No wash, no worries!
In today’s hustle and bustle world, there are some days that washing your hair just won’t be an option. Thanks to dry shampoo, though, you can skip more days between washing without falling victim to greasy, less than fresh smelling hair.
However, if you have dark hair, the dry shampoo may not be an option for you.
Due to their powdery consistencies, many dry shampoos will leave a white cast or powder residue that can leave you look, well, powdery. And, unless you were going for the powdered wig looks, that’s no good.
Fear not, though! It’s possible for you to skip washing your hair, even with dark hair.
We’ve taken the time to put together a list of our top 15 picks for the best dry shampoos for dark hair. And now, we’re sharing them for you so you can have more time for what matters every day – which isn’t fussing over powder residue dampening your gorgeous dark locks.
Top 15 Best Shampoos for Dark Hair:
1. Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo for Dark Tones
One of the hardest parts of using dry shampoo on darker hair is the lingering white cast that can leave you looking ghostly. This shampoo is designed specifically with dark hair in mind and helps fight that problem.
You see, the Moroccanoil dry shampoo is formulated with ultra-fine rice starches. These break down when you massage them into your scalp, taking the oil with them for cleaner-looking hair with no whiteness.
It’s infused with argan oil for healthier hair that has a silky finish. Plus, it also offers UV protection to help keep your hair safe.
In order to help you feel like you just got out of the shower, this dry shampoo has deodorizers. This leaves you with a refreshing scent even on hair day two or three.
2. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo
Have you ever found yourself with the absolute perfect dry shampoo? It deodorizes, removes oil, and does everything except easily remove from your hair.
For people with darker hairs, it’s a struggle you can all relate to.
That’s why the Living Proof dry shampoo for dark hair utilizes a patented formula for Healthy Hair Molecules. These help you easily remove the dry shampoo powder from your hair for clean hair with no chalky residue.
Their triple action system is designed to give your hair the boost it needs to look, feel, and smell good.
3. Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo
Sometimes, it feels like you have to choose between a product that works and a product that’s good for you. Well, with the Amika Perk Up dry shampoo, you can experience the best of both worlds.
This dry shampoo is formulated without the use of harmful ingredients such as talc and aluminum. These make your hair look cleaner by clogging your pores, which can be harmful in the long run.
Instead, it utilizes natural rice starches that absorb excess oil and add texture and volume without irritating your scalp. It also breaks down under your fingertips, meaning a quick massage is all you need to get rid of that powdery appearance.
While this is one of the best dry shampoos for dark hair, it’s also a good choice for thin hair. It refreshes your hair after a day or two of skipping a wash while not weighing it down or making it greasier.
4. Verb Dry Shampoo
Styling products can actually make your hair greasier.
That’s why this dry shampoo goes the extra mile to add body and texture while also working to protect your hair during style. As a result, you won’t have to make your hair greasy and weighed down with as many serums and styling products as usual.
It uses an all-natural tapioca starch as its main oil-absorbing agent and also features key ingredients such as glycerin and antioxidants.
The Verb has realized that dry shampoo isn’t a one size fits all project, and so they’ve created dry shampoo for brown or black hair and blonde hair. Each one is designed different to meet your hair needs but has the same beneficial hair ingredients.
5. Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo
This dry shampoo for dark hair is made with micro-fine rice powders to absorb excess oils and odors. As they absorb, they become translucent to naturally blend with all hair colors and expand to provide lift in the roots.
It’s also formulated with golden root extract to increase moisture to prevent dryness and breakage. Jasmine, sandalwood and Madagascar vanilla help make your hair smell good, even when you skip a wash.
In order to be a top dry shampoo for brown hair, the Detox Brunettes version contains mineral powders. This works to help make the dry shampoo blend in while keeping your brown hair healthy in between dyes.
Since Drybar is dedicated to giving you the best hair styling experience, their dry shampoo also gives you a boost of volume with a matte finish.
6. Briogeo Voluminzing Shampoo
Briogeo’s Blossom & Bloom Ginseng + Biotin Volumizing Shampoo contains natural ingredients that provide immediate fullness and long-term overall hair health. This shampoo is infused with follicle-stimulating ingredients that support hair from root to tip and promote fullness.
As a result, your hair will be able to last longer in between washes. After all, the best cure is prevention, which means the key to stopping greasy hair in its tracks is a strong shampoo.
This shampoo contains ingredients such as ginger and ginseng to support natural blood flow to the scalp. Then, the lemon and witch hazel extracts act as clarifying agents that absorb excess oil and extend the time between washes and styling.
7. IGK First Class Charcoal Dry Shampoo
Charcoal is one of the hottest products in the beauty industry, and for good reason. It lifts your hair while absorbing oils for hair that looks cleaner and smells better.
Plus, it’s light so that it won’t weigh down your hair or clog your hair follicles. This means that your hair will be healthier.
The IGK dry shampoo also utilizes white tea powder to help soothe your scalp, preventing any irritation that may come along with the dry shampoo.
Just make sure to keep an eye out for the sizes. This is a mini/trial sized product with only two ounces.
If you’re looking for bigger, you’ll either want to size up to one of their bigger options or maybe skip on this one.
8. Briogeo Charcoal Scalp Revival Dry Shampoo
Sometimes, you need a dry shampoo on the go. After all, even if you wash your hair in the morning, if it’s thin, it could be limp and greasy by late afternoon.
The Briogeo dry shampoo is designed to be easy to travel with, saving your dark hair through long events and trips from home. It utilizes charcoal and biotin to absorb excess grease and odors while fortifying your hair and keeping it safe.
It works to remove deep-rooted toxins, bacteria and impurities that live on the scalp for hair that isn’t just cleaner-looking but healthier. Best of all, it doesn’t have any harmful ingredients like sulfates, silicones, and parabens if you’re trying to avoid them.
9. Bumble and Bumble Pret-a-Powder Tres Invisible Dry Shampoo
When it comes to picking the best dry shampoo for dark hair, why look for a product that blends with your hair when you can get one that’s invisible. With this dry shampoo and its translucent finish, you won’t have to worry about blending in any powders – saving you time and effort.
It’s UV protective to keep your hair healthy and strong, and it has a light scent to fight any odors. It also acts as a style extender to help keep you looking your best for longer.
Expert Advice: When it comes to preventing visible residue with dry shampoos, there are two important steps you should always take. First, always keep moving. Don’t let the spray can linger in one area for too long, just like with a hair dryer. Next, keep your distance. The closer the can is to your scalp, the more residue you’ll have so stay back several inches during applications.
10. OUAI Dry Shampoo
The best way to get rid of that powdery residue that plagues people with dark hair trying to use dry shampoo? Get rid of the power.
Ouai’s dry shampoo utilizes a unique foam design that adds lightweight volume while helping absorb oils. The result is a just out of the shower appearance – without the shower.
The application is simple too! Simply add a dollop to your hand and work through your hair from roots to ends like shampoo.
When it dries, it’ll take excess oil and odor with it! It also works to remove product buildup to restore your natural volume.
It’s designed for all hair types and hair colors, making it a great dry shampoo for people with dark hair.
11. Beauty By Earth Dry Shampoo for Dark Hair
Your hair, much like skin, gets its natural color from a type of pigment known as melanin. As you age, melanin depletes, giving your hair that grey color.
While it’s impossible to fight aging, did you know that you can fight off greying – even if not forever? That’s right, by treating your hair right and protecting it, you can help from depleting your melanin too early.
This helps to prevent early greying.
Most dry shampoos are packed full of harmful ingredients such as sulfates or silicones that dry your hair and strip it of its nutrients. This dry shampoo is designed to preserve your hair’s natural oils, moisture, and nutrients while helping it look cleaner after skipping a wash.
12. Garnier Pure Clean Dry Shampoo
Garnier Fructis Style Pure Clean Dry Shampoo is a silicone-free dry shampoo that gives hair an instant fresh feel with no visible residue. It is formulated for normal to oily hair and instantly absorbs oil and restores a fresh-washed feel.
One important thing to note, however, is that this dry shampoo is designed to be texture-free. As a result, if the texture is something you’re looking for in your dry shampoo, you may want to skip on this option.
This dry shampoo is more for feeling clean and refreshed than acting as a styling product for second and third-day hair.
13. Batiste Dry Shampoo
The Batiste dry shampoo is designed specifically with dark hair in mind. It has no added fragrances to help protect your hair but it does leave your hair smelling fresh and clean.
It adds volume and, since it is a tinted dry shampoo, it makes your hair look fuller by blending into your scalp.
Related: Best Shampoos for Permed Hair
14. Hair Dance Dry Shampoo
This dry shampoo comes in two fresh, enjoyable smells: lavender and grapefruit. Its tiny size is convenient so that you can throw it in your bag for on the go.
It goes on a lighter color – compared to oatmeal – but it turns translucent as it absorbs oil. As of a result, it works as a dry shampoo for dark hair without leaving behind a residue.
Expert Advice: Starting with the smallest amount of your hair, lightly spray to disperse powder onto the hair roots and then gently rub in. You can use a clean makeup brush or fingers. If needed, let it sit for several minutes and gently rub it in again
15. Paul Mitchell Invisible Wear Dry Shampoo
Ideal for brown hair, Paul Mitchell Invisible Wear Brunette Dry Shampoo absorbs oil with undetectable coverage due to its super-fine mist and brown tint. The refreshing formula revives a range of dark hair colors in between washes and extends the life of a blowout.
It’s designed specifically for thin hair, but you can use it on all hair types. Just prepare as you may need to use more product for thicker, curlier hair, especially if it’s extra oily.
Related: Best Hair Dryers for Fine Hair
It was a warm scent that’s alluring without being overpowering to help cover up any odors from skipping a hair wash or two.
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Joan S. Wilson is a lifelong makeup and skincare enthusiast. She used to work as a makeup artist for 5 years. Joan is always curious and wants to learn more when it comes to makeup and skincare. She tries her best to make other people’s skin health better. This is why Joan is so passionate about writing articles on beauty topics. She always looks for products that are high-quality, dermatologist-tested, and does that it says on the label. In every article, she shares her knowledge to make your life healthier and happier!