Where would we be without dry shampoo? You see, no matter how simple it may seem to wash our hair, we will always want just that little bit longer sans soap and water.
Why? 'Cause we're all about an extra 10 minutes in bed without having to endure the painstaking process of washing our greasy strands. It also minimises washing, drying and styling, which can take their toll on the hair if done too frequently.
We should also mention that festival season is here and many of you will be compiling your Glasto 'need to pack' list. Besides all the other essentials – tent, wellies and portable charger included – a good bottle of dry shampoo is high up on the priority list. Because even if you could wash your hair, we just can't trust the state of the communal showers. So a spritz of dry shampoo it is.
When it comes to shopping, one might assume that you can just grab the first bottle you see and douse it onto your head. You'd be wrong. Just like all the other haircare items in the world, they are tailored to different hair types, with dry shampoo for dry hair, oily strands, sensitive scalps and so on.
We've broken them up into their rightful categories so you can go forth and skip another hair wash. Dreamy.
Oh, and a hot tip for when you've selected your perfect dry shampoo? Apply it correctly. We might have been doing it wrong this whole time with our root spritz, fluff-blend and go.
According to this hack, after you generously spray to the front of your lengths and then the secret is to leave it to work its magic for 3 minutes. Then, and only then, should you fluff the product through to your lengths and ends. This will help you achieve even distribution, and let the product do its best work!
10 best dry shampoos, according to our beauty team
Living Proof, Full Volume Dry Shampoo
Living Proof PhD Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo
This one goes out to the flat-haired dry shampoo fans, seeking out that magical boost that a spritz of something powdery can offer. Living Proof's Full Volume includes a super nerdy type of molecule that helps you get that volumised effect without crispiness or stiffness. Oh, plus it's UV-protecting and colour-safe. Here's to an all-rounder 👏🏽
Batiste, Dry Shampoo
While the dry shampoo options have exploded in the years since we all picked up our first can of Batiste, the OG brand is more than holding its own. While some have prices to make your eyes water, Batiste proves you don't need to spend big to banish grease and get the job done. With an extensive range of variants, fragrances and multi-taskers, there's something for everyone.
Amika, Perk Up Ultra Oil Control Dry Shampoo
Hands up if you're an oily gal?! A.k.a, you need to wash your hair every other day before it goes greasy. If this sounds familiar, let's talk about Amika's new Perk Up Ultra Oil Control Dry Shampoo. Not only is it clinically proven to remove oil but the formula will also help to control its production meaning you can go a little longer before wash day. How does the magic happen? It's all thanks to oil-absorbing tapioca starch while superfruit sea buckthorn leaves strands feeling soft and looking freshly washed.
Hair by Sam McKnight, Lazy Girl Dry Shampoo
Hair by Sam McKnight Lazy Girl Dry Shampoo
This dry shampoo may as well be a hair perfume in its own right. A deliciously herby blend of leaves, flowers and pepper, sits against cedar, frankincense and juniper wood – whenever we're wearing it people can't stop sniffing our heads. Our Senior Beauty writer Charlotte Bitmead loves how it adds texture without making her hair stiff, and says it leaves no white residue.
Virtue, Dry Shampoo
Virtue Refresh Dry Shampoo
Not just a dry shampoo, Vitrue's offering uses the brand's patented Alpha Keratin 60ku to help repair brittle strands (pair this alongside the Damage Reverse Serum) while kaolin clay and tapioca starch soak up oil to help the fair feel fuller and fresher.
Oribe, Gold Lust Dry Shampoo
Sure, texture and volume are great, but why sacrifice shine in the process? Well, Oribe's gorgeously luxe dry shampoo is a perfect option if you're keen to steer away from matte-looking lengths. How does it work? Tiny translucent particles absorb oil so you're not left with a dull finish. Try it if you haven't.
Olaplex, No.4D Clean Volume Detox Dry Shampoo
Olaplex No. 4D Clean Volume Detox Dry Shampoo
We'd put money on the fact that there's already a bottle of Olaplex in your bathroom cabinet: it's one of the most popular treatment brands going. But, when we're not slathering on the No3 hair mask, we're spritzing this delicate dry shampoo.
It's one of the lightest formulas we've tried, making it ideal for fine-haired folk. Containing tiny rice starch particles, it effectively soaks up excess oil while keeping your hair looking fresh and feeling weightless. Not an ounce of residue in sight.
R + Co, Spiritualized Dry Shampoo Mist
R+Co Spiritualized Dry Shampoo Mist
Afro and textured hair types are normally on the drier side, so it's important to find a dry shampoo that freshens and delivers moisture, too. This clever, hybrid uses cleansing powder encapsulated in micellar water to cleanse but does so without stripping strands of their natural oils.
Birogeo, Scalp Revival Dry Shampoo
Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Biotin Dry Shampoo
If your head is prone to irritation and discomfort, you should seek out a dry shampoo with no nasties. This one is the holy grail – free from sulphates, parabens and silicones, natural ingredients witch hazel, charcoal and rice starch absorb excess oil as gently as possible. It also contains biotin, to help stimulate the scalp and boost hair growth.
Wella Professionals, Invigo Color Brilliance Miracle BB Spray
As you'd expect from the colour connoisseurs, Wella Professionals has specifically developed a colour-safe dry shampoo to help prevent your hair colour from fading. How's the job done? The formula features a blend of antioxidants which intensely hydrate brittle strands, working to detangle and lock in colour. As a result, you're left with a glossy shine that will make your colour pop.
Clare Stephenson is the Senior Fashion and Beauty E-commerce Writer for Cosmopolitan, ELLE and Harper’s Bazaar. She has been an e-commerce writer since 2022, creating matter-of-fact reviews and shopping pages filled with her favourite products for every budget and need – whether that’s a glow-giving foundation, a high-tech LED face mask or the perfect wear-with-everything blazer.
Alongside writing, Clare loves to be in front of the camera creating shopping content, putting viral products to the test to see which ones are truly worth the hype. Through her work, she has interviewed leading dermatologists, makeup artists and industry experts to bring readers trusted advice and product recommendations.
Clare has contributed to titles across the Hearst UK portfolio, including Women’s Health, Good Housekeeping, Red and Prima. Prior to joining Hearst, she earned a BA in Multimedia Journalism from Bournemouth University, focusing her studies on magazines and editorial. She later worked as an editorial assistant at Voir Fashion Magazine, covering events including Fashion Week and interviewing notable brand founders.
Outside of work? You can find Clare strolling through London’s Columbia Road Market, pouring her fourth coffee of the day or heading to a Pilates class.
Follow Clare on Instagram @clarefrancesstephenson.
