Dry Shampoo Recall:
Not All Dry Shampoos Are Created Equal
Over the past few months, my email inbox has been filled with links to news articles about dry shampoo recalls and with customer questions about the safety of these products.
Many people were understandably surprised to learn that some popular aerosol dry shampoos had been recalled after benzene was detected, a chemical classified as a human carcinogen.
While the recall itself raised important safety questions, it also highlighted something many people had never considered before:
Not all dry shampoos are created equal.
Dry shampoos may seem like simple products — after all, their job is just to absorb excess oil between washes. But the way they are formulated, the ingredients they contain, and even the type of packaging used can vary widely.
The recall simply reminded many consumers that it is worth taking a closer look at what is actually in the products we use on our hair and scalp.
Why the Dry Shampoo Recall?
The recalls were triggered by the discovery of benzene in some aerosol dry shampoo products.
It is interesting to note that this is not the first time benzene contamination has prompted a recall of personal care products in recent history. According to an article from NPR written in December 2021:
“Procter & Gamble has recalled 32 of its dry shampoo and conditioner products after detecting benzene, a known carcinogen, in some of them.” (source)
The FDA also reported elevated benzene levels found in aerosol antiperspirants and deodorants tested from 30 different brands, as well as sunscreen, and even children’s hand sanitizer.
In mid-October 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a nationwide dry shampoo recall by Unilever due to “elevated levels of benzene” in dozens of aerosol products. They also released a list of numerous other dry shampoo products that contain benzene. According to the FDA:
"Benzene is classified as a human carcinogen. Exposure to benzene can occur by inhalation, orally, and through the skin and it can result in cancers including leukemia and blood cancer of the bone marrow and blood disorders which can be life threatening."
"Consumers should stop using the affected aerosol dry shampoo products and visit UnileverRecall for instructions on how to receive reimbursement for eligible products.”
What the Benzene Recall Revealed
Benzene is not an ingredient used in dry shampoos and serves no purpose in absorbing oil or refreshing hair. Instead, it appears to have been introduced unintentionally during manufacturing.
Investigations suggested that the contamination may have been associated with certain aerosol propellants, such as butane, that are used to push the product out of the can.
The level of risk depends on how much benzene a person is exposed to and for how long.
Small amounts are present in the environment, and people are exposed to low levels every day from sources such as vehicle emissions, gasoline vapors, and tobacco smoke.
However, benzene has no useful role in personal care products, which is why its presence in aerosol dry shampoos raised concern. Because dry shampoo sprays are typically applied close to the face and inhaled in small enclosed spaces like bathrooms, regulators and manufacturers took the issue seriously and issued voluntary recalls.
While the recalls focused attention on benzene contamination, they also prompted many consumers to ask a broader question: what exactly is in the dry shampoos we use?
Because the contamination appeared in aerosol products, it naturally drew attention to aerosol dry shampoos.
Aerosol Dry Shampoos
When it comes to aerosol dry shampoos, there are two things to consider: what’s inside the can and the pressurized container itself.
Ingredients and Propellants
Aerosol dry shampoos are popular because they’re fast and convenient. A quick press of the nozzle sends out a fine mist that settles through the hair and absorbs oil.
That mist comes from a pressurized can. Inside, a propellant pushes the dry shampoo powder out in a smooth spray. Years ago, many aerosol products used CFCs as propellants, but those were phased out after they were found to damage the ozone layer. Modern formulas use things like propane, butane, isobutane, hydrofluorocarbons, or compressed gases such as nitrogen.
These newer propellants don’t harm the ozone layer, but aerosol sprays can still release volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
VOCs contribute to air pollution and can bother people who are sensitive to strong smells or airborne particles.
How you use an aerosol also matters. Dry shampoo sprays are usually aimed right at the scalp, so both the powder and the propellant can be inhaled during application — especially in small bathrooms or other enclosed spaces.
Many aerosol dry shampoos also include ingredients like alcohol, conditioning agents, and synthetic fragrance. Alcohol helps the product dry quickly, but frequent use can leave the hair and scalp feeling drier over time.
Recycling and Disposal Challenges of Aerosol Cans
Aerosol cans are usually made from recyclable metals like aluminum or steel, so they seem easy to toss in the recycling bin, but not really.
The challenge is that they stay pressurized until they are empty, and that pressure makes them tricky for many recycling facilities to handle safely.
If a can still has product inside, it can’t go through normal recycling streams. Partially full cans often need to be taken to a household hazardous waste facility so they can be depressurized and disposed of properly.
When a not-quite-empty can ends up in regular recycling, that’s where problems start.
Recycling centers use heavy, industrial machinery to compress metal into dense cubes before sending them to metal recyclers. If an aerosol can—even a "used" one that still contains propellant or residue—goes through this process, it can explode or catch fire, damaging equipment and potentially injuring workers.
Many people don’t realize that if a can still makes a “hiss” sound, it is still pressurized.
Because of that risk, some communities will only accept aerosol cans if they are completely empty, and some recycling programs do not accept them at all.
As you might suspect, when people are unsure how to dispose of them—or when their local recycling program doesn’t accept them—many aerosol cans end up in the regular trash stream. In landfills, the remaining contents may eventually leak out, potentially contaminating soil or groundwater.
While aerosol products are convenient and widely used, these challenges have led consumers to explore alternative dry shampoo formats.
Powder Dry Shampoos
Powder dry shampoos avoid the pressurized cans and propellants used in aerosol sprays, but that doesn’t mean every powder works the same way.
How well a powder refreshes the hair—and how gently it treats the scalp—comes down to the ingredients doing the work.
Most powders use simple, familiar absorbents like arrowroot, tapioca, rice starch, cornstarch, or natural clays to soak up excess oil and give hair a cleaner feel between washes.
But formulas can vary. Some powders include ingredients such as talc, synthetic fragrance, silicones, or conditioning additives designed to improve texture, scent, or application.
Because dry shampoo isn’t rinsed out the way traditional shampoo is, whatever you use stays on the scalp for a day or more. That makes the ingredient list especially important.
For that reason, the appeal of powdered dry shampoos lies in their simplicity—a short list of well‑chosen ingredients that gently refresh hair without unnecessary additives.
👉 Learn More: What Is a Dry Shampoo
Why Dry Shampoos Are Not All the Same
Dry shampoos may seem similar on the shelf, but the recent recall reminds us that they’re not all made the same way.
Some rely on aerosol sprays and propellants, while others use simple absorbent powders. And even within those groups, the ingredients used to absorb oil, add scent, or change the texture can vary quite a bit.
For many consumers, the takeaway was straightforward: it’s worth paying attention to what’s actually in the products we use every day—even something as simple as dry shampoo.
Updated March 2026. This article was originally published in response to the dry shampoo recall and has been updated with additional information about aerosol dry shampoos, powder formulations, and ingredient considerations.
