A Deep Dive into Haircare’s Secret Weapon and NonToxic Alternatives
Shampoo has long been a staple in personal care routines, designed to cleanse hair by removing dirt, oil, and product buildup. But as we’ve come to learn, frequent washing with traditional shampoos can strip the scalp of its natural oils, leading to dryness, irritation, and even overproduction of oil as your scalp tries to compensate. Many commercial shampoos also contain harsh chemicals like sulfates, parabens, and synthetic fragrances that can harm not only your hair’s health but also the environment, especially when these ingredients are rinsed into waterways.
That’s where dry shampoo comes in as a game-changing alternative. Not only does it extend the time between washes, but it also reduces water usage and minimizes exposure to potentially harmful ingredients found in traditional shampoos. By helping to preserve natural oils and reduce the need for heat styling, dry shampoo can be both a healthier choice for your hair and a more sustainable option for the planet.
Dry shampoo is often touted as haircare’s secret styling weapon—a quick and easy solution to add texture, keep styled hair intact, and preserve hair color for longer. But what exactly is in a typical dry shampoo? How can certain ingredients in dry shampoo be harmful to our health? And what eco-friendly and nontoxic alternatives exist to extend the life of a blowout or refresh your roots? Today, we’ll answer all these questions and more as we take a closer look at this must-have haircare product.
What’s in a Typical Dry Shampoo?
Commercial dry shampoos tend to come in aerosol form, made with bases of alcohol or starches, which are already drying and damaging to hair and skin. Other typical ingredients used in dry shampoos include benzene, isobutane, propane, and aluminum. These ingredients are detrimental and can even be fatal to human health.
How are these Ingredients Harmful to our Health?
Isobutane is a gas used as a refrigerant, fuel, aerosol propellant, and rubber. Inhaling it can cause several hazards to human health, including suffocation, central nervous system symptoms, skin and eye irritation, and even frostbite.
In 2022, an independent lab tested 148 of the most popular aerosol dry shampoos from 34 brands and found that 70% of them contained benzene. This led to a mass recall from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for elevated levels of benzene and several class action lawsuits against the brands responsible.
As mentioned earlier, Benzene is a widely used industrial chemical found naturally in crude oil, gasoline, and cigarette smoke. It is known as a carcinogen, and long-term exposure to high levels of benzene can lead to leukemia and cancer of blood-forming organs. Benzene can also cause bone marrow damage, respiratory issues, and reproductive/developmental issues (https://www.thecompliancecenter.com/the-hidden-risks-of-dry-shampoo/). Some brands tested contained over 10 times the recommended amount. Companies often put their profits over the health and well-being of their consumers and employees, so we as consumers must research ingredients and ask ourselves if it’s good for our bodies and health.
What Eco-Friendly and Nontoxic Options Exist?
Luckily, there has been a dry shampoo renaissance, where conscious brands have put in the time and effort to create eco-friendly and nontoxic options that put consumers first. Powder dry shampoo is a better alternative to the aerosol kind. It often includes a brush to apply, though it’s also super easy to use your hands to work it in! See our favorite eco-friendly and nontoxic dry shampoo options below.
All products featured on No Kill Mag are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Primarily Pure Powder Dry Shampoo
Available for both lighter and darker hair, this pick from Primarily Pure is an all-natural and nontoxic option to refresh hair before wash day! Ingredients like kaolin clay, organic cocoa powder, and organic arrowroot powder absorb moisture and add texture and volume. It also features several organic essential oils like Lavender, Grapefruit, and Peppermint that provide natural cleansing properties, soothe the scalp, and leave hair smelling fresh.
The Rootist Clarify Dry Shampoo Powder
This sustainable talc-free dry shampoo powder is worth rooting for! It utilizes Proprietary Rootbiomic™ Ferment Powder to promote your strongest, healthiest hair, while Magnesium Carbonate and Allantoin add moisture while absorbing excess oil. The powder’s built-in brush makes it super easy to apply, and the packaging is even recyclable.
EcoRoots Zero Waste Dry Shampoo Powder
All-natural and made with organic aloe leaf powder, baking soda, corn starch, and green clay, this next choice is the perfect zero-waste option! It’s vegan, aluminum-free, fragrance-free, and recyclable once you finish it. It works great with all hair colors and types, but be careful; a little goes a long way! Apply with your fingers or a makeup brush.
Bambu Earth Dry Shampoo
This dry shampoo powder from Bambu Earth is talc-free and lightweight. It gives volume to oily hair and promotes healthy hair growth. Available in versions for both lighter and darker hair, it utilizes organic ingredients such as organic lavender flower, whole organic chamomile flower, and organic horsetail powder!
Dae Fairy Duster Dry Shampoo + Blending Brush Duo
Get ready for a dust of desert magic with Dae’s Fairy Duster dry shampoo! Made with desert-derived ingredients like Mojave yucca, prickly pear seed oil, and cactus flower extract, it’s completely vegan and cruelty-free. The pump makes it easy to apply, and the blending brush allows for a controlled, seamless application.
Act + Acre Fulvic Acid Volumizing Dry Shampoo
If you are looking for a pick full of scalp science, look no further than Act + Acre’s dry shampoo! This plant-based benzene-free option uses fulvic acid to deliver over 65 minerals to hair follicles to support the scalp microbiome. At the same time, organic rice and tapioca powder absorbs excess oil while neutralizing odor.
With Simplicity Dry Shampoo
Whether you need a quick hair fix or something for on the go, this option is perfect! This simple pick is cruelty-free, gluten-free, dye-free, fragrance-free, and vegan! Kaolin Clay absorbs excess oil, while cocoa powder and cedarwood bark oil add vibrancy and shine while promoting hair growth.
-Nina Dagaev
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