The best non-toxic dry shampoo that actually works.

 contains affiliate links

Both from a water conservation and general laziness standpoint, dry shampoo has long been a staple on my bathroom counter and a favorite amongst guests at my sustainable + holistic salon located in North Conway, NH.

As a hair artist who focuses on curly and wavy hair, as well as mullets, bangs, and shags— welllll… let’s just say it: dry shampoo is a must-have, and its of top importance to me there are none of the nasty ingredients that are typically lurking in your beauty products, has real benefits to the hair and scalp, and doesn’t harm the planet. Fear not! If you’ve been on the hunt for the perfect non-toxic shampoo, I have found THE ULTIMATE replacement. Jump to product rec.

The problems with most dry shampoos on the market are…

the same things that are wrong with with most conventional hair products on the market:

1. They’re in single use packaging (not refillable, re-usable, or even recyclable.) Not to mention, most dry shampoos are aerosols. Aerosol products typically can’t be recycled due to remnants of hazardous chemicals left in the can. So, your dry shampoo can is going to end up in a landfill. One of my huge missions at Origins is to remind you that we have power in our choices. What we choose to consume matters, for our health and for the health of our planet. Aerosols are known to harm the environment due to the release of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s). VOC’s cause harmful smog and ozone gas. Particles from aerosols, including heavy metals and chemicals from spray propellants will settle on land and water, causing contamination of groundwater. They can enter the food chain, impacting both wildlife and human food safety. They contribute to the formation of acid rain and therefore acidic soil, which harms crops, forests, and aquatic life. The propellants used in aerosols are powerful greenhouse gasses; even in small quantities. At Origins, we’ve been proudly aerosol-free for this reason for a decade now!!!

2. They’re chock full of toxic ingredients. Benzene was found in many popular dry shampoos leading to a major recall in 2022. (Source: NYT.)

   Isobutane is a popular propellant used to push the actual product out of the can. Without boring you with a chemistry lesson, its basically lighter fluid, (flammable 😬 ) and not something I personally want to spray on my head. Most dry shampoos also contain fragrance, which is known to disrupt hormones, trigger asthma and allergic reactions, amongst other potential negative health consequences.

3. They barely work, and have no real benefit to your hair or scalp.On the contrary, they pose real risks to your health, and generally make your hair feel worse. If I’m choosing a hair or beauty product, I want it to benefit my hair and scalp, not damage my health or my hair. Isobutane and other propellants are often not color-safe, and are drying to the skin on the scalp and the hair. Have you ever used a dry shampoo and then hours later, your hair somehow feels… worse and dirtier than before? Most dry shampoo is a powder, mixed with a propellant to get it out of the can. If you don’t shake it really, REALLY, well before hand, you’re essentially just spraying straight up isobutane onto your hair and scalp and very little of the actual product. Yikes.

Okay… So… What IS the answer?

Glad you asked! Enter: Cult and King Hair Powder.

Cult and King Hair Powder

What I’m Loving:

1. Non-toxic, 🌱 safe for you, and safe for the planet. 🌎 Yep. That’s right. Instead of nasty, toxic ingredients, this one is filled with things like arrowroot powder and two different types of clay. Instead of harming your health, this dry shampoo actually has a cool and unique delayed response technology that actually deposits tiny liposome capsules filled with niacinamide, bisabolol, calendula and mallow into hair. Your hair is kinda like a sponge. So, I suggest adding the dry shampoo on clean, dry hair or even day 2 hair to help prevent oily hair before it happens. The result? Long lasting, clean feeling on the scalp and hair. Calendula and mallow help ease itchy, irritated scalps. This dry shampoo contains up to 20 different plant extracts to actually benefit the hair and scalp.

2. Non-aerosol, refillable goodness that actually works. What I love about this dry shampoo is you can refill it either at my shop, or online by purchasing a refill. It’s packaged in aluminum with a non-aerosol pump. When its time to refill, you’ll save the pump, and screw a new aluminum bottle on to the pump. If you’re local, bring me back your empty and I’ll refill it for you and even recycle your old can through my partnership with Green Circle Salons. The powder comes out in a fine mist that absorbs easily into to your hair without making a giant mess of your clothes and floor. I’ve tried a million non-aerosol dry shampoos, and my biggest annoyance is with the fact that they generally cause a white cast on my clothing and dark hair. NOT THIS ONE!!! It is perfect for even the darkest of hair colors and lightest of blondes. It’s scent can be described as very light and almost earthy, so if you’re a fragrance sensitive baddie like me, you’ll be in heaven. This product contains no ingredients that are harmful to your health or the environment, and Cult and King is a super small company. No conglomerates, Amazon dot coms, or putting profit over the people. Their values wholly align with mine. I believe we vote with our dollars, so I wayyyy better about purchasing from them as a company rather than perusing my local TJ Maxx or Walmart.

   The TLDR?

   This dry shampoo rules. In the salon? I couldn’t live without it. It helps provide texture to my cuts, refresh folks who come in for a bang trim or dry cut, and add massive volume for my fine haired friends. Out of the salon? It doesn’t leave my bathroom counter. It is hands down, the best non-toxic (and dare I say, BEST EVER, GREATEST OF ALL TIME) dry shampoo. It makes your hair feel squeaky clean if you’re like me and conserving water by only washing 2x a week, and I love that I don’t have to worry whether I’m harming my health or contributing to climate change with my beauty choices. If you liked what you read here, I’d love if you’d subscribe to my email newsletter where I talk about stuff like moss and non-toxic, eco-friendly beauty products + lifestyle.