Brilliant Brunette Dry Shampoo
Dry shampoo
- Dry shampoo
- Sulfate-free
- Silicone-free
- Curly-method
- Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Add it to your products. We’ll tell you if it’s ever recalled.
Scent:
The ingredient list declares fragrance. What it smells of is not stated, and we do not guess.
Manufacturer page: us.johnfrieda.com
Not enough priced dry shampoos to place it
We have not priced enough dry shampoos to place this one.
Great for
Maybe skip if
What the formula actually does
Read from the label, not the marketing
Each row says where it comes from: F means we derived it from this product’s own ingredient list, S means it is a claim the brand makes that the formula neither confirms nor contradicts.
Absorbent powders or starches high in the list.
Fast-drying alcohol in the first three ingredients.
Water-insoluble silicones or waxes: a detergent wash is what removes them.
Fragrance is in the first eight ingredients, so it makes up a larger share of the formula.
Ingredients that matter
The ingredients that change a decision
The workhorse ingredients, plus anything lower down that changes a decision. The chips name what an ingredient does. They are not safety scores, and no ingredient here is rated good or bad on its own.
| Ingredient | What it does | Why it matters | Chip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butane | propellant | Pushes the product out of the can | Neutral |
| Hydrofluorocarbon 152a | propellant | Pushes the product out of the can | Neutral |
| Alcohol Denat. | drying alcohol | Speeds drying but can leave hair feeling dry | Drying |
| Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate | starch | Soaks up oil and adds grip | Neutral |
| WaterWater/Aqua/Eau | solvent | The base everything else is dissolved in | Neutral |
| FragranceFragrance/Parfum | fragrance | The scent | Fragrance |
| C13-15 Alkane | emollient | A softening touch, low in the list | Softens |
| Saccharomyces Polypeptides | protein | A small amount of protein | Protein |
| Brassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer | wax | Adds a little grip | Buildup |
| Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein | film former | A supporting film former | Protein |
| Alpha-Isomethyl IononeAlpha-Isomethyl-Ionone | fragrance | The scent | Fragrance |
| Citronellol | fragrance | The scent | Fragrance |
Full ingredient list (23)
In the US, ingredients above 1% are listed from most to least. Below 1% they can appear in any order. Each note keeps three things apart: what the ingredient generally does, its role in this type of product, and what its position can tell you.
-
1
Butane
General function
A pressurised gas that pushes an aerosol out of the can and evaporates immediately.
Leading ingredientPubChemListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
- propellant
-
2
Hydrofluorocarbon 152a
General function
A non-flammable aerosol propellant used in dry shampoos and finishing sprays.
Leading ingredientPubChemListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
- propellant
-
3
Alcohol Denat.
General function
Fast-drying alcohol used to make sprays set quickly. In leave-on products it can leave hair feeling dry, especially in high position on the list.
Leading ingredientListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
PubChemMay suitFine or easily flattened hairEvaporates on contact, which is how a spray sets almost instantly and leaves no weight behind it.
May not suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hairPorous hair gives water up easily as it is; a fast-evaporating solvent high on the list accelerates that.
May not suitVery dry or highly damaged hairIt evaporates quickly and takes some water with it. On hair already short of moisture, a formula built on a lot of it can finish drier than it started.
- drying alcohol
- solvent
-
4
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
General function
A modified starch that absorbs oil and leaves a dry, matte feel.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
May suitFine or easily flattened hairAdds grip and body with no oil attached, which is what lifts fine hair at the root instead of weighing it down.
DependsMaximum-hold stylingStarch gives texture and grip rather than a set film; firm hold usually needs a polymer alongside it.
- starch
- powder
-
5
Water
· Water/Aqua/Eau
General function
The base of almost every rinse-off and cream hair product. It carries everything else and is normally the first ingredient on the label.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
- solvent
- ▾Below about here, the order stops meaning much. These are usually used at 1% or less.
-
6
Fragrance
· Fragrance/Parfum
General function
An undisclosed blend of scent ingredients. Regulations let it stay unlisted, so a fragrance-free product is the only way to be certain what is not in it.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesDeclared fragrance. On a fragrance-sensitive routine this is the line that decides it, wherever it sits on the label.
- fragrance
- declared fragrance
-
7
C13-15 Alkane
General function
A plant-derived light alkane used as a clean-feeling replacement for silicone or mineral oil.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairEmollients fill and smooth the surface of the strand, which lowers the friction that lifts the cuticle and reads as roughness.
- emollient
- solvent
-
8
Saccharomyces Polypeptides
General function
Yeast-derived protein fragments used for conditioning claims.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
DependsVery dry or highly damaged hairUnhydrolysed protein is too large to enter the strand. It sits on the surface, which is a coating effect rather than internal reinforcement.
- protein
- botanical extract
-
9
Charcoal Powder
General function
Activated charcoal, used to absorb oil and for a clarifying claim. It also tints the product black.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitFine or easily flattened hairA dry powder takes up oil and adds friction between strands, which is most of what root lift in fine hair actually is.
- absorbent
- powder
-
10
Brassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer
General function
A plant-oil wax used as a vegan alternative to beeswax for hold and sheen.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairEmollients fill and smooth the surface of the strand, which lowers the friction that lifts the cuticle and reads as roughness.
May suitMaximum-hold stylingA wax holds by staying solid on the strand, which gives grip and separation rather than a set film that cracks.
DependsCurls or waves needing flexible holdHow rigid the finish is depends on which polymer it is and what the formula pairs with it, not on there being one.
- wax
- film former
- emollient
-
11
Potassium Sorbate
- preservative
-
12
Sodium Benzoate
- preservative
-
13
Arginine
General function
An amino acid that holds water and carries a positive charge, so it is drawn to damaged spots on the strand.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitVery dry or highly damaged hairAmino acids are the smallest protein fraction and bind water as well, so they add far less stiffness than a hydrolysed protein does.
DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hairA humectant follows the air: it holds water in humid conditions and can give it up in very dry ones. Climate decides what it does more than the label does.
DependsProtein-sensitive hairThe lightest option in the protein family, but still protein — worth watching if protein reliably stiffens your hair.
- amino acid
- humectant
-
14
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
General function
A general plant protein blend used for strength and body; the silanetriol form binds more firmly.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairFilling surface gaps evens out the cuticle, which is part of what makes damaged hair comb and reflect light more like undamaged hair.
May suitMaximum-hold stylingFilm formers are what hold a style: they dry into a connected film across the strands so the shape resists movement.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairHydrolysed fragments are small enough to sit in the gaps of a worn cuticle for a wash or two, temporarily restoring stiffness and cutting breakage in combing.
- film former
- protein
- hydrolysed protein
-
15
Lysine
General function
An amino acid found in hair protein, used in conditioning blends.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitVery dry or highly damaged hairAmino acids are the smallest protein fraction and bind water as well, so they add far less stiffness than a hydrolysed protein does.
DependsProtein-sensitive hairThe lightest option in the protein family, but still protein — worth watching if protein reliably stiffens your hair.
- amino acid
-
16
Leucine
General function
An amino acid of the kind hair protein is built from. Small enough to sit inside the cuticle, and used for water binding rather than strength.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitVery dry or highly damaged hairAmino acids are the smallest protein fraction and bind water as well, so they add far less stiffness than a hydrolysed protein does.
DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hairA humectant follows the air: it holds water in humid conditions and can give it up in very dry ones. Climate decides what it does more than the label does.
DependsProtein-sensitive hairThe lightest option in the protein family, but still protein — worth watching if protein reliably stiffens your hair.
- amino acid
- humectant
-
17
Tocopherol
- antioxidant
- vitamin
- 18 Iron Oxides (Ci 77492, Ci 77491, Ci 77499)
-
19
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
· Alpha-Isomethyl-Ionone
General function
A violet-like fragrance component named separately as a recognised allergen.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesOne of the 26 scent components the EU requires to be named individually above a threshold. It is named because it is a known contact allergen, not because it is unusual.
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
20
Citronellol
General function
A rose-like fragrance component named separately as a recognised allergen.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesOne of the 26 scent components the EU requires to be named individually above a threshold. It is named because it is a known contact allergen, not because it is unusual.
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
21
Hexyl Cinnamal
General function
A jasmine-like fragrance component named separately as a recognised allergen.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesOne of the 26 scent components the EU requires to be named individually above a threshold. It is named because it is a known contact allergen, not because it is unusual.
- fragrance
- named fragrance allergen
-
22
Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
General function
A synthetic musk or woody-amber note used as a fragrance base.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
May not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesDeclared fragrance. On a fragrance-sensitive routine this is the line that decides it, wherever it sits on the label.
- fragrance
-
23
Vanillin
General function
The main scent compound in vanilla, used as a fragrance note.
Estimated lower-concentration zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay not suitFragrance-sensitive routinesDeclared fragrance. On a fragrance-sensitive routine this is the line that decides it, wherever it sits on the label.
- fragrance
What the whole list adds up to
- 6 fragrances
- 3 solvents
- 3 amino acids
- 3 named fragrance allergens
- 2 propellants
- 2 powders
- 2 emollients
- 2 proteins
- 2 film formers
- 2 preservatives
- 2 humectants
- 1 drying alcohol
- 1 starch
- 1 declared fragrance
Ingredient list captured 2026-10-22. Formulas change, so check the package in your hand when an ingredient matters to you.
Price · 5.1 oz
Priced above the products that do the same job. Stores sell it above the $12 line; products that do this job typically go for about $21 at this size.
Show the price ladder
Where we’ve seen it3 listings · 3 stores
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Walmart
$14.975.1 oz · $2.94/ozOct 22Lowest per oz
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John Frieda (brand site)
$15.995.1 oz · $3.13/ozOct 7
-
John Frieda
$15.995.1 oz · $3.13/ozOct 22
Sorted by price per ounce. Dated observations from our research, not live prices. Direct store pages, no affiliate links. We don’t sell this product.
How we work this out
- 5.1 oz is the size stores list most often; every comparison on this page is made at it. Other sizes are shown in the Sizes row and the store list.
- Seen at $14.97 is the price we have observed for the 5.1 oz. We need three stores before we call a price commonly seen.
- Good value under $12 comes from the 8 products we score as doing the same job as this one. A quarter of them cost less than $2.33/oz; at 5.1 oz that is $12. Under that line you are paying less than most of them.
- About $21 is what those same products typically cost at this size: the midpoint of their prices per ounce, scaled to 5.1 oz.
Dry shampoo refreshes hair between washes. We describe its ingredient functions without assigning a formula score.
Does the same job
Formulas that do the same things (cleanse, condition, coat or hold) for less per ounce. Scent, texture and where you buy them can still differ.
- Protein-free
- Silicone-free
- Function
- Also
- Protein-free
- Silicone-free
- Vegan & CF
- Function
- Also
- Protein-free
- Silicone-free
- Function
- Also
See more alternatives in the product library
These products do a similar job. We haven’t matched them to you. Find the one that fits your hair, routine and budget
Final decision
Should you buy it?
Depends on your hair: see who it suitsSilicone-free routines, for a silicone-free formula and a matte finish
Worth skipping for anyone sensitive to fragrance, very dry or high-damage hair, or anyone stretching time between washes
Nothing in our library matches it closely at a lower price.
We do not sell products or take placement fees. This page states what the formula and the prices show; the consultation is what matches it to a person.
Reviewers
What people report
Themes that come up again and again in sourced reviews, written by our researchers in their own words. We don’t store or scrape star ratings.
Reviewers say it soaks up excess oil and refreshes hair between washes without a white cast.
Reviewers with brunette or dark hair who used it on days between washes; many were PinchMe free-sample recipients.Many reviewers call the scent pleasant and subtle, and say their hair smells fresh afterward.
General reviewers who commented on the fragrance after use; two of them said it was subtle or not too strong.Reviewers report hair feels soft and fuller, with added volume and some noting shine.
General reviewers describing how their hair looked and felt after using it between washes or on busy days.Reviewers say the tint blends into brunette hair and covers grey roots, while the lowest-rated reviews say brown can transfer onto clothes or fingers.
Brunette and grey-covering reviewers; two lower-rated reviewers (both 3 or 4 stars) described brown transfer after scalp scratching or rain on clothing.More from John Frieda
How this page was made
- Everything above comes from our researched product record: identity, the ingredient list as printed, the brand's own claims, dated prices and review themes our researchers wrote in their own words. No part of this page is written by hand for one product.
- The value band is a fixed label over two stored numbers: this product’s cost per ounce as a percentile of every product of this type we have priced, each at the size it is most often sold in, and how many products we score as doing the same job cost at least a quarter less per ounce.
- This library-only category has no formula-completeness score or personal routine recommendation.
- 4 sources consulted for this product (1 manufacturer or regulatory, 1 retailer, 2 editorial), last checked 2026-10-31.
- Ingredient references are linked for 8 of 16 product-aware annotations on this page. Fit notes are general formulation guidance. They aren’t a verdict on the finished product or on you.
- We haven’t tested this product in a lab, and we don’t physically test your hair. Formula readings come from the ingredient list. Claims about how it behaves are labelled as the brand's.
- Ingredient order tells you relative amount only above roughly 1%. Prices are what we saw on the dates shown and can change.
- Ingredient names link to our ingredient library, where each entry shows what it does, which product types use it, and where it usually sits on a label across everything we have researched.
- This is cosmetic information, not medical advice, and nothing here diagnoses or treats a health condition.
- Formula readings: derivation v23. Record last updated 2026-10-31.
