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Kevin Murphy

POWDER.PUFF

Styler / Volumizer, light-hold

  • Styler
  • volumizer
  • powder
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
  • Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Size14 g
Price$35seen at one store · 0.49 oz
Price / oz$71.43/ozat 0.49 oz
Where to buy1 store

Add it to your products. We’ll tell you if it’s ever recalled.

Scent:

No added fragrance, no scenting essential oils, and no declared fragrance allergens on the list.

Manufacturer page: kevinmurphy.com.au

Personal fit

Is this right for you?

Complete the consultation to see how well this product fits your hair and your goals. With 6,000+ products in our library, we can match you to the right ones.

  • About 20 minutes, and your answers save as you go.
  • Every product matched against your hair across the 23 factors we check.
  • A personalized routine built around your schedule, styling habits, and local weather.
  • Find products that do the same job at a lower cost.
  • Your goals, scalp, damage history, water, budget, and scent preferences all shape your plan.

$49 with 60 days of follow-up questions and plan updates

$99 with 12 months. Pay once; the year renews only if you choose.

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Same job for less elsewhere

$71.43/oz at 0.49 oz, more than 94% of the 143 volumizers , which mostly run $3.31–9.38/oz.

View alternatives

Great for

no fragrance (parfum) on the label
free of strong smells
Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together

Maybe skip if

Styles that must holdthe brand states a light hold at most
Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
Tight budgetsit sits in the upper price tiers
If scent matters to younothing is added here

Whether this hold suits you depends on your density, porosity and how long your style needs to last. The consultation works that out.

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.

Hold (as stated) Light

A light hold, as stated by the brand.

Hold system Mixed

Gums and synthetic polymers together.

Cast risk Unlikely

Softening ingredients sit alongside the film formers, so a hard shell is unlikely.

Weight on the hair Light

Water-first and light: unlikely to flatten fine hair.

Oil absorption High

Absorbent powders or starches high in the list.

Oils and butters None

No oils or butters in the list.

Fast-drying alcohol None

No fast-drying alcohol in the list.

Needs detergent to remove No

Nothing here needs a detergent wash to remove.

Fragrance None listed

No fragrance is listed.

from the formula stated by the brand reported by reviewers Scale: 1 dot low · 5 dots high, within this product type.

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.

IngredientWhat it doesWhy it mattersChip
WaterWater (Aqua) (Eau) solvent The base everything else is dissolved in Neutral
Silica Silylate powder Mattifies and absorbs oil Stabilizes
VP/VA Copolymer film former Lays down the film that holds a shape Holds
Butylene Glycol humectant Pulls water into the hair Moisturizes
Zinc Myristate light ester Light slip without much weight Softens
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract botanical extract A plant extract, there as much for marketing as for function Neutral
Phenoxyethanol preservative Keeps the product from spoiling Stabilizes
Sodium Benzoate preservative Keeps the product from spoiling Stabilizes
What the list leaves out, and what it carriesThe list carries no sulfates, silicones, or drying alcohols. No protein: a moisture formula, not a repair one.
Full ingredient list (9)

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 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.

    Leading ingredient

    Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.

    • solvent
  • 2 Silica Silylate
    General function

    A treated silica used to absorb oil and add grip in texture products.

    Leading ingredient

    Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.

    May suitFine or easily flattened hair

    A dry powder takes up oil and adds friction between strands, which is most of what root lift in fine hair actually is.

    • powder
    • thickener
  • 3 VP/VA Copolymer
    General function

    A hold polymer that dries to a clear film. It sets the style and washes out with water.

    Leading ingredient

    Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.

    May suitClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hair

    A set polymer film is a physical barrier to humidity, so a style keeps its shape longer in damp conditions.

    May suitMaximum-hold styling

    Synthetic film formers dry into a continuous film, which is what holds a shape against movement and against humid air.

    DependsBuild-up-sensitive routines

    Some acrylate copolymers rinse with water and some need a detergent; the label alone does not say which one a formula used.

    • film former
    • polymer
  • 4 Butylene Glycol
    General function

    A light humectant and carrier that helps extracts dissolve.

    Supporting ingredient

    Listed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.

    May suitFine or easily flattened hair

    Light and water-binding rather than oily, so it adds less weight than oils or butters do.

    May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair

    A small water-binding solvent. It holds moisture and helps the rest of the formula spread evenly over the strand.

    DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hair

    A 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.

    PubChem
    • humectant
    • solvent
  • 5 Zinc Myristate
    General function

    A fatty ester. Esters give slip and a smooth after-feel; lighter ones read dry and silky, heavier ones read rich.

    Supporting ingredient

    Listed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.

    PubChem
    • light ester
    • emollient
  • 6 Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
    General function

    An extract of Undaria Pinnatifida. Plant extracts are used across a wide range of levels, and label order is the best guide to how much is here.

    Supporting ingredient

    Listed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.

    • botanical extract
  • ▾Below about here, the order stops meaning much. These are usually used at 1% or less.
  • 7 Phenoxyethanol
    General function

    The most common modern preservative; it keeps the product free of bacteria and mould. It sits well below 1% of the formula.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    PubChem
    • preservative
  • 8 Sodium Benzoate
    General function

    A food-grade preservative that works only in acidic formulas, which is why it usually appears alongside citric acid.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    PubChem
    • preservative
  • 9 Citric Acid
    General function

    Used to bring the product to a slightly acidic pH, which helps the cuticle lie flat. It is almost always near the end of the list.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May suitBuild-up-sensitive routines

    Holds hard-water minerals in solution so they rinse away instead of depositing on the hair.

    May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair

    The acid side of pH adjustment, and the reason it matters is measured: alkaline formulas raise the fibre's surface negative charge, increase friction between strands and lift the scales, while lower-pH ones do the reverse.

    May suitGray, silver, or brass-prone hair

    Where a warm cast comes from water minerals rather than from the hair itself, holding those metals in solution is what removes it.

    International Journal of Trichology
    • pH adjuster
    • hard-water chelator

What the whole list adds up to

  • 2 solvents
  • 2 preservatives
  • 1 powder
  • 1 thickener
  • 1 film former
  • 1 polymer
  • 1 humectant
  • 1 light ester
  • 1 emollient
  • 1 botanical extract
  • 1 pH adjuster
  • 1 hard-water chelator

Ingredient list captured 2026-10-17. Formulas change, so check the package in your hand when an ingredient matters to you.

Price · 0.49 oz

Seen at $35 1 store · checked Oct 15
Good value under $10 Under $19.57/oz it costs less than three-quarters of the 8 products we score as doing the same job

Priced above the products that do the same job. Stores sell it above the $10 line; products that do this job typically go for about $21 at this size.

Show the price ladder
Where we’ve seen it1 listing · 1 store

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
  1. 0.49 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.
  2. Seen at $35 is the price we have observed for the 0.49 oz. We need three stores before we call a price commonly seen.
  3. Good value under $10 comes from the 8 products we score as doing the same job as this one. A quarter of them cost less than $19.57/oz; at 0.49 oz that is $10. Under that line you are paying less than most of them.
  4. About $21 is what those same products typically cost at this size: the midpoint of their prices per ounce, scaled to 0.49 oz.

Formula

Formula score
10 of 10

Sold through salons, and 5 products that do the same job cost less. Part of what you pay for is where it is sold.

How the score is counted
  • 5 products that do the same job cost less per ounce
  • Costs more per ounce than 94% of the 143 volumizers we’ve priced
  • Covers 6 of the 6 things a volumizer should do
  • Salon tier, sold at Brand website and Salons
  • A hold systemThe polymer, gum, or wax that holds the shape.3 pts
  • Softeners alongside the holdWhat keeps a film flexible instead of brittle.2 pts
  • No drying alcohol in the first threeFast drying without leading on alcohol.2 pts
  • A humectantBinds water into the hair.1 pt
  • A humidity claim with a mechanismThe claim has a film former or silicone behind it.1 pt
  • Fragrance kept out of the top eightScent as a finishing touch, not a major share.1 pt

The formula score measures completeness for the job: a weighted share of the systems this product type is usually built around that we find in this list. It does not rate how well the product works or its quality, and it never compares across product types.

Does the same job, for less

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.

Not Your Mother'sSame function Plump for Joy Instant Volume Root Powder $20.99/oz $50.44/oz less
  • Protein-free
  • Curly method
  • Lightweight
Differs
  • Masstige tier
  • 0.5 oz bottle
Compare
REUZELClose function Matte Texture Hair Volumizing Powder $35.83/oz $35.60/oz less
  • Fragrance-free
  • Unscented
  • Protein-free
Function
  • Slip and detangling
  • Cast risk
Also
  • Vegan
  • Masstige tier
  • 0.5 oz bottle
Compare
Gibs GroomingLowest cost per oz Styling Texture Powder $15.30/oz $56.13/oz less
  • Protein-free
  • Curly method
  • Lightweight
· Close function
Function
  • Slip and detangling
  • Cast risk
Also
  • Woody scent, not unscented
  • Masstige tier
  • 1 oz bottle
Compare

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

Built for straight to wavy hair

Final decision

Should you buy it?

Good for the right person, not the lowest cost
Best user

People sensitive to fragrance, looking for a formula with no added fragrance and a product with no scent

Biggest tradeoff

Not ideal for styles that have to hold all day, very dry or very humid climates, or people shopping on a budget

Best alternative if not

Consider Not Your Mother's Plump for Joy Instant Volume Root Powder, for similar results 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.

Claims check

What the brand says, and what the formula shows

Claims are quoted from the brand. We mark a claim supported, partly supported or conflicting only when the ingredient list speaks to it. Everything else stays "stated by the brand". That isn’t a criticism: most claims can’t be checked from a label.

3
SupportedBacked by ingredients
0
Partly supportedSome supporting logic
2
Stated by brandNo clear evidence
0
Potential conflictFormula works against claim
An instant poof in a jar!

This is a marketing claim; an ingredient list cannot speak to it.

—

Stated by brand

Can’t be confirmed from label.

Texturising

This is a marketing claim; an ingredient list cannot speak to it.

—

Stated by brand

Can’t be confirmed from label.

Volumising

It reads light on the strand, which is what volume claims depend on.

  • VP/VA Copolymer
Supported

Leaves room for lift.

soft hold

Softening ingredients sit alongside the hold polymers, which is what keeps a film flexible.

  • VP/VA Copolymer
  • Zinc Myristate
Supported

Natural movement without stiffness.

The lotion lifts the hair, and the powder simultaneously dries the lotion, giving your hair some serious extra oomph.

It reads light on the strand, which is what volume claims depend on.

  • VP/VA Copolymer
Supported

Leaves room for lift.

How to read this

We look at the first 10–15 ingredients and what they do in a formula, not at the marketing. If the list doesn't speak to a claim, we don't assume.

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 a small shake gives instant root lift and volume that lasts a day or two, and some use it to stretch time between washes.

fine, flat and oily-rooted reviewers

Other reviewers, many with fine hair, found it left hair greasy, sticky, gritty or weighed down, or snarled, and saw little volume.

mostly fine-haired reviewers

Reviewers repeatedly warn that a little goes a long way and the powder can come out too fast, so it must be applied carefully, and a few note the container is small.

regular and new users commenting on application and quantity

More from Kevin Murphy

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.
  • Both scores out of ten are defined on this page. The formula score is completeness for the job, computed from a fixed per-format checklist shown beneath the gauge; the price score is cost per ounce against every product of this type we have priced.
  • The "Is this right for you?" panel reads only your own consultation answers, and it applies exactly the filters our recommendation engine applies. It is computed when you load the page and is never stored on it.
  • 3 sources consulted for this product (0 manufacturer or regulatory, 1 retailer, 2 editorial), last checked 2026-10-17.
  • Ingredient references are linked for 2 of 4 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 2026-10-17.

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