde, brown, pastels, brunettes, red hair .. whatever color you may have. Even if you’ve had a new dye job, it can help you push your washdays for longer.

As the name implies, this dry shampoo disappears into the hair without any traces of white cast, film, streaks, or residues.

How to use it:

1. Use on dry hair only.
2. Shake well before use.
3. Spray from 10 – 12 inches away.
4. Use a brush or fingertips to massage into hair.

4. Amika Perk Up Talc-Free Dry Shampoo

Perk it up!

Due to its talc-free formula, the Amika Perk Up dry shampoo is a beauty editor’s favorite for its residue-less finish on color-treated hair.

Amika Perk Up Talc-Free Dry Shampoo

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Instead of using standard aluminum starch, as most drugstore dry shampoos do, the Amika Perk up dry shampoo uses natural rice starch to dry clean greasy hair with a few spritzes. The result is a light and airy texture that lasts throughout the day.

Amika calls it the miracle worker in between wash days, and I couldn’t agree more.

We tested it on colored hair, keratin-treated hair, and bleached hair, and the results were nothing short of impressive. The shampoo instantly boosts volume in the hair without adding a gritty texture. The combination of fresh citrus, spicy sweet clover, and warm vanilla creates an intoxicating multi-layered scent that is both soothing and refreshing.

If your hair looks greasy and flat between washes, this is the ‘Oomph’ dry shampoo you’ve been looking for.

The Amika dry shampoo does not clash with any hair color – light, gray, blonde, red, brown, or black.

Here’s a quick overview of what customers said about it:

Positives:

• There’s 0% grey residue.
• I don’t think I have anything bad to say about this product.
• It soaks up the oil without leaving it tacky or extremely white.
• Makes my hair feel clean and voluminous.
• Helps with odor from unwashed hair without being overpowering.

The negatives:

• Sprays all over the inside of the cap and doesn’t travel well through the nozzle.
• I can hardly press the nozzle down to get any dry shampoo out.
• The scent of this is so unnecessarily strong, and it lingers forever.

Most of the negatives seem to be related to the nozzle of the dry shampoo can. Digging deeper into the reviews, it appears some defective batches were going around. But that was only a minority, 1% of 12, 214 reviewers. Unlucky!

On the plus side, Amika Perk Up dry shampoo boasts an impressive superfruits formula that includes sea buckthorn, a rich source of fatty acid omega 7 and vitamin c.

We compared it to the Acure dry shampoo and found that the Acure dry shampoo left more white specks on the hair due to its kaolin clay and arrowroot powder formula. Acure’s dry shampoo also had a pinkish tint, which slightly distorted my brunette color. On the other hand, the Amika Perk Up dry shampoo has no tint.

How to use:

1. Shake well before use.
2. Apply to dry hair.
3. Let sit for 30 seconds or longer
4. You may see some white cast, but don’t worry.
5. Use your fingers to rub it properly into the hair.
6. And voila!

5. Billie Floof Dry Shampoo

This one is a cute-looking dry shampoo. And it floofs well.

Unlike conventional dry shampoos that come as aerosol sprays, the Billie Floof dry shampoo is a powder you sprinkle on your scalp and blend with your hair.

It’s available for both dark hair colors and light hair colors.

The little holes at the mouth of the bottle allow you to dust the powder evenly on top of your head, preventing large clumps from forming. This powder is hypoallergenic, so it won’t irritate your scalp, and it is formulated with plant-based ingredients.

Billie Floof Dry Shampoo

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We decided to try the one for light hair colors. We asked someone with blonde hair in our group (Tina) to try it. For this review, we also asked her not to wash her hair for 2 days before the trial.

Tina started by shaking the bottle well to loosen the powder. Then she followed the instructions carefully and sprinkled the powder evenly on her scalp by diving her hair into sections.

Tina immediately noticed how the dry shampoo powder dissolved within seconds. No brush or comb was needed. She used her fingers to distribute it evenly, which was effortless.

Did her hair feel clean and refreshed?

Well, according to her, it felt a little weird getting used to it as she had been using spray dry shampoos for too long.

Her honest opinion was a 7 / 10.

The product did freshen her hair for the whole day, but she did not like the funny bottle concept and application method.

Here are a few more reviews we gathered from online sources:

Positive reviews:

• The brown color was phenomenal for blending into my hair.
• As for powdered dry shampoos, they seem to give you more texture and volume without adding static.
• My hair instantly looks better, and the coverage lasts.
• The fact that it’s not full of toxic chemicals is a big plus.

Negatives:

• Not what I was expecting. I thought it would be better.
• It doesn’t come out of the bottle well.
• It’s harder to control and messy.

Despite the mixed reviews, we added it to our list of recommended dry shampoos for natural hair colors and dyed hair due to its clean ingredients and loose powder formula, which can benefit people with very oily hair.

You’ll be pleased to know that this product does not contain Butane and Propane, and many other toxic ingredients you find in most aerosolized hair products.

Here’s how it works and why you’d appreciate this clean dry shampoo despite its few flaws:

Natural Rice Starch:

Rice starch is a super absorbent ultra-fine powder that can absorb impurities from the hair to keep it going for up to 5 days without washing. It makes the hair squeaky clean without using water.

Baking Soda:

Baking soda is a popular alternative in alternative haircare practices like the no shampoo method. It gently exfoliates to dry clean greasy roots, dirt, and impurities that tend to clog the scalp.

Other notable ingredients are corn starch, oat powder, mica, biotin, and iron oxides to plump the hair and give it a smoother appearance and texture.

You’ll also appreciate the dermatologist-approved, vegan, cruelty-free, and hypoallergenic formula of this dry shampoo, which is unique.

Compared to our top 2 dry shampoos above, the Billie Floof dry shampoo may feel less convenient than the Pureology Go or Moroccanoil, but it is different and may serve well for people with oily hair or sensitive scalp problems. It does not contain aerosol propellants and it’s tested to be hypoallergenic.

6. Batiste Dry Shampoo Hint of Color

Batiste is a well-known and respected brand in the dry shampoo market with a range of products catering to different hair types and needs. They’ve clearly put in the research and development to create a dry shampoo that works on colored hair.

Batiste Dry Shampoo Hint of Color

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The Batiste Hint of Color range addresses the most common problem people face with dry shampoos: White residues.

The range consists of 3 different products:

• For blonde hair.
• For brunettes.
• For dark hair.

We tried all three variations in the same week, and here’s how it went.

Batiste Blonde Dry shampoo

The Batiste blonde claims to work effectively across the full blonde spectrum – natural blonde, blonde highlights, platinum blonde, and bleached hair. All you have to do is shake it well, spray, blend it, and style.

The good reviews:

• Blends very well with highlights.
• Helps lighten and extend the life of color highlights.
• Refreshes flat roots with a lightly tinted formula.
• No powder look. Good pressure on the spray.
• It doesn’t look caked on.

The bad:

• Some people claim it’s a bit sticky.

The stickiness problem is due to applying too much or spraying the dry shampoo too close, which can be resolved by following the directions correctly and using a brush to spread it.

Generally, white marks are not a problem with light-colored hair like blonde. The mist of the dry shampoo is almost invisible. But one thing I noticed was that this product instantly brightened the hair.

Batiste Brunette Dry Shampoo

Batiste brunette is excellent for anyone with shades on the brown hair spectrum. It covers caramel, copper, chestnut, and everything in between.

The good:

• Perfect for second and third-day brunette hair.
• Totally invisible on brunette and brown hair shades.
• Handy for in-between hair coloring appointments.
• Someone went 6 days without washing her hair and only used this!
• Works well on medium brown hair with brunette highlights.
• 80% better than the standard Batiste products.

The bad:

• Have to brush multiple times to make the powder go away.
• The medium brunette color is too concentrated and looks too dark.

Overall, the Batiste brunette does a decent job, but it’s not perfect. You may have to spend a minute or so trying to blend it until it completely disappears.

To be fair, I am okay with that because there aren’t many options around for brunettes.

Batiste Dark Dry Shampoo

Bastiste dark is designed to magically disappear into your roots. It works across the whole spectrum of dark tones like mahogany, chocolate, midnight black, and more.

The good:

• Very convenient for a quick fix-up.
• Amazing for covering greasy hair.
• Can be used to fill thinning crowns.
• Ideal for hiding gray hair.

The bad:

• It’s tinted – Can easily smudge on the face.
• Leaves brown residue everywhere.

Batiste dark is ideal if you have dark hair and gray roots. It helps to cover up the roots and can also help people with hiding thinning hair on the crown.

Other than that, I wouldn’t recommend it because it can get messy. Stick to the invisible non-tinted formulas like Pureology and Eva NYC above.

How to use it:

• Shake well before use.
• Hold 12 inches away.
• Separate hair into sections.
• Spray into your roots.
• Use your fingertips to blend it.
• Style as usual.

7. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo

The Living Proof Perfect Hair Day dry shampoo effectively vanishes oil and dirt on the scalp, giving an instant lift to the roots.

Upon using it, you’ll notice that it leaves a white residue at first, but it disappears very quickly as the powder absorbs the oils on the scalp.

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo

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I’ve used it multiple times, and you can read my review of the Living Proof Dry shampoo.

Besides cleaning dirt, oils, sweat, and odor from the hair, it adds texture and helps preserve your hairstyle to last longer with a light textured feel.

The reason why it works so well for colored hair is because of its fast-absorbing powders, patented Healthy Hair Molecules (OFPMA), and Triple-Action Cleaning technology.

The Healthy Hair Molecules create an invisible mist around the hair to keep it clean for longer by repelling dust and dirt. It can prolong your wash days for an extra 2 days. So you don’t have to use it as frequently as other dry shampoos; therefore, less need to blend and retexturize the hair.

It has an ergonomic spray nozzle that makes it easy to apply without any mess. If you spray it from 10 – 12 inches away, you won’t get any clumps of white as it disperses over a wider surface area before landing on the hair.

What I particularly love about the Living Proof waterless shampoo is its ability to neutralize odors from the source. Unlike other dry shampoos that merely mask odors with a fragrance, this dry shampoo eliminates them.

Its odor-neutralizing formula works 24/7 to break down odor-causing particles in the hair and dissipate them. On top of that, it deploys a timed-release sweet fragrance of lemon, powder, and Jasmine that makes the fragrance linger throughout the day.

This product does not contain sulfates and parabens, but it does contain Butane and Propane, which is a shame.

The good:

• Doesn’t leave white powdery look.
• Game changer for traveling / camping.
• Works best when used before the hair gets oily.
• Good for fine and darker-colored hair – it isn’t heavy and doesn’t leave any white color.
• It’s not tinted, so you don’t get brown stuff on your fingers.

The bad:

• The smell can be overpowering for some.
• The pump may stop working after a few uses.
• Can make the scalp itchy if used frequently.
• Fades hair color faster when used often.

In summary, the Living Proof dry shampoo is effective when used sparingly. When I reviewed this product, I highlighted the long list of chemicals, which I wasn’t too happy about.

Although it does an excellent job at cleansing and refreshing the hair, it may cause scalp irritation and potentially fade hair color when used frequently.

How to use:

1. Shake it very well.
2. Use only on dry hair.
3. Section the hair.
4. Hold the can 10 – 12 inches away from the hair.
5. Spray in a sweeping motion.
6. Let it sit for 30 secs to activate and cleanse.
7. Massage your hair at the roots with a shaking movement.
8. Style as usual.

Others Dry Shampoos We Tested on Colored Hair

Not Your Mother's Dry Shampoo

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We left this one out because we noticed too many reviews about the product leaving white stains on darker-colored hair. But overall, most people loved its quality, ease of use, and its tropical scent.

Klorane Dry Shampoo With Oat Milk

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The Klorane dry shampoo with oat milk is a very good product. But it’s not for color-treated hair, period. According to customer reviews, it does leave thick white residues, which is frustrating.

If you have light-colored hair and are a plant-based product enthusiast, the Klorane Dry Shampoo may be worth trying.

Suave Professionals Color Care Dry Shampoo

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This dry shampoo is an Epic Fail for cleansing colored hair.

Not only does it cover your hair with white streaks and patches, but it also cakes on your hair and makes it feel stiff and hard to style.

What do you expect for $6?

Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo

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This dry shampoo turns yellow on white hair. It also leaves spots on darker hair. When you try to brush it, all the powdery stuff gets stuck in the brush.

I wouldn’t touch this one, as it looks like the formulation is not quite correct. A good dry shampoo for colored hair should dissolve easily. Even if there is some white powdery residue, blending with fingers or a brush should make the mist disappear and not transfer onto your hairbrush or fingers.

Buying Guide – What to Look for in a Dry Shampoo for Color-Treated Hair

Here’s what you need to look for when buying a dry shampoo for color-treated hair:

No White Residue

Take some time to read the product’s reviews and search for words like “white” and “residue” and see how many people talk about it. If there’s a repeating pattern in the reviews, it’s a good idea to steer clear of that product.

Color-Safe Formula

Some dry shampoos contain harsh chemicals that can strip moisture and color pigments from the hair.

Read the label and choose a product that specifically mentions color-safe.

Ingredients to avoid are:

• Sulfates – sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate
• Sodium chloride (salt)

These ingredients can strip the hair’s natural oils and potentially contribute to color fade.

Talc Free

Talc powder is often the main culprit for white casts and chalky buildup in the hair from dry shampoos.

Due to its oil-absorbing properties, talc is a mineral used in many cosmetic products, including dry shampoos. It’s a fine powder that helps to absorb excess sebum and oil from the scalp and hair, giving the appearance of cleaner and fresher hair.

The residue arises because talc powder doesn’t always dissolve or blend well with the hair. When applied, the talc particles can be visible, especially on darker hair colors. This results in white or grayish residue that can be difficult to brush out or blend into the hair. Additionally, talc can clump together, making it messy to get rid of.

Many modern dry shampoos have moved away from using talc in their formulas. They now use alternative ingredients like rice starch, cornstarch, or silica. These ingredients tend to be more transparent and blend better with the hair, reducing the visible residue issue associated with talc.

Non-Drying Formula

Using too much dry shampoo can leave your hair feeling dry, stiff, and brittle. Color-treated hair tends to be dryer because of the chemical process involved in dyeing the hair. The process often involves alkaline agents and peroxides that strip the hair to make it porous and deposit color pigments. Peroxide in hair dyes can also break down the protein structure of the hair, causing dryness, brittleness, and potentially damaged hair.

So choose a product with a non-drying formula that will help keep your hair moisturized and healthy.

Easy Application

You do not want a dry shampoo that takes ages to blend in because the white powder won’t disappear. Look for a dry shampoo with a good nozzle that cleanly disperses the solution onto the hair, making it easy to blend.

By keeping these tips in mind, you can find the perfect dry shampoo for your colored hair that will help you extend the time between washes while keeping your hair looking fresh and vibrant.

How to Use Dry Shampoo on Colored Hair to Avoid White Residue

• Start with dry hair:The powdery formula will clump and cake in damp hair. Always use a dry shampoo on dry hair.
• Shake well before use:This helps ensure that the powders or starches are well-mixed and breaks up the clumps inside the can. If the product is not shaken properly, there is a higher chance of leaving residues in your hair.
• Section your hair:Sectioning the hair increases coverage to a larger area. It helps to absorb more oil and sweat from your scalp and hair.
• Spray from 10 – 12 inches away:Spraying from a distance helps to ensure that the product is evenly distributed throughout your hair. If the product is sprayed too close, it can create concentrated spots that are difficult to blend in, leaving visible residues.
• Massage or blend it in:After applying the dry shampoo, use your fingers to massage it into your scalp. This will help to distribute the product and absorb oil more effectively.
• Brush it out:After massaging in the dry shampoo, brush your hair with a soft-bristled brush to remove any excess product and distribute it evenly throughout your hair.

To Recap:

• Avoid talc-based dry shampoos.
• Look for a good nozzle and easy application.
• Look for a dry shampoo that dissolves well.

And lastly, if you want to look like Cruella De Vil, save the dodgy dry shampoos for Halloween. Don’t throw them away just yet! They can still come in handy.

About the Author

Camelia Smith

Camelia Smith can color hair, perform keratin treatments, bleach hair, and even cut curly hair. She is our go-to person whenever we have hair treatments and styling questions.

She's also currently training as a freelance makeup artist and is passionate about helping others feel beautiful in their skin. When she's not writing or doing hair, she's usually spending time watching British period dramas.