When it comes to reviving greasy hair and making second-day styles look flawless, dry shampoos are our go-to. However, while there are plenty of great formulas for blondes, finding the best dry shampoo for dark hair can be a bit trickier. If you have mocha brown or raven black locks, you may have found that the dry shampoo your platinum-haired best friend swears by leaves your roots with an unpleasant white cast.
Luckily, there are plenty of dry shampoos and hair refreshers that can revive your dark mane between washes without leaving white streaks or build-up in your hair. The key is choosing a product specifically formulated for darker strands. To help you in your search, we’re sharing 15 of our best dry shampoos and hair refreshers for dark locks from L'Oréal’s portfolio of professional brands.
Why does dry shampoo turn white?
Typically, dry shampoos are formulated with fine powders—such as rice powder or starch—that help absorb excess oil. Unfortunately, many of these powders are naturally pale or white, which can make your dry shampoo appear whitish, too (even on blondes). This pale cast tends to be most obvious when you first spray the product on and may make dark brown hair look faded, matte, chalky, or even gray.
Good hair day by @live_love_dohair.
Does dry shampoo work on dark hair?
Yes—anyone can use dry shampoo no matter their hair color, texture, or length. And according to stylist Caitie Kennedy, the initial chalkiness that often shows up on brunette hair tends to fade as the product gets to work.
“Once you’ve waited and let the powder sit and absorb the oil, it’s time to brush,” she says. Brushing your hair from the scalp down will help disperse any excess powder and eliminate that whitish residue. Brunettes, however, may find that even with brushing, traditional dry shampoo leaves their hair looking flat and dull.
Dry shampoo for dark hair, however, is typically formulated with ingredients that help absorb excess oil without leaving behind a cast. Some formulas may also be tinted to offset any chalkiness and give your dark locks a more natural-looking finish.
The right products can help keep your strands appear fresh and full of body between washes. Keep scrolling to browse our 15 favorite dark hair-approved formulas.
15 Styling Products to Help Refresh Dark Hair
Ashita Supreme Intense Revitalization Hair Serum
A revitalizing leave-in treatment for dull and damaged hair.
Shu Uemura Art of Hair Ashita Supreme Hair Serum
If dull, frizz-prone hair is among your top concerns, look no further than Shu Uemura Art of Hair Ashita Supreme Hair Serum. This revitalizing leave-in treatment is a must-have to quickly refresh dull strands. The lightweight formula helps nourish and smooth dark locks, making it ideal for reviving second or third-day hair. Try applying this style enhancer on dry hair between washes or as an overnight treatment to help hydrate dry ends.
Shu Uemura Art of Hair Ashita Supreme Hair Serum, $62 MSRP*
Total Results High Amplify Dry Shampoo
Dry shampoo that deposits lightweight starches to remove oil
Matrix High Amplify Dry Shampoo
Calling all brunettes with fine hair: This ultra-lightweight dry shampoo instantly refreshes your hair without weighing it down. It quickly absorbs excess oil at the root and acts as both a shine booster and root lifter for thin, limp locks. “Fine hair does tend to fall flat a lot faster, so a volumizing dry shampoo is perfect for adding volume,” agrees hairstylist Cynthia Dhimdis. She recommends using the High Amplify Dry Shampoo if you want to add some life back into your dark hair between washes.
Matrix High Amplify Dry Shampoo, $20 MSRP*
Dry Texture Finishing Spray
Texturizing spray for all hair types that adds soft texture and lightweight volume for effortless style.
Redken Dry Texture Spray Finishing Spray
Redken’s Dry Texture Finishing Spray deserves a spot on your vanity if you’re looking to give second-day hair a bit more oomph. This weightless, texturizing aerosol spray adds soft texture and volume to create an effortless, undone look. Previously known as Redken Triple Dry 15 Dry Texture Finishing Spray, this oil-absorbing formula can be used on all hair types without worrying about build-up or powdery residue. Simply mist the dry finishing spray onto your roots, then brush through to re-energize limp strands.
Redken Dry Texture Spray Finishing Spray, $28 MSRP*
Pureology Style + Protect Refresh & Go Dry Shampoo
If your dark locks are color-treated, you may want to give Pureology’s Style + Protect Refresh & Go Dry Shampoo a try. “This product is great for those who have colored hair and want to protect their color,” says Dhimdis. “It has Pureology’s Anti-Fade Complex, which means it’s going to [help] prevent color from fading,” she explains. It also contains broad-spectrum UVA and UVB sunscreen, she adds.Dhimdis recommends this product for anyone with dark hair looking for a refresher that creates movement, texture, and a second-day “I woke up like this” look. Use this dry shampoo for brunettes to help keep your color-treated locks feeling fresh and looking vibrant between washes.
Pureology Style + Protect Refresh & Go Dry Shampoo, $31 MSRP (6 fl oz)*
Tecni.Art Morning After Dust Dry Shampoo
A dry shampoo with light hold.
L’Oréal Professionnel Tecni.Art Morning After Dust Dry Shampoo
Dark-haired minimalists can cut down their styling routine with L’Oréal Professionnel’s Tecni.art Morning After Dust Dry Shampoo. This multitasking formula doubles as an oil-absorbing dry shampoo and a volumizing styling spray that adds body with light hold. Although all hair types can use this dry shampoo, it’s ideal for fine to medium hair prone to oiliness around the roots. It’s formulated with mineral salt for extra volume and starch to help absorb excess oil with minimal residue.
L’Oréal Professionnel Tecni.Art Morning After Dust Dry Shampoo, $28.00 MSRP*
Initialiste Advanced Scalp & Hair Serum
A specialized scalp and hair treatment that will leave hair looking shinier and feeling thicker.
Kérastase Initialiste Advanced Hair And Scalp Serum
Dry shampoo isn’t the only way to refresh your dark locks between washes. If your black or brown hair appears dull, frizzy, or lifeless on day two or three, try Kérastase Initialiste Advanced Hair And Scalp Serum. Formulated with wheat protein and amino acids, this specialized hair and scalp treatment helps reduce breakage and restores uniformity and smoothness to the hair fibers. Your dark strands will feel thicker and look shinier, with fewer flyaways—regardless of your hair’s texture or thickness.
Kérastase Initialiste Advanced Hair And Scalp Serum, $58 MSRP*
Style + Protect Beach Waves Sugar Spray
A non-drying, texturizing spray that creates soft, tousled waves on color-treated hair.
Pureology Style + Protect Beach Waves Sugar Spray
Amp up your second-day hair with beachy texture using Pureology’s Style + Protect Beach Waves Sugar Spray. This non-drying, texturizing spray adds soft texture to create effortless-looking, tousled waves (without unwanted stiffness or crunch). It’s formulated especially for color-treated hair, making it an ideal option if you dye your dark hair. Even better, the formula also helps protect your strands against hot tools and environmental damage. To use this sugar spray, simply spray it onto damp or dry hair, then use your fingers to gently scrunch your hair upwards.
Pureology Style + Protect Beach Waves Sugar Spray, $31 MSRP*
Styling Dry Shampoo
Maximum oil absorption and cleaner feeling hair.
Matrix Refresher Dry Shampoo
Whether your locks are dark blonde, chocolate brown, jet black, or somewhere in between, this dry shampoo for dark hair from Matrix is a winner. All you need is a few spritzes of the Refresher Dry Shampoo for visibly refreshed tresses and cleaner-feeling hair. Its lightweight formula delivers maximum oil absorption that won’t leave behind a powdery residue or leave your strands feeling stiff or dull. With this dry shampoo on hand, you can easily restyle your dark locks for up to four days after washing—saving time and extending your style’s longevity.
Matrix Refresher Dry Shampoo, $22 MSRP*
Chronologiste Huile De Parfum
Intensely fragranced hair oil
Kérastase Chronologiste L'Huile de Parfum Fragrance in Hair Oil
Kérastase’s Chronologiste L'Huile de Parfum is a game-changer if your dark mane tends to lose its shine quickly between washes. It’s also bound to be one of your go-to hair refreshers if you love a highly-fragranced hair oil. The formula infuses your locks with an indulgent scent containing notes of musk, tea rose, and light woods. Best of all, it won’t weigh your hair down and leaves your strands looking nourished and visibly shinier with a radiant finish.
Kérastase Chronologiste L'Huile de Parfum Fragrance in Hair Oil, $74 MSRP (100 ml)*
Wata Wave Texture Spray
A texturizing finishing spray that provides buildable texture
Shu Uemura Art of Hair Wata Wave Texture Spray
All shades of brown and black hair can enjoy a gorgeous, lived-in look with Shu Uemura Art of Hair’s Wata Wave Texture Spray. This buildable finishing spray adds a soft, matte finish to your style with a long-lasting, flexible hold. It can be used on fine, normal, and thick hair to extend your blowout and refresh second or third-day hair with added body and definition.
Shu Uemura Art of Hair Wata Wave Texture Spray, $42 MSRP*
All-In-One Intense Dry Shampoo with Rice Starch
Multi-benefit dry shampoo made with rice starch to deeply cleanse, prime & refresh.
Biolage Professional All-in-One Intense Dry Shampoo With Rice Starch
Another dry shampoo favorite among dark-haired beauties is Biolage Professional’s All-In-One Intense Dry Shampoo. “This is your everyday typical dry shampoo,” says Dhimdis. “It’s meant for absorbing those oils, cleaning, refreshing, and priming.” She recommends using it on day three and day four hair—when you really need to get your scalp feeling clean and fresh. “The blend of starches derived from rice and corn in this product is what’s going to help absorb those heavy oils for all hair types,” she explains. However, she says this dry shampoo may leave some white film on darker hair colors when you first spray it, so remember to massage the product into your roots until the powderiness disappears.
Biolage Professional All-in-One Intense Dry Shampoo With Rice Starch, $24 MSRP*
Serie Expert Curl Expression Curls Reviver Spray
Lightweight curl and coil defining and reviving spray that calms frizz and instantly extends curl and coil pattern and definition.
L’Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Curl Expression Curls Reviver Spray
If you have dark, curly hair, finding a product that refreshes your curls between washes without drying them out may be a struggle. That’s where L’Oréal Professionnel’s Curls Reviver Spray can help. This feather-light spray instantly breathes life back into your curls, calming frizz, adding shine, and protecting your natural curl or coil pattern. Try spraying this curl-reviving spray onto your brunette ringlets in the morning as the ultimate curl pick-me-up between washes.
L’Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Curl Expression Curls Reviver Spray, $34 MSRP*
Tecni.Art Next Day Hair Dry Finishing Spray
A dry texturizing spray that creates a weightless, tousled, second-day, disheveled look on all hair types.
L’Oréal Professionnel Tecni.Art Next Day Hair Dry Finishing Spray
Another great refresher for dark tresses is the Tecni.Art Next Day Hair Dry Finishing Spray. As the name suggests, this styling product can help you master the art of effortless second-day hair. It gives your dark locks a perfectly tousled, disheveled, sexy look with a touchable matte finish. Best of all, this finishing spray won’t leave behind any residue or leave your strands feeling crunchy.
L'Oréal Professionnel Tecni.Next Day Hair Dry Finishing Spray, $28 MSRP*
Fresh Affair Refreshing Dry Shampoo
A fine fragrance root and hair refreshing dry shampoo.
Kérastase Fresh Affair Refreshing Dry Shampoo
Kérastase’s Fresh Affair Refreshing Dry Shampoo may be your pick if you prefer a scented dry shampoo. It boasts a long-lasting neroli oil fragrance that smells incredibly luxurious. It also features a super lightweight formula suitable for all hair types and colors—brunettes included. All of these benefits make the Fresh Affair Refreshing Dry Shampoo one of our best volumizing dry shampoos for dark hair.
Kérastase Fresh Affair Refreshing Dry Shampoo, $38 MSRP* (150g)
Shine Flash Hair Spray
An anti frizz hair spray for glass-like shine and finish.
Redken Shine Flash Spray
Sometimes, it’s easier to pull dark hair back into a sleek, shiny hairstyle before your next wash. Redken’s Shine Flash Spray is a fine-mist aerosol shine spray that can help you achieve just that. Formulated with camelina oil, this non-greasy, anti-frizz formula moisturizes and gives your mane an instant shine boost. It’s ideal for second and third-day hair that’s looking a bit dry and dull at the ends.
Redken Shine Flash Spray, $23 MSRP*
Now that you have salon-grade products at your disposal, get inspired with our round-up of 71 Stunning Dark Brown Hair Color Ideas.
Use our salon locator to book a color appointment at a salon near you.
Header photo credit: @live_love_dohair
*Price at time of publishing; Prices may vary