There’s nothing quite as disheartening as treating yourself to a bouncy blowout, only to have it fall flat and lifeless the very next day because of an oily scalp. Enter dry shampoo, a saviour for keeping your locks looking fresh and fabulous for days.
For those unfamiliar, dry shampoo is a waterless, miracle product designed to absorb excess oil, leaving your hair looking and feeling cleaner. Beyond its oil-busting powers, it revives volume and texture, while helping to minimise damage caused by over-washing and heat styling.
It’s recommended to limit the use of dry shampoo to two to three times a week to avoid product build-up. Our hot tip? Try applying it at night instead of spritzing it on in the morning. This allows the dry shampoo to work its magic while you sleep, so you wake up with a refreshed, bouncy mane.
Whether you’re new to dry shampoo or searching for your hair’s new holy grail, keep reading for the best dry shampoos to shop now, along with insider tips to make the most of this beauty essential.
5 best dry shampoos for gorgeous hair
Kitsch, Volumising Rice Protein Dry Shampoo Tinted Powder
$30.50 at iHerb
Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo
From $28 at Sephora
Batiste Dry Shampoo
From $7.99 at Chemist Warehouse
The best affordable dry shampoo range with something for everyone
Application tip: Shake, spray in sections, massage into your roots and brush out
Types: Original, brunette, dark hair, volume, overnight deep cleanse, sensitive scalp
Sizes: 50ml, 200ml and 350ml
Typebea G.5 3-In-1 Dry Shampoo
From $23 at Sephora
The best dry shampoo for encouraging hair growth
Application: Shake well, spray 15cm away from hair, and brush through
Hair colours: Suitable for all shades without leaving any white cast
Sizes: 44g and 116g
Available at:
- From $23 at Sephora
- From $19 at The Iconic
OGX Coconut Milk Dry Shampoo
$14.99 at Chemist Warehouse
The best scented dry shampoo
Application tip: Shake, spray through sections 20-30cm away from roots, massage then brush through
Hair colours: All hair tones
Size: 200ml
How do I use dry shampoo properly?
- Keep a distance: When using an aerosol dry shampoo, “shake the can well and apply it approximately 15-20cm away from the dry root area,” says Moroccanoil educator Mia Doak. If sprayed too close, it can lead to too much product build-up in the hair.
- Add as you go: With dry shampoo you can add as much as you feel you need. “Massage the product in well with your fingers and follow by brushing the hair out thoroughly to disperse,” says Doak.
- Create texture: Not just for your roots, dry shampoo can be used all over your hair. “It can be creatively applied to the mid-lengths and ends to help create a whimsical texture,” explains Doak.
- Tailor to your colour: Our hair colour is personally tailored and our dry shampoo should be too. Brands such as Batiste make it easier to customise your shade by providing two choices to colour-match to dark or light hair. Their dry shampoo for brunettes won’t leave white flakes or a chalky residue, while their formula for blondes gives a hint of colour to complement light shades and helps blend in root re-growth.
- Remove right: So you don’t get product build-up, try washing your hair with a clarifying shampoo once a week, or as needed.
