While refreshing the hair in between washes, Not Your Mother’s Dry Shampoo does not harm the hair or scalp. It also has a pleasant scent.

The one that really caught me off guard was Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Dry Shampoo. It is a simple, benzene-free drugstore formula that effectively removes grease in just 30 seconds.

What’s the key selling point? No unpleasant, crunchy, chalky, or sandpaper-like texture is left behind.

Features of Not Your Mother’s Dry Shampoo

The Formula

It matters less what is included in this formula than what is excluded from it. The fact that it is benzene-free is crucial. But it also doesn’t contain silicones, parabens, sulfate surfactants, or dyes, which gives me some comfort. As for what’s inside? You can count the ingredients on your fingers—it’s the definition of a “less is more” product.

The main components are natural starches from rice and barley, which together detoxify dirt, grime, and oil buildup. Although fragrance (a light citrus scent) did find its way into the mix, there is a fragrance-free option in the line if that concerns you.

Read More: Does Dry Shampoo Cause Hair Loss?

The Texture

Dry shampoos and I have always had a love-hate relationship, mostly because of how they made my hair feel. Without the grit of a texturizer, I enjoy running my fingers through my hair.

Unfortunately, I need a pick-me-up because of my oily roots. There you go, Not Your Mother‘s Clean Freak Dry Shampoo. The $8 product is a bit of a miracle worker; it absorbs oil and dries roots to the point where shine is completely absent. I can’t lie and say that the hair will feel like a freshly-blow-dried blowout; a little texture will be added in order to achieve that.

The gritty texture is objectively much, much, much less noticeable than competitors, which is a silver lining. And it gives hair the added benefit of a little volume.

The Staying Power

My dry shampoo experience typically goes like this: I saturate my hair in product, everything is great for a few hours, and then, around late afternoon, I start to look like a giant grease ball. It’s more of a stopgap measure; if you want a lasting solution, you’ll need to take a shower.

You should be able to get through the majority of the day with little to no touch-ups, though it will vary from person to person and depend on where you start. You should use product on all layers of the hair, not just the top roots, for the best results.

Does This Remove Dirt from Your Hair Also?

A fast-drying formula used in dry shampoo is used to apply starch-based powders to the hair. The powders absorb any sweat and oil that has accumulated on the hair as you work them into the roots. The powders are removed from the hair with a brush after they have dried, leaving the hair feeling cleaner and fresher.

Ingredients is There Aloe in the Shampoo?

Many of these dry shampoos contain something much worse called coumarin, which made my head itch for a week and a half before I looked it up. The EU requires separate labeling for this allergen because it is so potent.

Does This Work for Your Hair Does It Leave a White Castle in Your Hair?

The key to preventing the white cast is to shake the can both before and during application, while holding it at least 8 to 10 inches away from your roots. Brush your hair from roots to ends and massage your scalp after applying.

What Does Not Your Mother’s Dry Shampoo Customers Say?

From ConMom50:

I’m unsure of the reason for this dry shampoo’s poor reputation. Everywhere else you look it’s highly regarded, so I was thrilled to find it at Sam’s for such a low cost. It’s amazing. This does not appear white. My scalp is not dried out by it. And the aroma is wonderful! This is one of my favorites among the many dry shampoos I’ve used. My scalp doesn’t itch and my hair looks great. Perfect for maintaining my hair’s cleanliness and freshness in between washes!

From Aurora:

Fortunately, I made the purchase before people started leaving negative reviews that might have turned me off. The spray from all three cans was flawless. It spreads uniformly and is invisible. It is invisible in her dark hair, which my daughter adores. And it smells fantastic, with a very clean, crisp scent. You can find out why these reviews are so shocking for such a great product by doing a quick search online or by using the product, which has 5k and 15k ratings with 4.5 stars.

From Happy Hiker:

My skin is a little oily, even on my scalp. Because I had heard it was better for hair, I tried going a day without washing it. But on the days I don’t wash my hair, it just gets so oily and gross. I am happy I gave this a try because I have been wanting to try dry shampoo for a while. Toasted Coconut is my favorite flavor.

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