Dry shampoo can be wonderfully convenient, but if you have dark brown hair, there’s one problem that can ruin the whole effect: white, powdery roots.
That’s exactly what Batiste Beautiful Brunette Dry Shampoo is designed to avoid.
Instead of spraying on as a pale powder, this version contains a hint of brown color so it blends more naturally into brunette hair. Batiste says it works across a range of brown shades and can even suit many shades of red or auburn hair.
It still does all the usual dry-shampoo jobs too, including absorbing excess oil and adding some texture and volume.
So is the tinted formula genuinely better for brunettes?
I think it can be — especially if ordinary dry shampoos make your roots look gray, dusty or noticeably coated.
Looking for more options? Read our Guide to the Best Dry Shampoo
View more Dry Shampoo Reviews >
What Is Batiste Beautiful Brunette Dry Shampoo?
Batiste Beautiful Brunette is a tinted aerosol dry shampoo designed specifically with darker hair in mind.
Its main jobs are to:
Absorb excess oil
Refresh roots between washes
Add a little texture and body
Avoid the obvious white cast associated with some traditional dry shampoos
Blend more naturally with brown hair
The formula contains rice starch, which absorbs excess oil, alongside iron oxides, which provide the brunette tint.
That color is really the feature that separates Beautiful Brunette from regular Batiste dry shampoo.
At a Glance
Best for: Brunette hair with oily roots
Main benefit: Oil absorption without an obvious white powder effect
Hair colors: Brown, dark brown and many auburn/red shades
Finish: Fresher, fuller-looking hair
Adds volume: Yes
Adds texture: Yes
Main absorbent ingredient: Rice starch
Tinted: Yes
Best feature: Brown pigment that blends into darker roots
Biggest consideration: The tint can transfer onto fingers, skin, clothing or bedding if it isn’t worked through properly
How Does Batiste Beautiful Brunette Work?
Like other Batiste dry shampoos, this isn’t washing your hair with water.
Instead, rice starch absorbs excess oil around the roots, making greasy hair look cleaner and fresher.
Batiste then adds brown pigments to the formula.
Those pigments mean that instead of leaving pale powder sitting on dark hair, the residue has a brunette tone that is much less conspicuous.
The brand describes the product as a tinted dry shampoo that blends with brown hair while refreshing it between washes.
It’s a simple idea, but it’s a very useful one if you’ve ever applied regular dry shampoo to dark hair and immediately developed gray-looking roots.
Does Batiste Beautiful Brunette Actually Work?
Customer feedback is very strong.
At the time I checked, Ulta listed Batiste Beautiful Brunette at around 4.4 out of 5 stars from more than 7,800 reviews, with 88% of reviewers saying they would recommend it to a friend.
That is an unusually large number of reviews for a hair product.
The most commonly mentioned benefits include:
Added volume
Pleasant fragrance
Thorough oil removal
Gentleness
Overall effectiveness
Oily hair is by far one of the most common reasons customers say they use it.
Walmart feedback is similarly positive, with brunette Batiste listings sitting around 4.4–4.5 stars depending on the size and listing.
Is It Better Than Regular Dry Shampoo for Brunettes?
For genuinely dark hair, I think this is where the product makes the most sense.
Standard dry shampoo generally contains pale absorbent powders.
Even when a product claims not to leave residue, applying too much to dark brown or black hair can make the roots look dull, dusty or gray.
Batiste Beautiful Brunette gets around that problem by adding brown pigment.
Walmart reviewers frequently mention color match and blendability, and many specifically praise the fact that it avoids the obvious white cast they experience with other dry shampoos.
So if white residue is your number-one complaint about dry shampoo, I’d definitely consider a tinted formula.
What Shade Is the Tint?
This isn’t hair dye, so don’t expect an exact salon color match.
It’s better to think of it as a brown-tinted powder designed to disappear more easily into brunette hair.
Batiste says the formula is suitable for rich brunette shades and also works with many auburn and red tones.
That means it doesn’t have to match your hair perfectly.
Its job is simply to look more natural than bright white starch sitting against dark roots.
Can It Help Hide Gray Roots?
Interestingly, some customers use Beautiful Brunette for exactly this reason.
The product isn’t sold as permanent gray coverage, but the brown pigment can make a few lighter or gray hairs around the roots appear less noticeable.
Current Walmart reviews include customers specifically mentioning that they like it for disguising occasional gray strands as well as refreshing oily roots.
I wouldn’t buy it as a substitute for proper root touch-up color.
But if you’re dealing with just a few visible grays between coloring appointments, the tint may be a useful little bonus.
Does the Brown Color Transfer?
This is probably the biggest drawback.
Because Beautiful Brunette contains actual pigment, you have to expect some possibility of transfer.
Ulta reviewers mention that the brown tint can come off onto hands when massaging the product into the roots and can potentially transfer onto the face or light-colored clothing.
This is something I’d take seriously.
If I’m wearing a white top, I’d probably apply this before getting dressed.
I’d also wash my hands after massaging it into the hair.
And if you’ve applied a lot of product shortly before bed, I’d be cautious around white pillowcases.
It’s the trade-off for having a dry shampoo that isn’t bright white.
How Good Is It for Oily Hair?
Very good, judging by customer feedback.
Oily hair is the most frequently mentioned use case among Ulta reviewers, with well over a thousand customers identifying oil control as an important reason for using it.
The rice starch absorbs excess sebum at the roots, making the hair look cleaner.
I’d use it when the roots are beginning to look oily but the rest of my hair doesn’t actually need washing.
That’s particularly useful for anyone who:
Has oily roots but dry ends
Wants to stretch out a blowout
Colors their hair
Doesn’t want to heat-style after every wash
Finds their fringe or hairline gets greasy first
Does It Add Volume?
Yes.
Volume is actually the most frequently mentioned benefit in Ulta’s review data, with more than 1,300 reviewers listing added volume among the positives.
That makes sense because oily hair tends to become flat.
Once some of that oil is absorbed, the roots naturally become lighter and gain more lift.
The powder also gives the hair slightly more grip and texture.
I wouldn’t expect styling-powder levels of volume, but it should make limp second-day hair look noticeably fuller.
Is It Good for Fine Hair?
I think fine brunette hair is probably one of the best matches for this product.
Fine hair tends to:
Show oil quickly
Become flat at the roots
Show white dry-shampoo residue easily if the hair is dark
Beautiful Brunette addresses all three problems.
Hundreds of Ulta reviewers with fine hair report using the product, while both volume and oil absorption appear prominently among customer feedback.
What About Thick or Curly Hair?
It isn’t limited to fine or straight hair.
Ulta’s customer data includes people with thick, curly and wavy hair too.
If you have thick hair, I would section it carefully before spraying.
Otherwise, you’ll refresh the visible top layer while missing the oily roots underneath.
With curls, I’d also be careful about aggressively brushing the product through if brushing normally disrupts your curl pattern.
Massaging it into the roots with your fingertips may work better.
Does It Leave Residue?
The main advantage of Beautiful Brunette is that any residue is brown rather than stark white.
That doesn’t necessarily mean there is literally no residue.
Some customers report an almost invisible finish, while others mention detectable powder or pigment if the product is applied too heavily. Walmart’s review summary similarly notes that residue experiences vary between users.
Application technique matters.
Too much dry shampoo sprayed too close to the roots is more likely to look obvious.
What Does It Smell Like?
Customer reaction to the fragrance is generally positive.
At Ulta, “great smell” is one of the most frequently mentioned advantages, with more than 1,200 reviewers highlighting the fragrance.
Walmart review summaries also describe the scent as light and fresh.
There are inevitably some people who find it too strong, though.
If you’re very sensitive to fragranced hair products, that’s something I’d keep in mind.
Batiste Beautiful Brunette Ingredients
Batiste’s current US product page lists formulas that include ingredients such as:
Oryza Sativa (Rice) Starch
Alcohol Denat.
Cetrimonium Chloride
Butylene Glycol
Horse Chestnut Seed Extract
Distearyldimonium Chloride
Iron Oxides
Fragrance
As an aerosol product, it also contains propellant ingredients such as butane, isobutane and propane, depending on the size/formula. Batiste notes that formulas may vary.
Why Are Iron Oxides Included?
The iron oxides provide the brown pigment.
These are what transform this from an ordinary pale dry shampoo into one designed specifically for brunette hair.
Does It Contain Alcohol?
Yes.
Denatured alcohol appears in the ingredient list.
That isn’t unusual for aerosol dry shampoos, but anyone with a particularly dry scalp may want to use it sparingly.
Dryness is also one of the more frequently reported criticisms among Ulta reviewers, although positive reviews substantially outweigh negative ones overall.
How to Use Batiste Beautiful Brunette Dry Shampoo
Correct application makes a big difference.
Step 1: Shake the Can
Shake it thoroughly before every use.
This is particularly important with a tinted product because you want the pigment and absorbent ingredients evenly distributed.
Step 2: Section Your Hair
Separate your hair so that you can spray the actual oily roots.
Step 3: Hold It Away From Your Head
Batiste recommends holding the can approximately 12 inches from the roots.
Don’t spray directly against the scalp.
Step 4: Spray Lightly
Concentrate on oily sections.
You don’t need to coat your entire head.
Step 5: Massage It In
Use your fingertips to work the product into the roots.
Step 6: Brush and Style
Brush through where appropriate for your hair type, then style normally.
My Tip for Avoiding Brown Marks
Because this product is tinted, I would apply it before putting on light-colored clothing.
I’d also:
Protect pale towels
Wash my hands afterward
Wipe away any pigment around the hairline
Avoid unnecessarily spraying the forehead or ears
Start with a small amount
The less excess pigment sitting on the hair, the less chance there is of transfer.
Can You Use It Every Day?
Some Ulta reviewers list daily use, but I wouldn’t treat dry shampoo as a replacement for washing your scalp.
Dry shampoo absorbs oil.
It doesn’t rinse away everything that accumulates around the scalp.
Repeated applications can mean layers of:
Oil
Sweat
Styling products
Dry shampoo
Dead skin
So I prefer using dry shampoo to extend the time between washes, rather than trying to avoid washing completely.
Pros and Cons
What I Like
Excellent for brunette hair
The brown tint solves one of the biggest dry-shampoo problems for darker hair.
Good oil absorption
Rice starch helps freshen greasy roots.
Adds volume
This is one of the most consistently reported benefits among users.
Can make gray roots less noticeable
Not a replacement for hair color, but potentially useful between coloring appointments.
Avoids the obvious white cast
Probably the single biggest reason to choose this version over ordinary Batiste.
Huge number of positive reviews
More than 7,800 Ulta reviews give it an average around 4.4 stars.
What I Don’t Like
The brown pigment can transfer
Hands, clothing and sometimes bedding can pick up color.
It can still leave residue
Tinted doesn’t necessarily mean completely invisible.
Contains fragrance
Not ideal if you’re fragrance-sensitive.
Contains denatured alcohol
May feel drying if heavily or frequently used.
Shade isn’t universal
Very light brown, extremely dark brown or unusual brunette tones may not find the pigment quite as seamless.
Batiste Beautiful Brunette vs Regular Batiste
For blonde or very light hair, I’d probably choose regular Batiste.
For medium-to-dark brunette hair, I’d choose Beautiful Brunette.
The oil-absorbing principle is very similar.
The difference is that the brunette version contains pigment designed to disappear into darker hair instead of leaving visible pale powder.
That’s enough of an advantage for me to make the tinted version the more logical choice if white residue is usually a problem.
Batiste Beautiful Brunette vs Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak
These are slightly different products.
Batiste Beautiful Brunette wins if your biggest concern is white residue on brown hair.
Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak is the more straightforward untinted everyday refresher.
I’d choose Batiste if:
My hair were medium or dark brown
Ordinary dry shampoo made my roots look gray
I wanted some temporary camouflage around lighter roots
I’d choose Clean Freak if:
Tint transfer worried me
I didn’t need color correction
I preferred an untinted formula
Who Would I Recommend It For?
I’d particularly recommend Batiste Beautiful Brunette if you:
Have medium or dark brown hair
Have auburn hair
Struggle with oily roots
Hate white dry-shampoo residue
Have fine or flat hair
Want extra root volume
Want to make a few gray hairs less noticeable
Frequently stretch the time between washes
I’d consider another option if you:
Have blonde or very light brown hair
Wear lots of white clothing and hate any possibility of pigment transfer
Have an extremely sensitive or dry scalp
Avoid fragranced products
Want an untinted dry shampoo
My Verdict: Is Batiste Beautiful Brunette Dry Shampoo Good?
Yes — and I think the tinted formula makes considerably more sense for brunettes than a standard white dry shampoo.
The basic performance is exactly what I’d want from a dry shampoo: it absorbs oil, gives flat roots more volume and helps stretch the time between regular washes.
But its real advantage is the color.
Adding brown pigment makes the powder much less obvious on darker hair, which solves one of the most irritating problems associated with dry shampoo.
Customer feedback supports that. Ulta currently shows an average rating of around 4.4/5 from more than 7,800 reviews, with 88% of customers saying they would recommend it.
The compromise is that the brown pigment can transfer, so I’d be slightly more careful when applying it than I would with an untinted dry shampoo.
Overall, though, I think it’s an excellent option for brunette hair.
Beautifully Alive Rating: 4.5/5
Best feature: Brown tint minimizes visible white residue
Biggest drawback: Pigment can transfer to hands or fabrics
Best suited to: Medium and dark brunette hair with oily or flat roots
Would I recommend it? Yes — particularly if white residue is the reason you’ve struggled with dry shampoo in the past.
Read next: 10 Best Dry Shampoo Options for Fresh, Voluminous Hair
