Amika Perk Up is a talc-free dry shampoo that uses rice starch to absorb oil and refresh hair between washes.
It works without the white cast or grit older formulas leave behind, but only if you massage it in after the 30-second wait that lets the starch pull oil from the roots.
The product ranked #1 in US prestige dry shampoo sales for 2024.
What Perk Up Is For
Perk Up is a talc-free dry shampoo built to absorb oil and refresh hair between washes.
The formula relies on rice starch rather than aluminum starch or talc, pulling oil from the roots without the grit or white cast that older dry shampoos leave behind.
It also reduces odor, which matters when you are stretching a blowout to day three or four, and adds volume at the root where hair tends to collapse first.
The product is the #1 prestige dry shampoo in the US based on Circana data for January through December 2024, tracking both dollar and unit sales across the measured market.
Consumer testing on 53 participants found that 92% said Perk Up left hair smelling clean and refreshed after use.
Rice Starch and Sea Buckthorn
Perk Up swaps the aluminum starch or talc most dry shampoos use for rice starch, a natural powder that absorbs oil without the grit or the white cast that lingers on darker roots.
Rice starch is lighter and breaks down fast, so it refreshes volume without building up over the course of a week.
Sea buckthorn is the signature ingredient here, loaded with vitamin C, vitamin A and omega-7 fatty acid.
It nourishes the scalp while the rice starch handles the oil, which is why the formula feels less stripping than aerosols that dry out your roots by day three.
In consumer testing of 53 participants, 92% said Perk Up left hair smelling clean and refreshed, which matters when you’re stretching a blowout or wearing your hair up for back-to-back shifts.
What Using It Looks Like
Reviewers consistently describe hair looking fresh without visible residue, though the formula does appear white at first spray.
That white cast disappears after massaging or brushing it into the scalp, leaving an invisible finish that reads as clean rather than coated.
All in, the Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo made my blowout last a full week without any of the chalky-scalp dust you get from nearly every other similar product.
That week-long extension is notable for anyone stretching salon visits or protecting color between washes.
Customer reviews split on performance. Some report grease removal that makes second- and third-day hair workable again.
Others found it did little to refresh roots or absorb oil. One reviewer noted it did not add body, which matters if you rely on dry shampoo for lift at the crown rather than just oil control.
How to Apply It
- Shake the can well and hold it 6–8 inches from your scalp, aiming the spray toward the roots rather than directly onto them.
- Let the product sit for 30 seconds to a few minutes so the rice starch can absorb oil before you touch it.
- Massage it in with your fingertips the way you would with wet shampoo, working section by section if your hair is thick or you want even coverage.
- Brush through to distribute the product and clear any visible powder.
I’ve had better results when I spray it on before bed and let it work overnight.
The morning brush-through leaves my hair looking reset without the rush. It also works post-workout or on day two or three styles, and you can spray it into braids to freshen them without taking them down.
If you want lift and texture after applying it, a 30-second blast of cool air from the dryer helps lock the volume in.
Choosing Among the Three Formulas
Amika sells Perk Up in three formulas, and picking between them comes down to how oily your scalp runs and how much time you want between washes.
The original Perk Up handles everyday refresh and volume and suits most people for an extra day or two before the next shampoo.
If your scalp gets very oily or you need something post-workout, the Ultra Oil Control formula absorbs more sebum.
Perk Up Plus Extended Clean is the one to reach for when you’re stretching wash day further; it typically buys you one more day than the original would.
Plus includes mandelic acid, a gentle AHA, along with arrowroot powder to keep the scalp cleaner longer.
I’d start with the original unless you already know your hair gets slick by mid-afternoon or you’re trying to push a full week between washes.
Which Formula for Fine Hair
Both the original Perk Up and Perk Up Plus work for fine hair, where buildup shows fast and volume matters.
The original handles a wider range beyond that: color-treated hair included, which matters if you alternate between root touch-up and refresh days and want one bottle to do both.
The formula skips talc, phthalates, sulphates, parabens, mineral oil and sodium chloride.
It’s vegan and cruelty free. I appreciate the talc-free part most: rice starch absorbs oil without the weight or the residue that sits visible on dark roots, and fine hair telegraphs that kind of mistake immediately.
Sizes and Price
Perk Up comes in three sizes: 97ml, 233ml, and 383ml.
The smallest runs £13.00 in the UK, and the middle size sells for $29 at Amazon, which one reviewer notes is a little high but still within range for a rice-starch formula that leaves no visible residue.
The product holds a 4.6 rating across 83 reviews and sits at the top of Amazon’s dry shampoo list with more than 12,000 five-star reviews, so the price reflects both demand and a formula that actually works on second- and third-day hair without the chalky feel most dry shampoos leave behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Amika dry shampoo leave a white residue?
Perk Up sprays on white but disappears completely once you massage or brush it through your roots.
The rice starch formula breaks down fast, leaving an invisible finish rather than the chalky cast older dry shampoos leave on darker hair. Reviewers describe hair that looks freshly washed without visible powder.
Is Amika dry shampoo talc free?
Yes, all 3 Perk Up formulas skip talc and use rice starch instead to absorb oil.
Rice starch is lighter and breaks down without the grit or buildup that talc leaves at the roots. The formula also skips phthalates, sulfates, parabens, mineral oil and sodium chloride.
Which Amika dry shampoo is best for fine hair?
Both the original Perk Up and Perk Up Plus work well for fine hair, where buildup shows fast and volume matters.
The original handles everyday refresh without weighing hair down, and the rice starch absorbs oil without the residue that sits visible on roots. Start with the original unless your scalp gets very oily by mid-afternoon.
What is the travel size of Amika Perk Up dry shampoo?
The smallest Perk Up bottle is 97ml, which qualifies as travel size for carry-on. Amika also sells a 233ml mid-size and a 383ml full-size bottle.
What are the differences between Amika Perk Up Plus and Perk Up Ultra dry shampoos?
Perk Up Plus Extended Clean adds mandelic acid and arrowroot powder to stretch wash day further, typically giving you one more day than the original formula.
Ultra Oil Control absorbs more sebum and works better for very oily scalps or post-workout refresh. The original Perk Up handles everyday oil control and volume for most people.
