The best dry shampoo buys you an extra day (or two) between washes by absorbing oil at the roots and adding a little grip and volume. It will not truly clean your hair, but the right formula refreshes limp, greasy roots in seconds without a chalky residue. Here are six dry shampoos with a genuine reputation for working, spanning budget aerosols to prestige formulas and options for dark hair.
How we chose
We focused on real, widely available products with a strong track record for the two things that matter most: absorbing oil effectively, and doing it without leaving hair stiff, dull or coated in white powder. We included a spread of prices, both aerosol and the tinted formulas that suit darker hair, and noted where a scent or a particular finish stands out. A quick honesty note: no dry shampoo is a substitute for washing, so we have flagged each as a between-wash tool rather than a cleaning product. We also considered scent, since a dry shampoo lives on your hair all day, and finish, because some leave grip and volume while others aim to disappear. Whatever you choose, the technique you use matters as much as the formula, and we cover that at the end. For more hair and makeup edits, see our beauty section.
1. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo
Living Proof is the one that repeatedly tops expert round-ups, and the reason is simple: it does more than mask grease. The formula is designed to absorb oil, sweat and residue and then brush out cleanly, so hair looks genuinely refreshed rather than dusted over. It is pricey and, like most, best used in moderation, but it leaves noticeably less of the chalky feel cheaper sprays can. Price: around £25, Splurge. The Sixated take: the one to buy if you want the closest thing to ‘clean’ from a can.
2. Batiste Dry Shampoo Original
Batiste is the dry shampoo most people picture, and it earns its place on value alone: a few pounds for fast, reliable oil absorption and a burst of volume. The trade-off is a tendency to leave a white cast, so brunettes and anyone with black hair should reach for the dark-hair version, which blends in far better. The scent is strong, which some love and some do not, and there is a large range of variants if the original is not to your taste. As a quick fix before an unexpected plan, nothing beats it for the price. Price: around £4, Budget. The Sixated take: the best-value pick and a fixture in most bathroom cabinets for good reason.
3. Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk
If aerosols leave your scalp itchy or tight, Klorane is the gentle answer. The oat-milk formula is a long-standing favourite for sensitive scalps; reviewers note it dries clear after an initial faint cast and adds soft, workable texture to second- and third-day hair. It comes in both aerosol and non-aerosol, so you can pick your preference, and the light oat scent is inoffensive. It is a pharmacy staple for a reason, balancing gentleness with genuine oil absorption. Price: around £8, Mid. The Sixated take: the kind choice for reactive scalps that still want real oil absorption.
4. Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo
Moroccanoil solves the residue problem head-on by offering Light Tones and Dark Tones versions, so the powder is tinted to blend with your hair rather than sit on top of it. It absorbs oil well, leaves a soft rather than crunchy finish, and carries the brand’s signature warm scent. It sits at a comfortable mid-price for a salon-quality feel. Price: around £19, Mid. The Sixated take: the smart pick if visible white residue is your main frustration.
5. OUAI Super Dry Shampoo
OUAI uses rice and tapioca starch to mop up oil while adding grip and volume, which makes it as useful for building texture as for refreshing greasy roots. It is beloved as much for its fragrance as its performance, so it is a treat-yourself option rather than a strict budget buy. As with any starch-based formula, brush it through so it does not sit heavy on the roots. It is the kind of product people repurchase as much for the smell as for the performance, which is rare in this category. Price: around £24, Splurge. The Sixated take: the one to choose when you want texture and a gorgeous scent, not just oil control.
6. Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo
Perk Up is a lightweight, rice-starch aerosol that lifts oil without weighing hair down, which makes it a strong pick for fine, flat hair that needs body between washes. It refreshes quickly and leaves a soft finish, sitting at a reasonable mid-price. Like all dry shampoos, it works best in short bursts held away from the roots. Price: around £14, Mid. The Sixated take: the everyday volumiser for fine hair that goes limp fast.
Getting the most from dry shampoo
Technique matters more than most people realise. Hold the can 20-30cm from your roots, spray in short bursts, wait a minute for it to absorb, then massage in and brush through. Applying at night lets it soak up oil while you sleep, so you wake with fresher roots. And do not let it fully replace washing, or build-up will dull your hair over time. For more head-to-toe grooming, browse the rest of our beauty edit, pair a refresh with our pick of everyday mascaras, or explore more guides on the Sixated homepage.