Spark

Not washing your hair every day isn’t just great for freeing up your time, it can also be a little easier on your scalp and hair. That said, not all of us can go 2 or 3 days between washes without a little assistance from our old friend, dry shampoo. Like most things, there are tons of dry shampoos options available, so we’ve taken it upon ourselves to test some popular brands to bring you the scoop!

Our Testers
We enlisted men and women from our team to test both high-end and drugstore dry shampoos from around the Centre. Our testers’ hair types range from fine to very thick, dry to oily, light to dark, straight to medium curls, as well as dyed and mature hair with grey. This willing group of truth seekers stopped washing their hair for us, all in the name finding the best dry shampoos in the game.

Dry Bar Detox Dry Shampoo in Vanilla Bourbon, Sephora, $30.00

Description: A super absorbent formula that eliminates oils and impurities, leaving hair looking and feeling clean and refreshed with extra volume and a matte finish. It’s scented with notes of tonka beans, caramel, and cardamom.

Tester’s hair type: Short hair, mature with some grey.

Usability and results: Application was quick and easy, the tester didn’t need a brush to work the product into their hair. The product provided very quick coverage with no white residue. However, it has a very strong scent. The result is very soft hair that didn’t feel like it had product in it, plus plenty of added volume. The tester reports they could’ve gone another day without washing.

Verdict: “I normally wash my hair every few days as it doesn’t get very oily, but because it’s fine, it’s hard to style. I found it was really great at giving me some added volume, while leaving my hair feeling soft and clean without any noticeable buildup. My biggest complaint is that the fragrance is too strong, and it lasts into the next day.”

Bumble and Bumble Mini Pret-a-Powder Tres Invisible Dry Shampoo with French Pink Clay, Sephora, $18.00

Description: A UV-protective, two-in-one, clear dry shampoo that cleans and lightly volumizes from roots to ends.

Tester’s hair type: Blonde with dyed highlights, mostly straight with a wavy texture. Hair gets oily one day after washing. Shampoos hair twice a week.

Usability and results: Product was easy to use and absorbed oil quickly. The initial white residue also brushed out easily. Afterwards, hair looked completely clean, and felt softer and more voluminous. The tester was able to extend their wash by using more product the following day.

Verdict: “It did the job, and gave me volume as an added benefit. It smelled nice and hid the scent of oily hair. The gold packaging is pretty and it looks nice enough to leave out on your counter.”

Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo Light Tones Mini 1.7oz, Sephora, $14.00

Description: A dry cleansing spray for light-colored hair that absorbs oil, buildup, and odor to leave hair instantly refreshed. This product also comes in a “dark tones” shade.

Tester’s hair type: Thick blonde hair. Not regularly dyed, but has been dyed in the last 2 years. Roots get oily the day after washing. Washes hair every 3-4 days.

Usability and results: Quick and easy to apply with no white residue noted. Brushing wasn’t needed, and it effectively absorbed oil. The effect was very natural and lightweight, leaving hair feeling soft and more voluminous afterwards. The tester didn’t need to use more product the next day to extend their wash another couple of days.

Verdict: “Overall, I would rate this 4.5 out of 5 stars and I would definitely recommend it! I did not feel as though I had product in my hair, and my hair looked like I had washed it that day. Plus, it added some nice volume to my roots. I liked that the fragrance was mild and it didn’t linger.”

Lush No Drought Dry Shampoo 115 g, Lush, $17.95

Description: Absorbs excess oils and gives volume to hair. It blends in completely, even on dark hair, to give it texture with a soft, matte finish. Contains lemon, grapefruit, and lime oils for a fresh scent.

Tester’s hair type: Very thick, coarse, black hair with medium-sized curls. Roots get oily around the 2-3 days after washing. Washes hair 1-2 times a week.

Usability and results: Our tester had some difficulty applying the product evenly, as it is a powder and not a spray. They recommend not putting the product directly on the hair part so that the white residue is easier to brush out. The powder can get a bit messy, but it’s easy to brush off. It absorbs the oil immediately and adds some volume too.

Verdict: “Since it’s hard to control the amount of product that comes out of the bottle, there’s a bit of a learning curve when applying it. While this dry shampoo absorbed oil well and gave me volume, I found it hard to use, and can make your hair feel a bit heavy if you use too much. It made my hair feel fresh and clean, and prolonged my wash another 1-2 days after use. The smell is nice and subtle. Overall, I would recommend this to curly haired girls looking for good absorption with volume! I just wish the packaging was a bit better, so I’d give it 4 out of 5 stars.”

Dove Dry Shampoo Care Between Washes, Unscented, London Drugs, $5.99

Description: Cleanses your hair with a lightweight, low-residue formula designed to keep hair feeling fresh between regular washes or when you’re short on time.

Tester’s hair type: Black, thick, straight, medium length.

Usability and results: Easy to use. The spray covered a decent amount of surface and quickly absorbed a decent amount of oil. A white residue was mildly visible, but it quickly brushed out. Hair felt soft, silky, and cleaner, with added lustre. Tester felt they were able to extend their wash by using the product again the next day.

Verdict: “I quite enjoy that this product is unscented and it also feels like you get a decent bang for your buck with how little I had to use to absorb the oils! I give it 4 out of 5 stars.”

Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk, London Drugs, $12.99

Description: Ultra-gentle dry shampoo, with plant-based ingredients that eliminates oil, dirt, and odors.

Tester’s hair type: Mature with some grey. Highlights on soft brown. Roots get oily quick. Tries not to wash hair daily.

Usability and results: Very easy to use with no issues. The immediate white residue was easy to brush out. The tester reported effective and quick results. The product fluffed up their hair a bit and felt unnoticeable.

Verdict: “I really liked this product. The oily look of my hair disappeared right away, leaving it feeling soft without buildup. It added a bit of volume, but not as much as the Dry Bar or Morrocan Oil brands. The fragrance was very mild, almost unnoticeable. I would rate it 4 stars!”

Batiste Instant Hair Refresh Clean and Classic Original,  London Drugs, $5.99

Description: The classic dry shampoo that instantly makes your hair feel clean, fresh, and full of body and texture. Scented with citrus and floral notes.

Tester’s hair type: Mature with some grey. Highlights on soft brown. Roots get oily quick. Tries not to wash hair daily.

Usability and results: Easy to use, no different than the rest. It left a white residue that didn’t come out completely, but this could be from spraying too much in one area. It also left the tester’s hair feeling chalky!

Verdict: “The smell was stronger than I would prefer, but it wasn’t unpleasant. It took away the greasiness, but didn’t really offer the volume that the others did, and I didn’t like the chalky feeling that it left. I would say this is a good one if your hair is oily, but it doesn’t offer much more than that. I’d give it 3 out of 5 stars!”

Final Verdict:
Although the formulas, scents, and absorption varied between brands and formulas, our testers all agreed that dry shampoo is a convenient way to refresh your hair in between washes. Whether you need to revive your ‘do before a Zoom meeting, or trying to wash your hair less often, we recommend trying out different formulas from the Centre to find the right one for you! Luckily, many brands now offer travel-sized versions of their product, so you can test-drive a few and not worry about committing to one you don’t like.

New to the dry shampoo game? Check out our tips for mastering the art of applying dry shampoo!