We’ve all been there, you wake up to find your hair has just passed the acceptable level of grease and you have two options: you slick it back in a bun and embrace the grease or you turn to your holy grail dry shampoo.
Perhaps you are heading straight from the gym to the office and want to avoid the sweaty head look, are waiting to wash your hair at just the right moment before a big event (been there) or maybe you’re just looking to add some life back into limp hair?
Dry shampoo is every woman’s best friend and is considered a staple in the beauty cupboard of your home. The key to a good dry shampoo is oil-absorbing ingredients like rice protein and bamboo silk to soak up grease and leave your hair feeling refreshed.
The good (albeit slightly overwhelming) news is there are so many options to pick from that you can find a dry shampoo that will suit any hair type, budget or finish. Read on to find our top picks for root lifting, oil-absorbing, sustainable and luxe dry shampoos to add to your beauty cabinet lineup.
2024’s top 3 dry shampoos
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O&M Original Mineral Dry Queen Dry Shampoo, $41.95 at Adore Beauty
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Boucleme Foam To Dry Shampoo, $42 at ASOS
- Ouai Super Dry Shampoo, $47 at Sephora
The best dry shampoos for greasy days in 2024
Best overall dry shampoo
O&M Original Mineral Dry Queen Dry Shampoo
$41.95 at Adore Beauty
For something simple and effective that you know will get the job done without you feeling powdery or dry, try out the O&M Dry Queen formula. Made using natural native ingredients like Lilly Pilly along with Rice Starch and Quandong, it leaves your locks renewed and smelling gorgeous.
Beauty notes:
- Plumps, thickens and adds volume
- Suitable for all hair types
- Cruelty-free formula from an Australian-owned brand
Best dry shampoo for curly hair
Boucleme Foam To Dry Shampoo
$42 at ASOS
For the curly girls, finding the perfect dry shampoo that refreshes oily roots without leaving your enviable curls in disarray is no simple task. This specially formulated foam-to-dry shampoo makes those in-between wash days a whole less stressful. It’s lightweight as not to weigh down your locks, but helps rid the scalp of oil and debris.
Beauty notes:
- Balances oil production using tapioca and cornstarch whilst still adding lift
- Alcohol-free
- Scented with aloe vera, spearmint and peppermint
Best splurge-worthy dry shampoo
Ouai Super Dry Shampoo
$47 at Sephora
If you can’t get enough of the KarJenner’s luscious locks then test out this dry shampoo from the brand founded by their very own hair stylist so you can try it for yourself at home. It is scented with the brand’s famous Melrose Place fragrance and is careful not to dry out tired locks.
Beauty notes:
- Key ingredients include rice starch, volcanic minerals and Rhodiola rosea extract to fight free radicals
- Great for second and third-day hair
- Sulphate-free
Best everyday refresh dry shampoo
Davines Hair Refresher
$37.95 at Oz Hair & Beauty
Sometimes you just need something lightweight that can wake up your roots and revive limp locks. If that’s the case, the Davines Hair Refresher is the perfect addition to your styling line-up as it quickly refreshes and provides volume without feeling heavy or overdone.
Beauty notes:
- Suitable for all hair types
- Cruelty-free and vegan formula
- Provides shine and body
Best dry shampoo for sensitive scalps
DryBar Detox Gentle Sensitive Scalp Dry Shampoo
$44 at Sephora
If you find dry shampoo often leaving your scalp feeling sensitive, itchy and dry then you may want to find yourself a specially formulated alternative that will still leave your mane feeling clean and refreshed without the heavy-duty ingredients.
Beauty notes:
- Uses sponge-like alternatives to usual dry shampoo ingredients that soak up oil without irritating the scalp
- Gentle formula revives and adds texture
Best affordable dry shampoo
Batiste Tropical Dry Shampoo
$11.39 at Chemist Warehouse
No need to blow the bank searching for the perfect formula – Batiste’s enormous array of dry shampoos is sure to tickle your fancy and get the job done. It has so many options that you can find ones to suit your hair colour, hair type, added volume or natural ingredients.
Beauty notes:
- Award-winning dry shampoo brand
- Available in an array of scents
- Easy to use and fool proof
Shampowder Dry Shampoo
$46 at Aveda
If you prefer natural ingredients and plant-powered formulas then Aveda’s Shampowder is a must-try. Using naturally-derived, vegan ingredients this powerful dry shampoo rids your roots of oil and provides lift and volume.
Beauty notes:
- B Corp company
- Key ingredients include tapioca powder, Montmorillonite clay and plant powders
- Helps hold styles in place
Best heavy duty dry shampoo
IGK First Class
$49 at Adore Beauty
Some days you just need something a bit more heavy-duty – we’ve all been there, we get it. IGK’s First Class dry shampoo is the superpower you need to breathe new life into oily, limp locks and get the day done. Using charcoal powder to really get in there and soak up oil along with white tea powder to soothe the scalp – this is a must-add to your hair arsenal.
Beauty notes:
- Mineral-oil and paraben-free
- Cruelty-free and vegan formula
- Safe for chemically treated and coloured hair
Best moisturising dry shampoo
Klorane Dry Shampoo With Oat Milk
$7.99 at Chemist Warehouse
Want to absorb oil but still leave your hair feeling silky? This dry shampoo uses oat milk to ensure it remains silky smooth and soft between washes whilst still ridding the scalp of oil.
Beauty notes:
- Suitable for all hair types
- Ultra-gentle formula
- Also helps to extend the life of blow outs and styles
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