Anyone who wants to stretch the time between washes: amika makes Perk Up for all hair types, 1 through 4c, and points it at balanced to oily hair and scalps.

Because the formula uses rice starch rather than talc and dries clear, it suits dark hair that shows white cast from other dry shampoos. It is a retail product for everyday home use and needs no special technique.

Most dry shampoos rely on talc or aluminum starch, which is what leaves that powdery film on darker hair. Perk Up uses rice starch instead, so it absorbs oil and odour and then disappears, whatever your hair colour. The result is roots that look freshly washed with a bit of extra volume, rather than dusty.

It is also amika's original, classic dry shampoo: a straightforward root refresh with the brand's sea buckthorn oil in the mix. If you want a scalp-care focus instead, Perk Up Plus is the extended-clean version.

• Shake the can well.
• Hold it about 8 inches (20 cm) from your head.
• Spray onto the roots in a sweeping motion.
• Wait 30 seconds.
• Massage in with your fingertips or brush through.

Tip from amika: mist lightly at the crown and roots of freshly washed and styled hair to help the style last longer.

Pros

• Talc-free rice starch base dries invisibly, so no grey cast on dark roots
• Absorbs oil and cuts odour, and amika reports it is clinically proven to remove oil
• Gives flat roots lift without a gritty or chalky feel
• Available in a 9.5 oz value can for regular users

Cons

• It refreshes hair but does not wash the scalp, so it cannot replace shampooing
• Aimed at balanced to oily scalps; a dry scalp may not need the extra oil absorption
• Scented, with fragrance allergens listed, which may bother sensitive scalps
• Flammable aerosol that needs the usual care around heat and flame