Reviewing IGK: Dry Shampoo Without the Residue?

Main Image – Live That Glow

Since first discovering there was an alternative to the endless routine of washing, drying and styling hair every other day in the form of dry shampoo, I’ve become something of a connoisseur (or an expert in laziness, as I like to think of it).

But like everyone else on earth, I find most dry shampoos all fine and dandy up to the point that they start leaving hair with a chalkiness that makes you look like you haven’t been dusted in 15 years/an un-dusted piece of furniture.

Worse still are the products that leave you with both a weird tiara of dust and make hair weirdly stiff (just in case the world wasn’t already aware that YOU HAVEN’T WASHED YOUR HAIR IN THREE DAYS).

Anyhow, after literally years of trying out different products- from the cheapest of the three-for-two bargains to the dizzying heights of luxury brand, Oribe (teeth-clenchingly expensive but smells great)- I’ve finally found a firm favourite somewhere in the middle of the price range; and I’ve been rebuying it ever since.

Enter IGK’s First Class Charcoal Detox Dry Shampoo; the heaviest-duty dry shampoo of this US-based brand’s lineup of three.

First Class Charcoal Detox Dry Shampoo

Promising to counteract even day 4 or 5 grease- as well as post-workout hair- this (really quite nice smelling) spray uses charcoal powder to get to work seriously cleansing dirt, oil, and sweat, while white tea powder is gentle on the scalp and hair.

Available in both a travel-friendly 90 ml size, as well as a dry shampoo addict sized 288 ml spray, First Class is also cruelty-free, sulphate-free and vegan-friendly.

Although sulfates pose little risk to health, they “may strip away too much moisture, leaving the hair dry and unhealthy. They may also make the scalp dry and prone to irritation,” says Medical News Today.

The Full List of Ingredients

Butane, Propane, SD Alcohol 40-B (Alcohol Denat.), Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Starch, Zeolite, Acrylates Copolymer, Hydrated Silica, Charcoal Powder, Sodium Bicarbonate, Magnesium Carbonate, Diisopropyl Adipate, Cellulose, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Butylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-59, Cetrimonium Chloride, Sodium Acetate, Water, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone.

On the Hair

Just like a traditional dry shampoo, First Class is quick to work through hair- and I’ve perfected spraying this on and tousling through roots in approximately 8 seconds so is great for any in-a-hurry beautifying.

Unlike most dry shampoos though, this has a scent that doesn’t totally betray the fact your hair isn’t freshly washed (and smells slightly of flowers- really quite nice). It also leaves absolutely no traces of white dust, which officially makes it one of my favourite ever products.

Its oil-cleansing abilities are seriously impressive too, tackling even my sweatiest post-exercise or day 5 hair.  At the same time, it offers great volume, making it something of a favourite for general styling too (since my hair naturally has plenty of volume- unfortunately it’s all through the ends not the roots, leaving me slightly triangular-looking unless I put in some serious effort).

On the downside though, all that grease-tackling power does come at something of a cost; effectively killing any sort of natural shine my hair has.  But since my bleached hair has almost zero natural shine, that isn’t the biggest problem for me (although super silky hair types may not be such fans).

As an alternative therefore, for days when my hair isn’t that dirty and I do want a more glossy look, I am also a big fan of one of IGK’s sister products, Jet Lag Invisible Dry Shampoo (which adds shine, improves volume and smells gorgeous too).

The Takeaway

Dry hair types who don’t like to over-wash their locks, as well as the styling-averse like me who would rather not spend more of their lives blow drying their hair than absolutely necessary, will likely appreciate the impressive oil-absorbing abilities of IGK’s First Class.

Ditto anyone who finds the usual dry shampoos leave hair looking chalky or unnaturally stiff, who will be pleased to find a product that just delivers without the downsides.

Great for: Serious volume and grease-fighting power.  Anyone who hates the smell/white dust/crispiness of normal dry shampoos.

Not-so-great for:  Struggling to think of anything since I really like this one, but the price definitely does spring to mind.  Also, seriously sensitive scalp types may not enjoy the alcohol here.

IGK First Class is from £10 for 90 ml from Space NK UK and from $14 for 2 0z/ 90 ml from Sephora US