Hair that has been chemically treated can be moisture-zapped, so the best dry shampoo for color-treated hair not only gently absorbs oil, but also adds much-needed nourishment to stressed-out strands. Yet, with so many different kinds of dry shampoos to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. In order to find the best one for you, consider the following factors.
Key Ingredients
The most common oil-absorbing ingredients in dry shampoo are types of starch powder, like rice and cornstarch. Rice starch is super popular and appears in most of the products here because its smaller particle size absorbs oil well. Kaolin clay, the same ingredient you might find in your mattifying face mask, makes an appearance too, because it's highly absorbent while being super gentle — which is especially great for colored hair. A good dry shampoo will also ideally have a moisturizing agent added in, like argan oil or oat milk, so that your hair doesn't get overly dry.
Spray Vs. Powder
You've probably seen the two main types of dry shampoo: an aerosol spray or a sprinkle-on powder. While you might find that you just like one application method more than the other, each type does offer some unique benefits. An aerosol disperses dry shampoo in a mist, which covers a lot of area at one time and helps bulk up fine hair. A loose powder, on the other hand, is more concentrated, which makes it ideal for very oily scalps, even sweaty, post-workout hair. If you opt for powder, just make sure you're rubbing it in well so you don't have any white residue left on your strands.
Think Tint
If you’ve made a drastic color change, a tinted dry shampoo will be your new BFF because it can help camouflage grown-out roots between appointments. Blonde or silver hair might want to opt for something with purple tones that can cancel out brassiness, rather than something that matches exactly.
All of the dry shampoos below will help you skip at least a day — or two or three — between washes, and keep your colored locks looking luxe.
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