The Best Dry Shampoos
Move over diamonds and dogs [actually dogs, please stay ] dry shampoo is a girl’s best friend! 4 of us from Team LIY with varying hair colors, types, and textures took on the challenge to try out six of the top dry shampoos on the market and give our honest feedback on which are worth the purchase and which didn’t win us over!
While testing we really kept six main things in mind:
- How was the scent?
- How well did the dry shampoo absorb oil?
- Did it leave a residue on the hair?
- How long did it last?
- Would we purchase it again?
Which brands we tested:
- Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo Dark Tones // Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo Light Tones
- Divi Dry Shampoo
- Batiste Dry Shampoo
- amika Perk Up Talc-Free Dry Shampoo
- Living Proof Perfect hair Day Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo
- Olaplex No.4D Clean Volume Weightless Detox Dry Shampoo
p.s. check out more LIY haircare favorites here!
Meet the Testers:
Steph
Hair Type:
Dry, Naturally Wavy
Hair Color:
Brown
How Often I Wash:
Every 3-4 days
How I Use Dry Shampoo:
Lightly nightly before bed, and in the morning before styling if I didn’t wash that day, then brush through.
Claire
Hair Type:
Oily, straight hair
Hair Color:
Strawberry Blonde
How Often I Wash:
Wash every 2-3 days or about 3 times a week
How I Use Dry Shampoo:
Lightly before bed, and in the morning before styling if I didn’t wash that day, brush through.
Lauren
Hair Type:
Normal [not dry or oily], mostly straight
Hair Color:
Dark Brown
How Often I Wash:
About every 3 days
How I Use Dry Shampoo:
Either before bed OR before I style then brush it through.
Katy
Hair Type:
Dry, Wavy
Hair Color:
Dirty Blonde
How Often I Wash:
Once a week
How I Use Dry Shampoo:
Only on days that my hair is oily
Meet the Dry Shampoos Tested:
- Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo Dark Tones // Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo Light Tones
- Divi Dry Shampoo
- Batiste Dry Shampoo
- amika Perk Up Talc-Free Dry Shampoo
- Living Proof Perfect hair Day Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo
- Olaplex No.4D Clean Volume Weightless Detox Dry Shampoo
Overall Winner: Divi Dry Shampoo
Why we loved it:
- Scent: Think crisp, airy, a tad perfumey, and packing a punch!
- Oil Absorption: Fabulous at soaking up oil.
- Residue: Lightweight with minimal residue.
- Longevity: Lasted all day and stretched out the time before needing a wash.
- Noteworthy: The scent is strong! If you don’t get down with fragrance, this may not be for you!
Close Runner Up: Amika
Why we loved it:
- Scent: We loved the warm, spicy scent [mmmm makes me ready for Fall!]
- Oil Absorption: Worked well for some [Steph] and just okay for others [Claire]! If you’re more on the oily side most days, this one may not be for you!
- Residue: Not too shabby! We noticed some buildup by the second or third day, which is expected.
- Longevity: Lasted all day and could extend time between washes!
- Noteworthy: Our second favorite overall!
Worth Noting: Living Proof
Why we loved it:
- Scent: Overall good scent, but did smell a little like hairspray to some of us! You may love that scent
- Oil Absorption: Absorbed oil well for some, but not as great for others!
- Residue: Some residue was notived on darker hair, so for our brunette babes: this one may not be for you!
- Longevity: Lasted all day without issues!
Middle of the Road
Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo Dark Tones + Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo Light Tones
Why it wasn’t a top pick:
- Some testers felt the product left a residue or the hair feeling dull!
- Some of us started scratching our heads throughout the day! [AKA started to get itchy]
- Some of us loved the scent and some would pass!
Olaplex No.4D Clean Volume Weightless Detox Dry Shampoo
Why it wasn’t a top pick:
- Didn’t have the longevity that some of the others we tried did!
- Felt heavier on thin hair.
Would Not Repurchase
Batiste Dry Shampoo
Why we wouldn’t buy again:
- Don’t get us wrong, this one not terrible by any means. However, the spray can was WILD. It would keep spraying for quite a while after you stop pressing down! [hello airing out the bathroom]
- Speaking of airing out, the scent of this one was not our favorite!
- We felt there was some residue left on the hair after using!