Hair
The Best Dry Shampoos

The Best Dry Shampoos Our Beauty Editors Swear by

By Rebecca Jenkinson - 3 years ago | Updated 8 months ago

Washing your hair can be a time consuming faff, which is why we recommend cutting down styling time with a simple dry shampoo. Not only can they prolong your hair style, but they can also add plenty of volume and texture to lifeless locks. Plus, by training your hair to last longer between washes you can maintain your hair colour between salon appointments.

With that in mind, the beauty writers and editors here at Cosmetify got together to collate all our favourite dry shampoos. From foams to powders, you can easily find a dry shampoo formula to suit plenty of different hair types, textures and concerns.

Dive in and find the best of the best dry shampoos for your hair care routine.

How does dry shampoo work?

You may be thinking what exactly is dry shampoo and how does it even work?

Basically, dry shampoo contains alcohol or starch-based ingredients which soak up any excess sebum and oils on our scalps. This helps tackle greasy-looking hair and leaves your locks feeling squeaky clean. Dry shampoos can also contain different types of revitalising hair fragrances to add a refreshing scent to our smelly lengths.

Plus, there's a plethora of dry shampoos on the market containing texturising, smoothing and shine-boosting properties to help with all your styling concerns.

How to use dry shampoo

We recommend using dry shampoo as a quick fix between hair wash days. How often you should wash your hair is different for every hair type, but of course dry shampoo is not a substitute for regular shampoo and conditioner. Simply use powders as quick pick-me-up before a socially distanced date or little spritz before your next Zoom call.

Our dry shampoo guide goes into more details about how to use dry shampoo, but the basics are:

Shake the bottle well
Hold 5-6 inches away from the hair
Spritz or squeeze the dry shampoo onto the roots
Gently massage into the hair with your fingertips
Lightly brush the solution from root to tip with your hairbrush

The best dry shampoos

So, wondering which dry shampoo is best for you? Take a look at our rundown of the top dry shampoos here at Cosmetify.

Olaplex No.4d Clean Volume Detox Dry Shampoo

£17.75 £30.00 (41% off)

Meet the newest addition to Olaplex's cult-followed haircare collection, the Clean Volume Detox Dry Shampoo. Gentle on both the scalp and the hair, this dry shampoo formula detoxes and refreshes hair in an instant. Whether you've skipped wash day or simply want to give day-old locks a little lift, this light-as-air spray promises to absorb oil and neutralise odour-causing impurities, all without leaving a white residue or dry, powdery roots.

R+Co Death Valley Dry Shampoo

£14.00

It's not just one of R+Co's bestsellers, 'Death Valley' is a quick way to get volume and body into your hair (thanks to Pro-Vitamin B5). This dry shampoo also absorbs extra oil and adds texture for an untamed look. Hair is left stronger and nourished, while luster and shine is restored.

Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo Light Tones

£7.85

The Moroccanoil spray for light tones not only refreshes lifeless locks, but also contains violet undertones to banish any brassiness – making it one of the best dry shampoos for blonde hair. It has a nourishing formulation with argan oil and hair UV protection to shield the hair from sun damage.

Philip Kingsley One More Day Dry Shampoo

£15.50 £20.50 (25% off)

Struggle with a flaky and itchy scalp? This product from the experts at Philip Kingsley is perfect for you. It not only helps refresh your hair but also helps soothe and calm the scalp. Plus, it absorbs any excess oils for a fresh feeling between wash days. It's no wonder it's considered one of the best products for dry, itchy scalps.

TIGI Bed Head Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo

£13.60 £14.99 (10% off)

Vowing to keep greasy roots your dirty little secret, this dry shampoo successfully refreshes locks for another day of styling. The salon-quality formula instantly revives hair by absorbing oil that makes hair look greasy and feel dirty. With an even and sheer finish, nobody will be able to tell that you've skipped hair wash day.

Kérastase Fresh Affair Refreshing Dry Shampoo

£26.45 £33.45 (21% off)

This is a firm favourite for the Cosmetify hair aficionados. Achieve the perfect hair day every day with a simple application to the roots. It has a potent formula that rescues your tresses from a bad hair day, as well as a time-released neroli fragrance for the ultimate fresh feeling.

Hairburst Volume & Refresh Dry Shampoo

£5.50

Hairburst Volume & Refresh Dry Shampoo doubles up as a dry shampoo and styler. Not only does it tackle oily roots but it also gives them a little lift and texture for a thicker, revitalised and more voluminous finish.

System Professional BB Instant Reset BB65

£18.99 £26.25 (28% off)

This ultra-fine dry shampoo sees your styles through the week and in between wash days. Refresh your second-day locks with this pro-grade formula. It's weightless, removes oil, cleanses locks and ensures healthy-looking hair with a soft-touch texture.

Nine Yards Dark Spark Dark Dry Shampoo

£20.95

This dry shampoo is a lightweight and invisible option for dark hair colours. It’s great for beauty lovers who don’t get along with typical powdery dry shampoo formulas and the white residue that they often leave behind. Use between washes to banish product build-up, eliminate oil and keep your tresses feeling soft, smooth and clean all day long.

Paul Mitchell Dry Wash Dry Shampoo

£18.95 £25.20 (25% off)

This paraben-free, colour safe and award-winning dry shampoo leaves no residue and is ideal for all hair types and colours. Use sparingly to remove excess oil or before styling to extend the finished look.

So, whether you want to refresh you blow dry, amp up your lifeless locks or remove pesky oils, dry shampoo is the obvious way to go.

For more hair care and styling tips, take a look at our range of hair oils, hair creams and heated styling tools, as well as The Best Hairspray for Fine Hair.

Written by Rebecca Jenkinson

Rebecca is a content writer with over three years’ experience and a keen interest in cosmetics. Cosmetify allows her to combine her blogging skills with her passion for beauty.