Dry shampoo has been a mainstay in my beauty regimen for years, even before washing your hair every few days became the norm. Before you give me too much credit, this is because I’ve been cursed with oily hair, not because I’m on top of trends or anything (but I am! Keep reading!). It’s really no wonder this product is a favorite of practically every girl I know. It’s easy to use, effective, and a huge time saver. Don’t have time to wash your hair? Too hungover to stand in the shower? Just straight up lazy? The answer is dry shampoo. The answer is always dry shampoo.
The main criteria for a dependable dry shampoo are that it works and that it doesn’t leave a white residue on your hair. Luckily, countless brands from drugstore to high end have their own versions of this magic elixir, so I’ve been able to put a variety to the test and pick my all-time favorites.
The ride-or-die staple
Batiste – $ 4 – 7
I’ll start simple. My #1 ride-or-die dry shampoo brand is Batiste. It absorbs oil, doesn’t leave any residue, and allows me to style my hair just the way I want when I’m between washes. The best part about this brand is the sheer variety of dry shampoos that they offer. I love that they carry so many different color, fragrance, and style options. So, if you’re a faux brunette with roots coming in you can use one their darker color options and voilà- your hair is clean and your roots are covered. Even if you aren’t worried about roots, this is a great choice for all hair types.
Reviving and luxurious
Balmain Dry Shampoo – € 40
Swinging to the opposite end of the spectrum I give you Balmain Dry Shampoo. If you thought Balmain was just a luxury brand favored by celebrities like Beyoncé and every single Kardashian and Jenner, then allow me to introduce you to Balmain Paris Hair Couture. Their dry shampoo will revive your hair and extend your blowout, but if nothing else, try it for the scent. The Balmain signature scent of white musk, gardenia, and sandalwood will make you want to use this even on clean hair days.
Works like a charm – if you follow the instructions
Drybar’s Detox Dry Shampoo – $23
Lately, I’ve been reaching for Drybar’s Detox Dry Shampoo, which also smells delicious and saves my hair when it’s not looking too hot. However, when I first used it I noticed it left some white residue. Before you think I’m crazy for recommending this, hear me out as I emphasize the importance of reading directions. I’m guilty of buying simple products like dry shampoo and then naively thinking I already know how to use them. After the first use, I did some research and realized I wasn’t following the very clear and obvious directions. Oh…duh. Bottom line is that you need to shake the hell out of your dry shampoos because the contents will settle in the can. Once you spray, ideally 10-15 centimeters away from your head, let it sit for a moment so it actually has time to clean your hair. After about 30 seconds you can run your fingers through it and style it however you want. This goes for most dry shampoos, and once I followed the directions with Drybar’s Detox Dry Shampoo, it worked like a charm. Duh.
A dry shampoo without fragrance
Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Unscented Dry Shampoo – $4
I know a lot of women are sensitive to strong fragrances, so it can be difficult to choose a dry shampoo because most are heavily-scented. Which makes sense (get it?), I mean we’re trying to cover up dirty hair here! Luckily, there are unscented dry shampoos out there, and I recommend Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Unscented Dry Shampoo for an effective and scentless option. Not Your Mother’s is another brand that has an amazing variety of dry shampoos, so if you’re not a fragrance fan this one is for you.
Vegan powdered dry shampoo
Verb Dry Shampoo – $ 16
Remember the good old days when we used to put baby powder on our hair to absorb excess oil? No? Just me? Anyway, we don’t have to do that anymore because there are tons of great options of powdered dry shampoo if that’s your preferred method. Verb Dry Shampoo is a fan-favorite among those following a vegan and cruelty-free lifestyle. This powdered dry shampoo is a great alternative to aerosol spray because it’s good for the environment, and it works great on hair. The product has a pointed applicator making it easy to apply it exactly where you need it the most, so you won’t waste a thing.
If you’re skeptical about not washing your hair every day, dry shampoo is still a great product for you. A lot of styles don’t work well with squeaky clean hair, and dry shampoo will texturize hair, adding volume and making it easier to hold styles. Regardless of what brand or type of dry shampoo you try, don’t forget to follow the directions! Repeat after me: shake, spray, wait, style.
by Clare Saxton
