Amika Perk Up vs Perk Up Plus: Volume, Finish and Residue

Amika’s similarly named dry shampoos can make the shelf harder to read than it needs to be. Original Perk Up and Perk Up Plus both refresh roots between washes, yet their positioning differs around volume and the finished feel. The useful comparison is how each fits the hairstyle you want to preserve, how you apply it and whether another can adds a distinct role to your routine.

The differences at a glance

The current Perk Up page emphasizes volume, while the current Plus page emphasizes a lightweight, natural finish. These are manufacturer descriptions, not guaranteed results for every hair type or a fixed number of extra days between washes.

Volume and a natural finish are different goals

A hairstyle can need oil absorption without needing a larger silhouette. If you have already shaped the roots, a product’s lifting effect changes the result as well as making the hair look fresher. Conversely, flat roots may be exactly what you are trying to change when using dry shampoo.

The brand’s comparison of the two formulas frames original Perk Up around volume and Plus around refresh without added grit or extra volume. The employee routines in that article are personal brand accounts. Their wash schedules should not become a requirement for your own hair.

Look at your finished hairstyle when judging this distinction. Ask whether it remains easy to reshape, whether the crown has the height you want and whether the roots look visibly refreshed. Those observations are more useful than buying the stronger-sounding name without a defined purpose.

Plus has more formula differences than its name suggests

The current ingredient lists share rice starch, aerosol propellants, denatured alcohol and fragrance. Plus also lists arrowroot powder and mandelic acid among its additional ingredients. The presence of an acid does not establish an antibacterial treatment, a medical scalp benefit or permission to stop washing indefinitely.

Original and Plus are different formulas rather than the same contents with different can colors. Packaging can also change, so the complete product name is a more dependable shopping check than recognizing the design from a photograph. Read the ingredient list on the actual can when a particular ingredient matters to you.

The shared fragrance is another practical limit. An invisible-looking finish does not mean unscented hair. A product can suit your preferred root texture while its scent remains noticeable enough to affect whether you enjoy using it.

The current labeled application is the same for both

Amika’s current directions for each can follow the same sequence: shake, hold eight inches away, sweep the spray across the roots, wait thirty seconds, then massage or brush through. Keep the spray away from the eyes and follow the aerosol warnings on the packaging.

Separate the roots into manageable sections before beginning. Place a modest amount where the refresh is needed instead of holding the nozzle close to one oily patch. That makes it easier to distribute the product and inspect the result before another pass.

A white-looking area immediately after spraying is a reason to distribute the existing product, not automatically add more. Inspect the roots after brushing or massaging, including sections around the part that can be easy to miss. Avoid judging the whole can from an untouched spray patch.

These are pressurized aerosols, so storage and use around heat matter. Follow the label rather than treating the can like a water-based pump spray. Applying dry shampoo and immediately bringing a hot tool or flame close to the aerosol is not a shortcut to take.

A recent independent comparison and users show mixed preferences

In A Little Bit Etc’s April 2025 comparison, the writer describes original Perk Up as light on her fine hair and uses Plus closer to her next wash. That is useful experience with both products, not proof that the same schedule works for everyone. The article contains shopping links.

A 2025 Sephora discussion includes a wearer who prefers Plus on oily hair and another who prefers the original because the alternatives leave more residue for them. One original user also finds the nozzle awkward to operate one-handed. These accounts make texture and handling relevant questions rather than establishing a universal winner.

Brand claims of an invisible finish need that context. A small, well-distributed application and repeated heavy spraying are different uses. If the roots feel coated, continuing to layer product may work against the clean-looking finish you wanted.

A second can earns its place only through a separate role

Value here depends on whether both products solve different problems in your routine. Two aerosols that you use in exactly the same way add storage and another purchase without necessarily adding an outcome you care about.

For the lengths, our Verb Ghost Oil application guide addresses a separate styling step. A finishing oil for the ends and a root-focused dry shampoo should not be confused just because both appear in a between-wash routine.

Browse current haircare offers using the full formula name and can size. A deal on Perk Up Ultra or a limited-edition package needs its own product check; it is not automatically the original-versus-Plus purchase described here.

FAQ

Does Plus also contain rice starch?

Yes. Its current list includes rice starch as well as arrowroot powder.

Are either of these fragrance-free?

No. Fragrance appears on both current ingredient lists.

How far away does the brand say to spray?

Eight inches from the roots, using a sweeping motion.

How long is the labeled wait?

Thirty seconds before massaging or brushing through.

Verdict

Choose original Perk Up when root volume is part of the refresh you want. Choose Perk Up Plus when a natural-feeling refresh matters more than added lift, while recognizing that residue preferences vary among users. If your current dry shampoo already gives the texture and appearance you like, skip an overlapping can. If fragrance or aerosol handling is a deal-breaker, neither solves that concern. Start with the labeled distance and a modest application, then distribute before reassessing. Owning both makes sense only when each has a distinct role in hairstyles you regularly wear.