We don't know about you, but trying to align hair wash days with our social calendar almost feels like an Olympic sport. You don't want to wash your hair too often - because that leads to damage - but rocking up to your friend's birthday dinner with day three hair is also not ideal. That's where dry shampoo comes in.
Dry shampoo is a life-saver and can help preserve freshness, volume and style between your wash days. The right formula will be practically undetectable in your hair (AKA, no powdery marks) and smell delicious, giving the impression of freshly washed hair. Truly magical.
Before we delve into our round-up of the best dry shampoos on the market, we asked a professional about the science behind the miracle product.
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Chie Sato, Head of Education at Taylor Taylor London hair salons told us: "Dry shampoo works when either alcohol or starch in the product soaks up the excess oil from your hair follicles, which gives your hair an overall cleaner and fresher appearance - which is great for 2-3 day old hair."
In terms of hair texture, Sato says: "If you have curly or wavy hair, stick to a lightweight formula that’s easy to absorb, as you don’t want to mess up your curl pattern and cause frizz."
However, as great as dry shampoo may be, there are a few cons to think about: "If you overuse dry shampoo, the alcohol in the product can dry out your hair too much and eventually make your strands vulnerable to damage, so it’s best to limit your use to twice a week."
To spare you the hassle, we've hunted down the very best dry shampoos for every hair type. Shop our top picks below.
The best dry shampoos 2022:
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SHOP: The best dry shampoos
1 of 8Klorane Eco-friendly Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk
**Editor's pick:**The Klorane dry shampoo is a staple product for many, and for good reason. The plant-based, eco-friendly shampoo eliminates oils and dirt from the hair, leaving you with clean and moisturised locks full of texture and volume. The ultra-fine powder also ensures no white residue. Can you tell we're obsessed? Review: "I've tried every dry shampoo out there, at every price point. Money was no object when I was trying to find the right one. This is the best one, ever. It takes a little practice to get the right amount, but nothing beats it. Every other dry shampoo makes my hair heavy and greasier after a few hours - not this one! It also works great to apply at before bed. You wake up with clean hair!"
£12.23
2 of 8Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo
**Best dry shampoo scent:**If you haven't heard of the Amika dry shampoo, it's safe to say you're missing out. With over 93,000 reviews (yep, you read that right) the sell-out dry shampoo is truly life-changing. Enriched with sea buckthorn berry and rice starch, the Perk Up Dry Shampoo is residue-free and ideal for all hair colours. It's also vegan, cruelty-free and free of sulphates, parabens, phthalates and all those nasties, which is always a plus. Deputy Editor Jade Moscrop, says: "Upon first use, I fell IN LOVE with the scent of it. It's reminiscent of perfume, smelling sweet but not overpowering... After brushing, my hair was SO soft, and it didn't have that crispy feeling that some dry shampoos give it. The lush smell also lasted, keeping my hair smelling fresh. The best part? I didn't end up with any scalp build-up, and my hair felt totally refreshed, weightless and volumised all week."
3 of 8Living Proof Perfect Hair Day™ Dry Shampoo
**Best dry shampoo for volume:**All Living Proof products are grounded in science, and the Perfect Hair Day dry shampoo is no exception. The formula works by absorbing oil, sweat and odour from the hair while leaving a fresh, time-release scent that'll last you hours. It's vegan, paraben-free and safe for dyed and chemically-treated hair.Review: "I have tried so many different brands of dry shampoo, and this is the best by a landslide. I am now on my 10th bottle!!!"
£19.25
4 of 8Batiste Dry Shampoo Original Clean & Classic
**Best budget dry shampoo:**Old but gold, Batiste's dry shampoo is a classic for a reason. With just a few sprays, your hair will feel revitalised and clean, with added body and texture. The Batiste dry shampoo is available in a vast range of scents, but we're suckers for the classic.Review: "An amazing product by an amazing brand! I have always loved products by Batiste and will continue to use them in the future. They smell amazing and leave my hair feeling fresh and clean all day! Absolutely amazing!"
£8.25 (for 2)
5 of 8Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo
**Best luxury dry shampoo:**Don't let the high price point put you off - the Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo is truly magical. The specially-formulated shampoo works to soothe and strengthen your hair, while translucent powders absorb oils, product build-up and other impurities. The result? Fresher, bouncier hair that looks freshly washed.Review: "I typically use the Living Proof dry shampoo, but this time I got a sample of Gold Lust from a friend and it blows me away. The powder is finely sprayed out, and does not leave any white residue. I don't have to try too hard to get my hair clean looking again. A must have for office ladies!"
6 of 8One More Day Refreshing Dry Shampoo
**Best dry shampoo for scalp care:**Apart from absorbing excess oils, sweat and odour, the One More Day dry shampoo is expertly formulated to protect your hair and scalp, soothing itchiness and irritation between washes. It's suitable for any hair texture, is totally cruelty-free and smells absolutely di-vine. Review: "Fabulous product - expensive but worth it - could easily become a desert island essential!!"
7 of 8Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo Dark Tones
**Best dry shampoo for dark hair:**Dark-haired gals, we got you. Specifically designed for brunettes, the Moroccanoil dry shampoo maintains the natural richness and dimension of dark hair by eliminating the amount of white residue left behind. The argan-oil induced formula also helps protect against UV damage, which is perfect for the upcoming summer months.Review: "Fab dry shampoo.. really adds a boost day 2/3 after wash. Doesn't leave that horrible white/grey powdery look you can get with regular brands. As always smells amazing!"
8 of 8Prêt-à-powder Dry Shampoo
**Best powder dry shampoo:**Unlike other options on this list, Bumble and Bumble's dry shampoo comes in the form of a powder that you can gently massage into your roots. Prêt-à-powder instantly lifts and creates volume, absorbing oils all the while remaining completely invisible on the hair. Review: "My hair gets oily easily. This makes my hair feel as clean as the day I washed it. I use a lot of it and the bottle lasts me about six months. I can't use other dry shampoos because my hair is still oily after I use them. This is the only dry shampoo that works for me. I have been using it for years!"
How to apply dry shampoo:
So, how do you apply it? The application process will determine how good your results are. Tyler Moore, Stylist at Live True London walks us through it, saying: "Ensure when using dry shampoo you are spraying this product at least 30cm away from the hair and spray in sections starting with the underneath and working your way up to ensure full coverage."