We Tried It: What is Powder Shampoo and How Does It Work?

Powder shampoo showed up late to the natural hair care game — but with purpose. Never heard of it? You’re not the only one. In a world saturated with natural shampoos, shampoo bars, and co-washes, it might seem a bit redundant to try yet another hair cleansing product. But I’m here to convince you otherwise.

I tested the waters, so to speak, with Seed Phytonutrients Clarifying Shampoo Powder. This water-activated powder quickly transforms into a foamy lather that cleanses dirty locks and had me singing its praises before I even dried off. Curiosity piqued? Read on for a full review and how-to guide.

Powder shampoo is the same as liquid shampoo, just in powder form. Seed Phytonutrients Powder Shampoo uses a water-activated, concentrated formula that cleanses your hair with a botanical wonderland of ingredients like rolled oats, spirulina powder, and carrot oil — plus a few au natural extras for sudsing power — to deliver super clean locks that feel healthy and nourished.

But powder shampoo isn’t just nice for your hair — it’s a boon to the environment, too. Liquid shampoos use up to 80 percent water in their formulations, which seems a bit excessive given that you’re just going to get your hair wet, anyway. Add to that the fact that a two-ounce bottle of Seed Phytonutrient’s Powder Shampoo is equal to one liter of traditional liquid shampoo, and you’ve got a winning recipe for hair care sustainability.

Wanna go longer between washes? We got you. Check out our guide to natural dry shampoos and learn how to choose the best dry shampoo for your needs.

Artificial fragrances can take a hike. Seed Phytonutrients Clarifying Shampoo is scented with naturally derived oakmoss and vetiver with notes of clary sage and fir. When I tell you that my eyes rolled into the back of my head when I popped open the bottle for the first time, I mean it. It smells so good and turns my tri-weekly showers (hey, don’t judge) into blissful aromatherapy sessions.

How about that package?

Seed’s powder shampoos come in these adorable aluminum bottles with little flip-tops that remind me of something you’d find at an apothecary in Diagon Alley. Why aluminum, you ask? It’s an über sustainable material that’s 100-percent recyclable — in fact, more than 75 percent of all aluminum ever made is still in circulation today.

Texture is everything

Texture was my biggest worry when I decided to try out powder shampoo. Would it feel like wet sand? Would it leave tiny grains in my hair? My worries were for naught. It has a magically soft texture, slightly coarser than baby powder. It’s what I imagine Floo Powder would feel like if I ever got to try it. The clarifying shampoo foams up really nicely with just a tiny bit of grit leftover to give your scalp a good scrub.