
Buying Guide for Dry Shampoos

Why should you purchase dry shampoo?
Most hair professionals say the average person would benefit by not washing their hair every day. This is fantastic news if you want to look great without spending the time washing, drying, and styling your hair each day. Applying dry shampoo to your roots will freshen up your hair quickly so that you can style it and look great for the day ahead.
What should you consider when buying dry shampoo?
- Color: Some dry shampoos are white to blend in well with lighter hair colors; others are dark to blend in better with darker hair. However, some white dry shampoos will still work with dark hair.
- Bottle Size: If you’re packing for a short trip, you only need a small bottle. If you use dry shampoo multiple times a week, you’ll want a larger bottle.
- Type: There are both sprays and powder applications. Sprays are user-friendly and super quick, but powders have fewer and cleaner ingredients and can sometimes last longer. Ultimately, it’ll depend on your preference, so test some out to find what you like.
- Fragrance: There are options with light or no scents and others with strong and fresh scents to make you feel extra clean. If you have a sensitive scalp or are sensitive to fragrances in your personal care products, look for a fragrance-free formula.
How often can you use dry shampoo?
Dry shampoo can be used in-between hair washes as often as you’d like. Some people go a few days between washes; others go a few weeks. Dry shampoo acts as the quick touch-up to greasy-looking roots on those in-between days. Ultimately, you may have to do some trial and error to see what washing and dry shampoo routine works best for your hair health and appearance and train your hair to go longer between washes if that’s your goal.
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Our Picks for the Best Dry Shampoos
OGX Refresh Revitalize Extra Strength Dry Shampoo
Nourish and revitalize your hair between washes with this dry shampoo.
Pros: This well-loved product nourishes your hair with argan oil and silken proteins. It absorbs oils to make your hair look fresh and clean. Instead of limp locks and bedhead, this dry shampoo revitalizes your hair so that you can look your best.
Cons: This dry shampoo’s scent can be overpowering and isn’t great for those with sensitive skin or allergies. You might need to play with it a bit to get the right texture left on your hair.
Bottom Line: This dry shampoo has ingredients that your hair loves. It keeps your hair looking fresh and beautiful between washes. With a little trial and error on how to make it perform its best for your hair, you can have great-looking hair every day of the week.
Living Proof Perfect hair Day Dry Shampoo
This dry shampoo spray is free of irritating ingredients but full of high-quality ones.
Pros: This dry shampoo uses the brand’s Triple-Action Cleaning Technology to address how your hair looks, feels, and smells. Fast-absorbing powders soak up the oils and sweat on your hair, and then their patented molecules help to remove those powders, leaving your hair fresh and clean in all three areas. This spray is free of silicones, phthalates, and parabens and is vegan and cruelty-free. It will make your whole head smell good, too.
Cons: Its time-released scent can result in an over-powering fragrance.
Bottom Line: Patented formulas and quality ingredients help this dry shampoo spray perform at the highest caliber for many users.
Batiste Dry Shampoo, Dark & Deep Brown
White residue is unlikely with this color-enhanced dry shampoo.
Pros: Give your hair a quick refresh without parabens, sulfates, and aluminum. This dry shampoo spray removes oil to make your hair look clean and feel fresh without leaving any white residue. It is enhanced with color so that there isn’t a gray or ashy residue on brunettes.
Cons: The color won’t work with all shades of hair. The smell is also quite strong.
Bottom Line: This dry shampoo is a popular and sulfate-free option! It has a brown color so that brunettes can avoid the white or gray residue left by other products.
Handmade Heroes All Natural, Vegan Dry Shampoo Powder
High-quality vegan ingredients make this dry shampoo an attractive option for many.
Pros: This powder is filled with natural powerhouses like essential oils, rice powder, and activated charcoal. Geranium and lavender essential oils provide a subtle and gorgeous scent to the powder, while activated charcoal deodorizes your scalp so that your unwashed tresses don’t compete with the flowery essential oils. There is also rice powder in this dry shampoo for absorbing oils and sebum. Since this dry shampoo is in powder form, it’s safe to take with you during your travels. It’s free of harsh chemicals and synthetic fragrances, and it’s vegan. The product works best when used with its blending brush.
Cons: Since this is a powder, the application can be messy. It’s a good idea to get dressed after you’re finished! This dry shampoo takes longer to apply than other spray varieties.
Bottom Line: This dry shampoo powder will make unwashed hair look great. It has a subtle and pleasant scent that’s refreshing and clean without being overpowering.
ACURE Dry Shampoo - All Hair Types
This organic and vegan dry shampoo powder is affordable and delivers results.
Pros: This natural product has fantastic ingredients for your hair’s wellbeing without harsh irritants. The formula absorbs oils and leaves your hair feeling fresh. This dry shampoo will make you feel great with its subtle and fresh scent.
Cons: The dispenser of this product is not convenient and can be messy and wasteful. It does not provide the same level of volume as dry shampoo sprays.
Bottom Line: This dry shampoo provides a clean hair look and feel without the use of irritants or harsh chemicals, so it’s great for those with sensitivities. It may not be the only product you use in the morning if you’re looking for extra volume, but it will absorb the oils and give a subtle scent to last all day.
Final Thoughts
Just because you don’t want to wash, dry, and style your hair every day doesn’t mean you don’t want it to look and feel amazing. With the sophisticated evolution of dry shampoo, this is possible. This list of recommendations is bound to provide you with an option to make your hair look fresh, healthy, and amazing even without washing it that morning.