The Down-and-Dirty on Dry Shampoo

I’ve been fighting the fine, greasy hair game all my life. The day to day grind of the must shower and wash my hair, but I am running late. Or the absolutely have to shower to avoid the greasy hair look after any physical activity where I could perspire even a drop of sweat routine. Thankfully, the emergence in popularity of dry shampoo over the last few years has been a welcomed reprieve. Now that the market is saturated with these products for daily hair care and beauty regimen, it is becoming more difficult to know which will be the right product for you. We have grabbed a few popular dry shampoo brands and have done product testing comparisons considering the following: fragrance, ease of use and price point. After a week out of my normal washing routine, I am ready for a good lather wash and condition, but have found a new love in the form of dry shampoo. Here is the low down on the dry shampoos we tested:

Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo ($22.00)

Of the testers, this was the only product I’d used prior—it seemed to do its job, but I always felt that by the end of the day my hair was getting that greasy look.

The scent is light and almost fruitier than floral. The pretty packaging definitely matches the fragrance and I’m a big fan of both. I’m a sucker for a fun, pretty bottle.

This shampoo is easy-to-use and doesn’t leave much residue giving it an instant shine and boost. However, after hours of wear, the droopy hair has set in and needs additional spray to make it through the evening.

Overall, there’s a lot to like with this one, but with my oily hair it requires more product than I’d like to use and at a higher price. I think it misses the mark.

Batiste Original Dry Shampoo ($7.99)

This product was a decent choice, but it didn’t give me the “wow” factor that some of the others did. While it was easy to use with directions included, I found it took longer to dissolve the dreaded white dust than some of the competition. Once it was massaged in, I liked the light scent and felt like my hair stayed clean looking for most of the work day. However, my greasy roots came with a vengeance after 5 pm that day.

The low price of this product does make it a solid purchase, but I’m willing to spend a few more bucks to get the extra clean look I need.

Living Proof Perfect hair Day (PhD) ($22.00)

This stuff is like aerosol gold. From the light, fresh scent to the ease of use, this dry shampoo has it all.

I love that the can has image/easy-to-read directions because when I’m using dry shampoo, there’s a good chance I’m running late and don’t have time to skim small print looking for directions on how to use.

When first sprayed, there is a little bit of that “white dust,” but it quickly disappears after massaging in. The texture of the product felt clean and did not leave a gross residue on my hands.

Not only did it leave my hair looking fresh all day, it seemed to really give my hair a much needed lift. Even though this was one of the pricier products, the proof is in the pudding: this dry shampoo will give you the perfect hair day, even without a wash.

Sebastian Dry Clean Only ($19.95)

This dry shampoo seemed to add more shine than anything, which is the last thing I need on a greasy head of hair.

The packaging lacked easy directions, so I used my best guess on how far away to hold it/time to wait before massaging in/etc.

While it didn’t have a weird chemical smell, the fragrance was almost too strong. It didn’t give the typical white residue, but the texture after massaging it in was “yuck.”

It looked alright for the first few hours of the day, but by noon my roots were showing the signs of dirty hair. This product might be a better fit for those who don’t have oily hair issues, but Sebastian is not the man for me.

Tigi Bed Head Rockaholic Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo ($21.99)

If it weren’t for the strong, chemical smell, this one would probably be my top choice. It kept my hair looking clean all day, but that scent was just too much.

The bottle had directions for use, though they were a bit tough to read on the travel-size bottle. Since I’m no hair expert, I like the detailed instructions for best results.

The spray left a little white residue when first applied, but was easily worked out after setting in and I felt like my hair looked freshly washed/dried after I massaged it in. I also felt like this product had a “root pump”—my hair looked so voluminous after using it and with fine hair, it was much appreciated.

If you don’t mind a strong scent, this product is an all-star in terms of volume and cleansing. As someone with a strong sense of smell, though, it wasn’t the perfect fit for me.

Are any of these products on your go-to list or is there another top-notch dry shampoo out there that I must try? Comment below and let me know!