Aerosol dry shampoo isn’t inherently dangerous. However, a series of high-profile recalls between 2021 and 2022 found benzene — a known carcinogen — in some aerosol products. Investigators traced this to the spray propellant rather than the formula itself. Regulators and the manufacturers said the levels detected weren’t expected to cause harm, but pulled the products as a precaution. If you’d rather sidestep the issue entirely, a powder dry shampoo uses no propellant at all. Here’s the full, balanced picture so you can decide for yourself.
What actually happened with the recalls
This is worth getting right, because the headlines were alarming and the detail is more measured.
In December 2021, Procter & Gamble recalled a number of aerosol dry shampoos, including Pantene, Old Spice and Herbal Essences, after independent testing found benzene. In October 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) posted Unilever’s voluntary recall of 19 aerosol dry shampoo products — across Dove, Nexxus, Suave, TRESemmé and TIGI (Bed Head and Rockaholic) — for the same reason.
Two facts matter here:
- The benzene came from the propellant, not the dry shampoo formula. Aerosols use a pressurised gas (often butane, propane or isobutane) to spray the product. That propellant was the source of the contamination.
- It was a precaution. Unilever’s own independent health-hazard evaluation concluded that daily exposure at the levels detected “would not be expected to cause adverse health consequences.” The company said it had received no reports of adverse events. The products were recalled “out of an abundance of caution.”
So the honest summary is: this was a real, documented problem with specific aerosol batches, taken seriously by regulators — but not evidence that every can on the shelf is dangerous.
Why is benzene a concern at all?
Health authorities classify benzene as a human carcinogen. Exposure at high enough doses, over enough time, is linked to blood-related cancers such as leukaemia. We’re all exposed to tiny amounts of benzene daily (it’s in things like vehicle exhaust and cigarette smoke), so context and dose matter enormously — a trace in one product is not the same as a meaningful health risk.
The reason it caught attention in dry shampoo specifically is that you spray it near your face and breathe it in. Some testing suggested concentrations rose at the moment of spraying. That’s a legitimate reason to pay attention — and also a reason not to panic over a single can you used last year.
The bigger, less dramatic issues with aerosols
Set aside benzene and there are a couple of everyday reasons people move away from aerosol dry shampoo:
- Single-use cans. An aerosol is a pressurised metal-and-plastic can you bin when it’s empty. A powder in a refillable pot avoids that.
- Less control. Sprays distribute product across a wide area, which is part of why they can leave residue. A powder lets you target the roots that actually need it.
- Propellant, full stop. Even a perfectly clean aerosol relies on propellant gas. A powder simply doesn’t need one.
What a powder avoids
A natural powder dry shampoo sidesteps the propellant question entirely, because there’s no propellant. Our Battle Green Natural Dry Shampoo Powder is made from plant-based ingredients. This includes corn starch, kaolin clay, organic arrowroot, aloe vera and amla — with essential oils for scent, in a refillable cardboard pot. It’s PETA-certified vegan and cruelty-free, handmade in Wales, and won Gold at the Free From Skincare Awards in the Haircare category.
To be clear and fair: switching to a powder is a choice about ingredients, packaging and peace of mind, not a medical necessity. Plenty of aerosols on sale today are made to current safety standards. But if the benzene story made you uneasy, a propellant-free powder is a simple way to take the question off the table.
Frequently asked questions
Is dry shampoo bad for your hair or scalp? Used correctly, dry shampoo is a useful way to absorb excess oil, refresh your roots and extend the time between washes. The main thing to avoid is relying on it for too long without washing, as oil, dead skin cells and product can build up on the scalp. Apply a small amount to the roots and brush or massage it through rather than repeatedly layering on more.
Read our complete dry shampoo guide.
Was all dry shampoo recalled? No. The 2021–2022 recalls affected specific lot codes of certain aerosol dry shampoo products following concerns about benzene contamination. They did not apply to all dry shampoos. Powder dry shampoos without aerosol propellants were not part of those recalls.
Does powder dry shampoo contain benzene? Powder dry shampoos don’t use aerosol propellants, so they avoid the specific propellant-related source of benzene contamination involved in the recalls. As with any cosmetic product, the ingredients and manufacturing standards of the individual product still matter.
Should I throw away my aerosol dry shampoo? If you have a product covered by a recall, follow the manufacturer’s recall guidance and don’t use it. If your product isn’t affected, throwing it away is a personal choice. Some people simply prefer to switch to a propellant-free powder, which removes the need for an aerosol spray altogether.
Is natural dry shampoo definitely safer? Not necessarily. “Natural” isn’t a regulated term, so it’s more useful to look at the actual ingredients and formulation than the word natural alone. What a powder genuinely removes from the equation is the aerosol propellant — the type of propellant system involved in the benzene contamination concerns behind the recalls.
This article is general information, not medical advice. If you have specific health concerns, speak to a GP or pharmacist.
