Redken Invisible vs Sebastian Dynamic+ — the only two dry shampoos we keep in stock
Most dry shampoos make your hair look worse, smell weird, and leave your scalp itching by 3pm.
We carry exactly two in our salon kit. Both pass the test of being usable on the day of a client's blow-dry. Both pass the test of not killing their colour over time. Both pass the test of not looking dusty in dark hair.
Here's the honest comparison.
Redken Invisible Dry Shampoo
The newest of the two. Redken's pitch is in the name — a properly invisible formula that doesn't leave white residue, even on dark hair. They mostly pull it off.
What we love:
- Truly invisible on dark hair (this is the rare one — most "dark hair" formulas still cast)
- Light scent, not perfumed
- Absorbs oil well at the roots without making the hair feel chalky
- Doesn't trash colour — safe on toned blondes and freshly balayaged hair
Where it falls short:
- Less volume lift than Sebastian Dynamic+ — it cleans, it doesn't really texturise
- For very fine hair that needs grip for an updo, Sebastian is better
Shop Redken Invisible Dry Shampoo →
Sebastian Dynamic+ Dry Shampoo
Sebastian's Dynamic+ has been in our kit for years. It's not invisible — it does cast slightly white on very dark hair if you over-spray — but the texture and grip it gives is unmatched.
What we love:
- Builds genuine texture and grip — perfect for second-day hair you want to put up
- Gives serious volume lift at the roots
- Holds blow-dry shape into a second or third day
- The signature Sebastian scent (which clients either love or hate)
Where it falls short:
- Visible cast on very dark hair if over-applied — has to be sprayed from further away
- Stronger fragrance than Redken Invisible
- Can feel slightly powdery if you brush it through too much
Shop Sebastian Dynamic+ Dry Shampoo →
Side-by-side: when to reach for which
Reach for Redken Invisible if:
- Your hair is dark and you've ever had a dry-shampoo "snow" emergency
- You want something for between-wash freshening, not styling
- You hate strong fragrance
- You have fresh colour you're protecting
Reach for Sebastian Dynamic+ if:
- You need texture for an updo or second-day style
- Your hair is fine and falls flat fast
- You want the longest possible blow-dry life (3-4 days)
- You like the salon-fragrance feel
Honest answer for most clients: own both. Different jobs.
How to use dry shampoo without ruining your scalp
The most common mistake: over-spraying, then not brushing through.
The protocol we recommend, regardless of brand:
- Spray 20-30cm from the scalp, never closer (closer = visible cast + concentrated chemical hit on the scalp)
- Section the hair — root sections at a time, not a one-pass blast
- Wait 60 seconds before touching
- Massage with fingertips, then brush through with a paddle brush
- Never use dry shampoo more than 2-3 days running without a proper wash — build-up causes scalp irritation and accelerates colour fade
What we don't recommend
Most supermarket dry shampoos are talc-based, perfume-heavy, and rough on coloured hair. The two issues:
- The talc cast on dark hair is impossible to hide
- The high-volume aerosols flatten hair as much as they clean it
If you've spent the money on a balayage or a salon colour, the dry shampoo you use between washes matters more than people realise. The wrong one cuts your colour life by weeks.
The pairing move
Every blowout we do, the client leaves with the dry shampoo recommendation. The product is what makes the blowout last.
If you're a wash-and-go person, Redken Invisible is the daily insurance policy.
If you're an "I want my Friday blowout to look good for the wedding on Sunday" person, Sebastian Dynamic+ is the lift-and-hold tool.
The stylist's verdict
Both earn their spot in our kit. Neither replaces the other. The right answer depends on what you're trying to do — clean or texturise.
If you can only buy one and you're new to salon dry shampoo, start with Redken Invisible. It's the lower-risk choice — works for more hair types, less likely to be over-applied as a first-timer, more colour-safe.
Add Sebastian Dynamic+ later when you start using dry shampoo for actual styling, not just freshening.
FAQ
Will dry shampoo damage my hair? No, but build-up on the scalp can cause irritation and accelerate colour fade. Keep it to 2-3 days max between proper washes.
Is dry shampoo bad for my colour? The good ones aren't. Cheap, perfumed supermarket dry shampoos can dry out coloured hair faster. Both Redken Invisible and Sebastian Dynamic+ are colour-safe.
How often should I use dry shampoo? Once or twice between washes is fine for most people. If you're using it daily for a week, you're due a proper wash plus a clarifying treatment.
What's the best dry shampoo for fine hair? Sebastian Dynamic+ for the lift. Redken Invisible if you don't need the lift, just the freshness.
Where can I buy these in NZ? Both are stocked at UKIYO with free NZ shipping over $99.
11% off your first order with code WELCOME11. Free NZ shipping over $99.
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