The Best Dry Shampoos For All Budgets & Hair Types

The Best Dry Shampoos For All Budgets & Hair Types

A good dry shampoo can do more than just perk up hair in between washes – it can boost volume, add texture and give everything a more ‘lived in’ feel. Looking to try a new one? These are the dry shampoos we rate – plus, some tips to get the most out of them.
By Sapna Rao

All products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however we may make commission on some products.

Ouai Super Dry Shampoo, £20

Best For: A lightweight feel

Why We Love It: Pro hairdressers swear by this popular dry shampoo. Loved for its lightweight formulation, it uses volcanic minerals to absorb excess oils and prolong your blow-dry. It never feels heavy or too thick, either, making it an ideal option for those looking to tide themselves over until the next hair wash. 

Top Tip: Use this lightweight formula to maintain your style by flipping your head forward. Spray it directly into the roots and ends, coating all the different layers of your hair evenly. Scrunch it in as you go to preserve the life of curls or waves. Doing so will stop you depositing too much of the formula in one place, so you never get any of that tell-tale residue left behind.

Available at LOOKFANTASTIC.com

R+Co Death Valley Dry Shampoo, £24

Best For: UV protection & colour treated hair 

Why We Love It: Named after California’s ‘Death Valley’ – one of the driest places on earth – R+Co’s dry shampoo uses a blend of silica to absorb excess oil, vitamin E to nourish and pro-vitamin B5 to thicken and build volume. It’s also free from parabens and sulphates, so it’s safe for anyone with colour-treated hair to use. Extra points go to the added UV protection, which will prevent excess dullness or damage caused by harmful rays.

Top Tip: Incredibly lightweight, this fine mist is ideal for those with a fringe, or anyone prone to frizz. Use it underneath the fringe – the part that touches your forehead – to prevent it getting oily throughout the day. Similarly, if you’ve overdone it with the hairspray or hair oil, use this dry shampoo to soak up excess shine that may be perceived as grease.

Available at NET-A-PORTER.com

Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo, £42

Best For: A luxurious option

Why We Love It: Oribe’s cult dry shampoo is an award-winner for a reason. Using something called ‘fragrance retention technology’, it’s designed to keep your hair fresh at all times. The brand’s signature Cote d’Azur scent is a blend of Calabrian bergamot, white butterfly jasmine and sandalwood. But fragrance aside, it’s oil-absorbing benefits are also impressive. Using translucent powder and celery seed extract, it soaks up excess moisture and product build-up, while added myrrh extract repairs damaged strands and nourishes your scalp.

Top Tip: Focus the spray directly at the roots of your hair. Flip your hair over and blast it with a hairdryer for a few minutes. Finish with a blast of cool air to hold everything in place. You’ll find it leave hair feeling fresher and cleaner immediately.

Available at NET-A-PORTER.com

Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo, £15.45

Best For: Brunettes & darker hair

Why We Love It: Dry shampoos aren’t often that good for darker hair tones, but the Moroccanoil one is different. The brand has created several shades of dry shampoo to suit a wider audience, while the formula itself quickly disappears as you spray it in. It immediately gives strands a fresher, cleaner feel. Although not a long-term solution, this will also conceal roots in a pinch.

Top Tip: While it’s not a complete colour alternative, this does have the power to enhance highlights and add extra depth and definition to your hair. Mist it in and comb it through afterwards to ensure even application throughout.

Available at LOOKFANTASTIC.com

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo, £17

Best For: Post-workout hair 

Why We Love It: A gym bag staple, this is one of the best for absorbing excess oil at speed. It uses a fast-absorbing powder to soak everything up, while the brand’s signature ‘healthy hair molecule OFPMA’ removes any unwanted build-up sat on the surface. The result? A fresher, lighter feel – not to mention better volume and a killer cool-girl texture. No wonder it’s often described as the ultimate hair reviver. 

Top Tip: This can also soak up oily stains – try covering the affected area with the dry shampoo, wait for 15-20 minutes, then get the hoover out to see the mark lift away. 

Available at LOOKFANTASTIC.com

Klorane Dry Shampoo With Oat Milk, £9.99

Best For: Soothing benefits

Why We Love It: Soothing for sensitive heads, Klorane’s invisible formula is a celebrity favourite. It works like a mattifying face powder, using ultra-fine oat milk particles to soak up grease and grime. That’s not all – the gentle ingredients soften, soothe and protect the natural balance of both your hair and scalp, so you never get any irritation or itchiness. It works as a brilliant texturiser too, adding extra shape and definition to limp strands. 

Top Tip: Spray it through your lengths and ends, then leave it on. The product is so fine you won’t need to work it in like others on this list. Better still, spray it onto hair before you sleep. Turning over throughout the night will help distribute the product evenly for fuller results come morning. 

Available at Boots.com

Rahua Voluminous Dry Shampoo, £30

Best For: Environmentally friendly credentials

Why We Love It: Rahua’s formulas are some of the best when it comes to vegan and organic ingredients. Plus, the clever hair stylers are bottled up in an aerosol can that’s recyclable and comes with an eco-squeeze dispenser. The plant-based formula is designed to soak up excess oil, thanks to clay and organic cassava, both of which are known for absorbing unwanted shine. 

Top Tip: This one holds everything in place, including hair accessories. Try spritzing it onto the back of your hair grips to give them extra hold. It sounds simple, but it’s a great way to stop hair from looking messy or coming undone.

Available at LOOKFANTASTIC.com

Batiste Dry Shampoo Original, £3.25

Best For: Reliable results 

Why We Love It: Batiste’s dry shampoo will always be a cult classic. Not only is it affordable, it combats grease and dullness all at once, instantly freshening up lacklustre hair. We love that it comes in several shades and scents – no wonder two cans sell every second worldwide. It’s good at masking grown-out roots and grey hairs, too. Just beware it’s still one of the powderiest options on the market, so if your hair is left feeling weighed down by the product, blast it with a hairdryer to get rid of any excess.

Top Tip: Use this as a lightweight hairspray alternative. Providing a lightweight hold, it’ll still let you run both a brush and your fingers through with ease. 

Available at Superdrug.com

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