Given that it’s award season and all…I decided a round up of the best and worst dry shampoo products was in order.
Also given the fact that I was sporting {at least} 2-day hair for our Christmas card photo this year–I thought it was only fitting that I share a few favorites!
If you’re new to this dry shampoo phenomenon, you might be asking yourself:
“How is this magic possible?”
The answer is dry shampoo, of course. Don’t worry, I’ll tell you how it works.
I don’t know about you, but my need for dry shampoo has evolved over the years.
Let me back up.
Before college, I was a wash-my-hair-daily girl.
I honestly didn’t think there was another option.
I went off to college, began rolling out of bed for 8am classes, and experienced Indiana winters requiring a sweatpants-throughout-January-term dress code.
I also stopped washing my hair every day.
I often wore a hat or threw on a headband. I hadn’t washed my hair, and I definitely wasn’t feeling very pretty.
Then along came the baby powder trick. Having really blonde hair, my hair shows even the tiniest amounts of oil–hence my need to wash it every day. I loved how easy it was to sprinkle the powder at my roots and voila! Happy hair.
The problem was that sometimes my hear looked like I had white roots….or at least a ghostly scalp.
Not awesome.
Next up was my discovery of dry shampoo.
I like to think of it as magic.
I remember spotting an aerosol can of pssssst! sitting by the sink of a friend’s bathroom–but I was too embarrassed to ask what on earth dry shampoo was or how it was used?
{I probably had some image of trying to lather a spray shampoo onto my dry hair…oy vey.}
I digress.
But in all seriousness, dry shampoos are products made to be used without water, using powders and other ingredients to soak up the oil in your hair.
They are really just genius in a can.
I’ve learned to love second day hair–and even third day hair, but who’s counting–so much so, that dry shampoo is a staple in my home. I’ve tried a few, but I’m always looking for something new.
Yes, I am one of those people completely fooled by clever marketing, containers and pretty fonts.
I’ve asked around and tried quite a few different brands and types and products myself, so that I could present to you…
the dry shampoo round up.
just think of it as a little award ceremony for these special little cans of genius.
Roll out the red carpet and let’s begin!
Ready? Ready.
>> Best Bang for your Buck || Suave Keratin Infusion Dry Shampoo <<
Typically found at under $3 at most drugstores, this dry shampoo is very affordable and last a while. It does tend to leave a white residue if you spray too close, but you can’t beat the price!
>> Best Powder & Spray Duo || Oscar Blandi <<
Friends of mine rave about this combination–boasting that they get the best “second day hair volume” from these 2 products. The size of the spray is also perfect for your purse or laptop bag.
>> Professional’s Pick || KMS hair play <<
I couldn’t conduct awards for dry shampoo–or any beauty product, really–without consulting my go-to expert. This product is her favorite because it doesn’t leave too much “stuff” behind, like so many other products tend to do.
>> Best Color-Specific Dry Shampoo || Eufora Touch Up // Dark, Light & Clear <<
I’ve always wondered how dry shampoo and dark hair worked–if I get frustrated with the residue it leaves behind, well, my hair is a lot closer to white than a brunette! So I asked some brunette friends what their picks were, and Eufora Touch up won hands down. While it’s available in 3 different shades, I’ve heard the best results come from “Clear.”
>> Tried & True || Pssssst! Dry Shampoo <<
Besides being the first dry shampoo to make me curious about this phenomenon, I also read in a magazine years ago that it was “the best.” The price is great, usually under $5, but I do struggle finding it sometimes! I find that this shampoo is one of the best for absorbing the oil at my roots, without using {what feels like} the entire can. If I spot a can at the drugstore–I purchase one. I mean, it’s called Pssssst! And I think that’s awesome.
>> the Splurge with Rave Reviews || Bumble and Bumble <<
Available in both a spray and powder, the price of this dry shampoo ranges from around $20-$35. Reviewers either love it or hate it, as it has less of a drying texture, but is more praised for the available color versatility. The white powder gets the best reviews, but if used correctly, the darker colors are loved by friends that found other dry shampoos leave too much of a chalky residue.
>> Best Powder Dry Shampoo | bigsexyhair powder play <<
The common word I heard every time someone recommended this product was volume! As the name suggests, the volume–and oil absorbing properties–make this a winner. This product is a powder that you sprinkle at your roots–it also helps with backcombing, providing texture and grab.
So tell me–did your shampoo make my list? I know there are so many others out there that I didn’t mention!
Tresemme.
Rockstar.
Redken.
I’d love to hear your favorites as well!
xo.
pssst! I also wanted to let you know about ShopBop’s huge sale going on right now! This is the time of the year when my wishlist might become a little more attainable. So if you’re need something for a special occasion and are planning on splurging {or you’re eyeing a new pair of Tory Burch flats..}– now is a good time!
LOVE THIS!!! I have been eyeing the Big Sexy Hair dry shampoo in the aerosol version; any word on this? I have dark hair so powder scares me a bit, plus I like the idea of the spray version because I am lazy. :-)
TORI!!! Found some!! http://bit.ly/13kspUx
Try Ojon full detox Rub-Out Dry Cleansing Spray…
A bit on the pricy side, but worth it! It has less of that weird dry shampoo smell and has a great cooling sensation on the scalp that helps make you feel cleaner!
I’ve heard WONDERFUL things about Ojon!! Don’t they even have some chocolate scented products??? But I haven’t made the jump — as they are def a bit pricey!! – but now I think I will!! Thanks you, Jessica!
I love Dove’s dry shampoo! I’ve tried a lot of drugstore brands and it’s my favorite so far.
OH!!! I’ve never tried Dove!!! But I’m adding that to my “try” list!!! Thanks, Morgan. Do you find it at most any drugstore?
I love the Big Sexy dry shampoo. I am a brunette and a hairstylist and I keep it in my bathroom at home and at my station in my salon. I also love Got2B POWDERful. It is made by Schwarzkopf, the makers of Dust It, which everyone loved but has a price tag of $22. As far as I can tell The POWDERful is almost exactly the same as the Dust It except it is less than $5!
oooooooh!!! Good to know – that Got2B POWDERful is at target or any other drugstore, right? I’ve not tried it!!!
I’ve always been curious about dry shampoo. I was JUST (literally, last night) talking to some teenage girls about the early morning routine and explaining how I could take the fastest showers when I was in high school because I HAD to. I could NOT leave the house without a shower. My Cuban-Italian heritage meant seriously oily hair in the morning. (I *may* have introduced the term Crisco Rat to a new generation…)
I still do the same thing – the daily hair wash – but would love the option not to. Baby powder never worked well with my very dark hair. I’ll have to give some of these a try!
YES!!!!! I relate to EVERYTHING but the cuban-italian heritage….. :) haha, well, and the dark hair thing :)
But i would suggest the Eufora clear!!!
I have only tried the Suave brand. The result was good, except that the scent gives be a massive headache. I use cornstarch and it works great with no odor! I remember using baby powder in high school, but it always left the white look. The cornstarch actually disappears.
I will try cornstarch!! I used to do the babypowder, but that scent drove me nuts too!! I felt like a baby’s butt walking around. Is that gross? yes. it is ;/
Loooooove this!!! I’m a wash-every-3-4-days kind of girl:) And that started at TU as well;) I’m a splurge girl…and love the Bumble + Bumble and Redken! The Redken is a little cheaper and I think I like it just as much as B+B!
Hope you are having a great day pretty girl! :)
I’ve just started using dry shampoos… LOVE! I have been using the Oscar Blandi pronto invisible volumizing dry shampoo spray. It is an aerosol, smells FABULOUS and sprays clear without residue! I got a small size at ULTA to try first. I love it when product lines offer smaller bottles to try/travel with.
a friend of mine just gave me a small size too!!!! I really like it! — i found it doesn’t absorb the oil as much as some of the others – but the lack of “stuff” is GREAT!!
I’ll have to try one of the others that you had in this post, because I was wondering if it was all of them or just this version I had that wasn’t absorbing the oil as much as I had expected… I’ll let ya know what I find!
which did you try, Jacquelynn??
The only one I have tried is the Oscar Blandi one, so I want to try one of the others in your post to see if they are more oil absorbent. I really love the Oscar Blandi one, but it seems like it doesn’t absorb as good as the ones you mentioned. I will get one tomorrow and let you know how it goes! :)
Dove is good, Batiste is good (and comes in colors!) John Freida is good, I’ve tried most of the ones you mentioned above and like those too! But my favorite is a powder, which also comes in colors, called Shampowder by Buttercream Cosmetics. It comes with an applicator that’s like a blush brush so you don’t have to worry about wasting powder. You can just brush it right onto your roots! I always order it from the website because while they do sell it in some stores, none are near me.
OH MY GOODNESS – a brush for the powders is GENIUS!! I always end up with powder all over my sink and floor!!! I will be ordering to try!
I use Keratin dry shampoo powder for brunettes. It comes in a container with a brush applicator. It’s fantastic! The only thing I have to be careful of is putting too much close to my hairline. If I do, it makes the scalp really dark there.
Do they make lighter shades for my crazy blonde? this whole brush for powders is um… genius and kind of “duh!” :) xox!
i love rockstar…and i was so like you not ever thinking i could NOT wash my hair…gosh so glad when i learned about this stuff…i could go 3 days. love that!
Yes!!! It is seriously SUCH a shift in my thinking!!! I’ve heard GREAT things about rock star!!!
Thanks for sharing! I’m also obsessed with dry shampoo. I even sometimes use it on clean hair for umph! I personally have found that the Dove version ($3-4) is better than the Suave version. Have you tried it? If not you should!!
Xo, Courtney
Shabbyloveschic.com
You’re the second person to suggest it- Soooooo DUH- I need to try it ;) I’m such a sucker for new products!
Hey! Omg I love reading your blog…you make it so enjoyable and fun.
I have NEVER used dry shampoo but I’m a momma now and don’t have time to wash my hair every day…so i need helppppp. So apparently the thing to do is use dry shampoo? eh. Well I think i may give it a try. Thank you soo much for the input :)
-AnaLisa @ analisascorner.com
AnaLisa, you’re seriously so sweet!!! It’ll CHANGE YOUR WORLD. promise!!!!
I tried the Tresemme and felt like it left too much gunk on my head. On my next shopping trip I bought 4 different dry shampoos, determined to find the best for my oily dark hair. I LOVE Not Your Mother’s Dry Shampoo. I find myself using it on freshly washed hair for a little extra volume or to help separate big curls from time to time. LOVE NYM!
I’ve been hearing about a few of NYM’s products!!! They seem to have a reputation for getting the job done- and not leaving your hair crunchy, or gunky or full or residue!!! I definitely will be ordering some to try!!
I love the original Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo (silver bottle, yellow cap). Works like a charm. I haven’t even tried any others since I bought it. However, I *hated* the bumble & bumble. I suppose I had the wrong color (I had Blondish when I probably should have had White) and it got color all over my hairline. Plus it made my hair feel just super gross. Ultimately though, I’m a daily wash kind of girl at heart. My hair just looks best when it’s been freshly washed.
I prefer the Oscar B as well, though the KMS looks like my next try!
So maybe I’m the only one, but I didn’t find Dove’s dry shampoo to work too well! I don’t know why :/ I ended up returning it…thanks Walmart for a great return policy! :)
I found some hair powder at WalWamrt a while back (about $5) that is pretty good. It’s a little on the tacky-feeling side, but I’d use it again.
http://www.thegraymatters.com/2013/02/my-bonnie-has-tu-berculosis.html
I used Dove Refresh + Care Dry Shampoo, and I will never switch! It’s cheap, under $5, and it works so well. I frequently go to 3 days without washing my hair, and nobody every knows :)
I love kevin murphy. It works wonders for my hair.
I use Dove dry shampoo and love it. I typically wash my hair 1-2 times per week and nobody knows, everybody says my hair looks great.
I use Batiste and love the result. A huge drawback is that I go through a can way too quickly. Is that pretty normal for the others too?