The 5 Best Dry Shampoos That Stop Me From Washing My Hair Every Other Day

I put together a list of the 5 best dry shampoos that have actually worked for me. Some of them are serious heavy-lifters, while others are more of a light refresh but they all get the job done in their own way. Check out my picks in my best dry shampoo review.

Dry shampoo is like magic dust for your hair. It slurps up all the greasy stuff so you don’t have to wash it, because who has time for that? Plus, some of them make your hair all poofy and fancy, which is a total win. I like to call it my ‘make-my-life-easy’ product, ‘cause long hair is basically a full-time job.

Dry shampoo contains clay or rice starch, which absorbs oil and sebum. It comes in powder form, either in an aerosol spray bottle or a non-aerosol form. For someone like me with extremely dry hair, especially towards the ends due to dyeing and trying new shades every now and then, I’m used to washing my hair once a week and no more than that. My hair gets super greasy in the scalp area on the third day, so it became a necessity for me to treat it with dry shampoo.

That said, I have used quite a few of them. There have been instances where I have used dry shampoo too many times. Maintaining and styling hair is one hell of a job, especially if you have long hair. So, yeah, in my lazy weeks, I’m guilty of using dry shampoo more than I need to.

In no way am I an advocate of using dry shampoo too much. Washing hair frequently can make our hair dry by stripping natural oils, but using dry shampoo with the same frequency can lead to product buildup and might irritate the scalp. We need to have a balanced approach.

I personally believe you should definitely have dry shampoo if you have bangs or fringe, as they tend to get greasy more quickly than the rest of the hair. Just spritz some spray on the bangs and get them clean instantly with dry shampoo.

Tip 1: The powder along with the absorbed oil still remains on the scalp, so you definitely don’t want to rely mostly on using dry shampoo.

Some of my favorite dry shampoos are below.

P.S. our list contains benzene-free dry shampoos.

Redken Deep Clean Dry Shampoo

Redken deep clean dry shampoo uses rice and tapioca starch to absorb maximum oil and greasiness. When you apply this dry shampoo, you will see some dry cast/powder on your hair, which is supposed to be there. This powder will absorb all the dirt and oil, so let it sit there for a while and style accordingly after a while. The white cast disappears instantly if you rub it. This dry shampoo definitely adds volume to the hair and has an appealing fragrance. Upon application, it is weightless and will give a cooling sensation, which is kind of refreshing, I would say. However, it’s a bit on the pricier side.

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo

Living Proof dry shampoo offers maximum oil absorption. If your scalp gets super greasy and oily, it definitely does the heavy lifting. I would give this shampoo a 10/10 in terms of oil absorption. This dry shampoo does have conditioning benefits to it and leaves hair soft. Speaking of adding volume to the hair, it does a decent amount of work, but it is not going to impress majorly in that department. The product is on the pricier side. And no, it does not leave any white residue after you blend it into the hair.

Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo

Amika Perk up is the best-smelling dry shampoo of all listed. In terms of volume, it does the job but not impressively. If your scalp gets oily, like to a moderate degree, this dry shampoo will absorb oil and sebum perfectly. (For someone with a heavily oily scalp and greasiness, who needs maximum oil absorption, consider Redken or Living Proof). It does leave a little bit of residue and a white cast, so for darker hair, it might not be the best choice.

Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Biotin Dry Shampoo

Briogeo Scalp Revival is a charcoal and biotin-infused dry shampoo. It takes out all the nastiness perfectly. But the drawback of this dry shampoo is its packaging. For the product to come out, you would have to press the bottle (it’s a non-aerosol), and the whole process becomes a little messy. It’s a no-go in terms of packaging but shouldn’t be a major concern for those who master the whole application process. In terms of oil absorption, it does the job quite well.

Dae Fairy Duster Volumizing Dry Shampoo Powder

Dae fairy duster is also a non-aerosol dry shampoo and gives an amazing volume boost to the hair. It does a good job in terms of oil absorption. I wouldn’t recommend this one for anyone with dark hair, as it will take time to blend perfectly. It has an amazing fruity scent to it. If you have blonde hair and your hair becomes mildly oily, and you want to add volume to your hair with a dry shampoo, this one is for you.

FAQ

Is dry shampoo ruining my hair?

Dry shampoo itself doesn’t necessarily ruin hair, but excessive use without proper washing can lead to some issues. If used too much in a row without regular hair washing with water, the powder in it will stay on your scalp and eventually cause a buildup of bacteria. The scalp will become itchy and can result in a condition called seborrheic dermatitis. Also, it will coat your hair, making it feel heavy and affecting its texture and volume in the long term.

Is it better to wash hair or use dry shampoo?

It’s both. Too much of hair washing can absorb natural hair oil which are essential for healthy hair. The hair will become dry and frizzy. Same too much of using dry shampoo can lead to build up of the powder residue in the scalp, eventually feeling heavy. Scalp becomes irritated and the whole thing is just a mess. So it’s not better to do either. Take the middle road.

What was the bad ingredient in dry shampoo?

The bad ingredient in a few famous dry shampoos (well, some of which now claim that they don’t have it, but I’m not quite sure if that’s true) was benzene, which is a carcinogen that carries potential health hazards.

Is it better to use dry shampoo before bed or in the morning?

Use dry shampoo on the nights before you anticipate having an oily hair day. This proactive tip is something I follow myself. This way it allows the product to settle in overnight so when you wake up, it blends in seamlessly.