Organic Dry Shampoos You Can Feel Good About Using

by Faith Xue & Lindsey Metrus
Faith Xue has worked in digital beauty for seven years and is Byrdie's editorial director.
Updated 04/05/19

To call us dry-shampoo aficionados would be a gross understatement—emphasis on the word “gross.” Without it, our strands would be just that, and we shudder to think of the dark ages before it was a staple on the shelf of every drugstore and high-end beauty boutique. And yet, though we love our tried-and-true, we do have some qualms. Namely, the fact that the giant spray can we’ve become so emotionally reliant on isn’t exactly TSA-friendly, and we feel major separation anxiety when we have to remove it from our other carry-on must-haves.

Also, sometimes spray formulas just don’t seem to clean our strands as much as we’d like. (What can we say? We have high standards). And lastly, the long ingredient list in some traditional formulas gives us cause for pause—we can’t help but wonder what exactly we’re spraying directly into our scalps on the daily.

Thus, we took it upon ourselves to try the alternative: natural, organic, nontoxic dry shampoos. Most of these come in powder form, but there’s a genius option for spray aficionados, too. All of these formulas have been put to the Byrdie test and passed with flying colors. (To dark-haired readers: We promise they won’t leave a white chalky residue behind, though brushing may be required for some.)

Voluminous Dry Shampoo
Rahua Voluminous Dry Shampoo $32
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A favorite dry shampoo among Byrdie editors, this 100% natural formula made with clay, cassava root, and star anise can be sprinkled into the hair, so no noxious fumes will dissipate into the atmosphere. Managing editor Lindsey Metrus says she's constantly asked if she's just gotten a blowout when she uses it, even if it's been days since her hair has seen a water source.

Dry Shampoo With Oat Milk
Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo $20
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A fan favorite among Byrdie editors and Sephora shoppers, this oat milk–infused dry shampoo deeply cleanses the scalp while lifting at the root for impressive volume without harsh chemicals. It's also available with a natural tint for those with dark hair.

Lulu Organics Lavender + Clary Sage Hair Powder $30
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Created with old-school packaging and principles, this blend of cornstarch, clay, baking soda, rice powder, and organic horsetail powder also has hints of essentials oils (lavender and clary sage) for a refreshing, natural scent that feigns freshly washed hair.

Acure Dry Shampoo $21
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Argan stem cells and CoQ10 add a keratin boosting moisture complex to this organic dry shampoo with a similar dispensing mechanism as the Rahua variation. It also boasts a sweet blend of lavender and chamomile to disguise any signs of unwashed hair.

This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

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