Hair Care

Discover The 10 Top Benzene-Free Dry Shampoos: Healthy Hair, Happy You!


Written by Rinnie George

On Aug 7, 2023 – 11 minutes read

dry shampoo

Dry shampoos have been used since the 15th century. Clay and other powder-based products were used to freshen up hair in between washes. But it was in the year 1940 that the first dry shampoo was commercially introduced. And it became a thing after that. With people finding less and less time for their hair care routine, dry shampoos have become a must-have in the vanity for many American households. Now, why Benzene-free dry shampoo?

Best Benzene-Free Dry Shampoos: First Things First

It’s really important to stay informed about the ingredients in the shampoos we enjoy using. Some of these ingredients may not be very good for our health. They could potentially cause problems like hair thinning, scalp inflammation, or even cancer!

hair shampooing

One particular chemical that can be found in dry shampoos is benzene and it has been associated with some serious health risks. Benzene is a substance that you definitely want to avoid at all costs.

Due to this alarming discovery, many dry shampoos containing benzene have been recalled to keep everyone safe.

The rise in consumer awareness regarding the impact of benzene in shampoos has led to a significant surge in the demand for benzene-free alternatives, and it’s easy to see why!

Benzene Free Dry Shampoos: Why Are Traditional Dry Shampoos Bad For Your Hair?

We’ve all fallen victim to the marketing tactics of traditional dry shampoos. And who has the time and energy for complete hair care every other day? 

But have you ever wondered if these dry shampoos may be doing your hair more harm than good? 

Chemical Overload

Traditional dry shampoos contain a lot of chemicals that are harmful to your hair’s health in the long run. Chemicals like sulfates, parabens, butane, propane, and benzene are all part of traditional dry shampoos. Applying these dry shampoos might give you voluminous hair at that moment but can cause damage in the long run.

Long-term Hair Health

Avoid using dry shampoos as a replacement for regular shampoos.  Make it a habit to wash your hair at least twice a week. For people who go longer between washes and use a lot of products on their hair, some hair experts recommend triple hair washing, which might be worth checking out. Imagine not washing your face and just using powders to freshen up and absorb the extra oil. Sounds yikes, right? The same goes for your scalp. 

Product Buildup

Using dry shampoo day after day can lead to product buildup on your scalp and hair. Over time, this can clog your hair follicles, and even cause dandruff.

Dull and Lifeless Hair

You know that feeling when you’ve overused dry shampoo, and your hair looks dull and flat? Yep, blame the alcohol and other drying agents in traditional formulas for sucking the life out of your gorgeous locks.

Itching And Irritation

Have you ever had an itchy scalp after using dry shampoo? It’s not in your head. Some dry shampoos contain chemicals that cause scalp irritation and leave you scratching your head, which could be pretty embarrassing. 

Masking The Problem

Traditional dry shampoos do not actually do the job of cleaning the scalp. They just mask the excess oil and odor and give your hair a voluminous look

What To Look For When Shopping For A Dry Shampoo?

There are numerous dry shampoo options in the market. To make matters worse, all of the shopping websites and influencers keep hammering us with recommendations for this brand and that brand. Are these shampoos really worth all the hype? It’s not surprising to find yourself scratching your head and wondering how the particular shampoo might actually work for you. Well, you don’t have to worry! Let’s go a little deeper and see what to look for in the hunt for the best soft shampoo out there.

Ingredients Matter

Do not go by the claims a dry shampoo brand makes on its cover. You must check for the ingredient list on the back of the packaging. Avoid products with sulfates, parabens and artificial fragrances. 

Benzene-Free Formula

Particularly look for ingredients like Benzene or Butane in the ingredient list. If there is butane in the list of ingredients, then chances are that the dry shampoo contains benzene as well. 

Benzene-Free Dry Shampoo’s Hair Type Suitability

Considering your hair type is essential when choosing a dry shampoo. If you have naturally curly hair, go for a dry shampoo specially made for curls. Dry shampoo for oily hair would be more drying or designed to fight excess oil on the scalp. A dry shampoo for colored hair will be one that enhances your hair color instead of stripping the color away and making it look dull.

Benzene Free Dry Shampoo Application Ease

While choosing a dry shampoo, keep in mind your preference for ease of application. Some products come in spray form which is easier to apply on the go. Some are in powder form which you will have you have to apply with a brush. 

No White Residue 

When you’re selecting a dry shampoo, remember one super important thing – go for one that won’t leave any of that annoying white residue behind. This tip is even more crucial for folks with darker hair. 

Scent Sensitivity 

If you are allergic to strong smells, then choose dry shampoos with little or no fragrance. 

Long-Lasting Effect

What could be more irritating than applying a dry shampoo every 2 hours? When choosing for a dry shampoo look for alternatives that can keep your hair feeling fresh and clean for a longer period. Consider reading user reviews about its longevity. 

Texture Enhancement

Absolutely avoid dry shampoos that make your hair look like a haystack. Choose dry shampoos that can add an oomph to your hair by adding volume and texture. 

Travel-Friendly

If you travel a lot, then buying a dry shampoo that is compact and spill-proof would be your best bet. 

Benzene Free Dry Shampoo Reviews

Always make sure to read customer reviews and honest experiences about the dry shampoo you are looking to buy. The reviews would give you an insight into whether the dry shampoo suits your hair type or if you should look for something else. 

Vegan and Cruelty-Free

If you prefer cruelty-free and vegan products, check the label to ensure your chosen dry shampoo meets these criteria.

Benzene Free Dry Shampoo Price and Value

Price and value are essential things to think about when buying a dry shampoo. Buy a dry shampoo that is inside your budget and suits your lifestyle. 

Top 10 Best Benzene-Free Dry Shampoos

Check out our recommendations for the best dry shampoos and say goodbye to greasy hair woes in a snap. 

1. Acure dry shampoo

safe dry shampoo

Price: $11.99 for 1.7Oz

The Acure dry shampoo works on ALL hair types. It is a non-aerosol dry shampoo which comes in powder form. You don’t have to worry about the white powdery mess lurking on your scalp as the dry shampoo leaves little to no residue. 

2. Eva NYC Freshen Up Invisible Dry Shampoo

dry shampoo without butane

Price: $13 for 5.3Oz

If you have a busy schedule and don’t have time to wash your hair often, you’ll love Eva NYC Freshen Up Invisible Dry Shampoo. It works like magic to make your hair look fresh and clean without washing. This amazing dry shampoo absorbs excess oil and bad smells, leaving your hair bouncy and full of life. Even on the third day, you’ll rock that just-washed look! It is not only Benzene they’ve made a positive change by switching their packaging from plastic to aluminum. 

3. Arey- Wait a Sec Benzene Free Dry Shampoo

do all dry shampoos have benzene

Price: $36 for 0.53Oz

The Arey- Wait a Sec Dry Shampoo is designed for all hair types. It does not leave any pesky white residue, so you can apply it with confidence! The Arey- Wait a Sec Dry Shampoo has a fantastic natural fragrance of cedar and sage. So, even if your hair has been through a lot, this dry shampoo will leave it smelling wonderfully refreshed. 

4. Living Proof Dry Dry Shampoo

dry shampoos safe to use

Price: $30 for 5.5Oz

The Living Proof Dry Shampoo effectively absorbs all excess oil, sweat, and odors from your hair, leaving it feeling fresh and clean. What’s even better is that, unlike most dry shampoos, this product doesn’t leave any white chalky residue, it actually cleans the hair. 

5. GRO Benzene Free Dry Shampoo

gro dry shampoo

Price: $36 for 3.95Oz

GRO by Vegamour is made of natural ingredients like rice starch, mung bean, red clover, and kaolin clay. It is a vegan product and contains only plant-based ingredients. 

6. Act + Acre Dry Shampoo Benzene Free Dry Shampoo

act acre shampoo

Price: $26 for 0.59Oz

The Act+Acre dry shampoo is another plant-based shampoo. It contains rice and tapioca powders that may look white at first, but it turns colorless once you apply them to your hair. This dry shampoo is suitable for all hair types. It is unscented but its natural ingredients help neutralize any unwanted smells, keeping your hair fresh and fabulous all day long! 

7. Floof Benzene Free Dry Shampoo

billie benzene free

Price: $14 for 1.2Oz

The Floof Dry Shampoo by Billie is a non-aerosol dry shampoo powder packed with some powerful ingredients like biotin, baking soda, and rice starch. Biotin is known to help with hair growth and hair health. This powerful combo gives your hair an oil-free and voluminous look – how awesome is that? When you apply this dry shampoo to your roots, it magically dissolves into your hair, so no need to worry about any leftover powder. It works wonders even on super greasy roots, leaving your hair fresh and fabulous without any trace of oil. The Floof Dry Shampoo comes in two variations: one for dark hair and another for light hair.

8. Crown Affair- The Dry Shampoo

clean dry shampoo

Price: $36 for 0.53Oz

The Dry Shampoo by Crown Affair comes with its kabuki brush making it super easy to dust the powder onto your scalp. Applying dry shampoo with a kabuki brush will give you control over how much product you want to disperse. It contains persimmon, a natural deodorizer, so your hair smells amazing. 

9. Prêt-à-Powder by Bumble and Bumble

bumble and bumble shampoo

Price: $32 or 2Oz

A lot of people swear by Prêt-à-Powder dry shampoo by Bumble and Bumble. It gives the hair more volume and texture. It cleans the roots well and does not make the hair feel heavy. 

10. Rahua Voluminous Benzene Free Dry Shampoo

 Rahua Voluminous

Price: $32 for 1.8Oz

If you have limp or fine hair and want a dry shampoo that works wonders, consider trying Rahua Voluminous Dry Shampoo. It comes in white with a mild plant-based vanilla scent. Rahua’s dry shampoo is a non-aerosol spray and is both cruelty-free and vegan!

Popular Dry Shampoos To Avoid

Now that we’ve discussed the best dry shampoos, it’s time to learn about the dry shampoos to avoid. Most of us buy these dry shampoos because they are available more as compared to the cleaner ones.

Batiste Dry Shampoo

You might be asking yourself, “Is Batiste dry shampoo actually safe?” This is one of the most popular dry shampoos which is used by girls all over the globe. When it was tested by Valisure independent lab testing, it was found that it had high levels of benzene. All variants of the Batiste Dry shampoo range consist of 14.9 ppm benzene which is a lot more than the FDA’s prescribed limit of 2 ppm. 

Not your mother’s Dry Shampoo

Is not your mother’s dry shampoo safe? Probably Not. 

Although Not Your Mother’s boasts of using “clean, quality ingredients”, they have not mentioned benzene as part of their ingredients on the product or even on their website. However, researchers tested this dry shampoo, they found Benzene up to 80 times the prescribed limits by FDA. 

Why Is Benzene Even In Dry Shampoos?

You might wonder why on earth would benzene end up in dry shampoo. Well, the truth is, Dry shampoo doesn’t actually require benzene. Benzene sticks to butane – a common propellant used in aerosols. Sometimes, during the manufacturing process, it makes its way into the dry shampoo through Butane. 

Benzene Free Dry Shampoo: In A Nutshell

If you’re wondering is Benzene really that bad? It is, indeed. And the fact that major brands are forced to pull their products from the market should be a warning signal for consumers. There are still brands that are continuing to sell their dry shampoos with benzene in them. So the responsibility of choosing clean products falls on the consumers. An average American anyway is subjected to a fair amount of benzene through glues, paints, furniture wax, forest fires, and volcanoes. 

Given this, the last thing you need is additional benzene, particularly from dry shampoos. Most people use dry shampoos in enclosed spaces like bathrooms or bedrooms and it lingers there for a long time. When you spray dry shampoo close to your face, you are exposing yourself to the harmful effects of benzene even more. 

That being said, dry shampoos should not be a part of anyone’s daly hair care routine, and they should only be used occasionally. Your health and well-being should come first, and you should always be mindful of what you are exposing yourself to. 

FAQ

Which dry shampoo is benzene free?

We have listed our recommendations for Benzene-free shampoos in the article. To name a few Acure, EVA NYC, Rahua, and Floof Dry Shampoo are all benzene free. 

Do all dry shampoos have benzene?

No, not all dry shampoos have benzene. You need to do proper research before buying any dry shampoo because some brands don’t disclose their full ingredients list. 

Is Batiste dry shampoo benzene free?

No, Batiste Dry shampoo is not benzene free. Tests showed all of its variants had benzene in high quantity. 

Is Dove dry shampoo benzene free?

No. Dove along with other Unilever brands like Nexxus, Suave, TIGI—Rockaholic, and Bed Head—and TRESemmé were recalled because of their elevated levels of Benzene.

  1. VALISURE detects benzene in dry shampoo. Valisure. (n.d.). https://www.valisure.com/valisure-newsroom/valisure-detects-benzene-in-dry-shampoo

    https://www.valisure.com/valisure-newsroom/valisure-detects-benzene-in-dry-shampoo

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Rinnie crafts professional articles on a wide range of topics, including beauty, lifestyle, fashion, and motherhood. Her aim is to express her thoughts through words and share them with the world via social media captions, blogs and YouTube scripts.

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