Finally, a Dry Shampoo That’s Good for Hair?

Main Image – Live That Glow

While my unruly hair certainly has plenty of volume through the ends (I was essentially a walking triangle as a teenager until I discovered hair serum), I sadly don’t have tons of it at the roots (probably due to the weight of my enormous triangle hair).

And although it doesn’t bother me hugely, there are times when it’s nice to get a bit more volume going so I thought I’d check out California brand Playa’s Soft Volume Powder.

The Brand

Launched in 2017 by former Vogue stylist Shelby Wild, Playa is all minimalist, low-effort, beach hair vibes (with an emphasis on natural, cruelty-free ingredients too).

Aimed squarely at those- like me- whose idea of ‘styling’ involves broadly making the most of whatever shape their hair has decided to wake up in that morning and saving the heat tools/actual styling for any particularly special occasion only, Playa is very much about keeping things simple.

In fact, their entire line only comprises 10 separate hair products (plus a few kits and special editions thrown in); all cruelty-free and SLS, paraben, phthalate and artificial dye-free.

Playa’s Soft Volume Powder

Part dry shampoo-part volumising product, this powder uses Fuller’s earth clay to absorb the oil weighing hair down, while oat bran and various types of naturally-derived starch help hair preserve the volume naturally added as this powder is rubbed into the scalp.

The Full List of Ingredients

Ozyza Sativa (Rice) Starch, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Kaolin, Tapioca Starch, Silica, Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil, Moroccan Lava Clay, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil, Water, Hectorite, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Iron Oxides (CI77489, CI77491, CI77492, CI77499), Sodium Benzoate, Magnesium Stearate, Magnesium Carbonate, Acrylates Copolymer, Potassium Sorbate, Fragrance

On the Hair

For me the results (while not quite as ‘oh wow’ impressive as something like IGK’s First Class Charcoal Detox Dry Shampoo) are a natural looking, gentle volume and a noticeable dry shampoo effect.

The addition of beta-glucan- derived from the oat bran- also keeps hair soft and pliable (so no weirdly stiff post-dry shampoo feels here).

The Takeaway

While this doesn’t add crazy back-combed levels of volume, overall this adds just enough to give hair a natural, healthy look- and I’m a fan.

And as a bonus, I don’t need huge amounts of product to get the desired effect.

Meanwhile, the wealth of hair-healthy ingredients here (and the absence of alcohol, an ingredient in many dry shampoos) makes me feel slightly less guilty about using this on my day three hair instead of, you know, actually washing it.

Great for: A noticeable dry shampoo effect which my day three hair appreciates. Natural hair product fans.

Not-so-great for: Those who like their dry shampoo with more of an oil-absorbing kick (and if so I recommend taking a look at my review of IGK’s First Class Charcoal Detox Dry Shampoo).  This is also a little fiddly to apply (and definitely not recommended anywhere windy/outdoors) as the ultra-fine powder has a habit of getting away from me a little as I move it onto my scalp. To be honest though, from an environmental/waste perspective I really like that this isn’t another aerosol dry shampoo-as easy as they are to use.

Playa’s Soft Volume Powder is $24/£17.66 for 45 g Playa Beauty.