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Dry shampoos are a hair wardrobe staple - but how do they stack up against each other? We teamed up with some of our beauty writer friends to give them a thorough test drive. Discover everything you need to know in our Dry Shampoo Edit!
Karen
Escentual

This shampoo is the best I’ve ever tried. It doesn’t have any white residue, which is really important when your hair is as dark as mine, and it makes hair feel really soft and clean. It’s important to use it step by step, bit by bit – if you spray too much it can be too thick. Follow the instructions and you’ll be fine.

The smell is really nice, it isn’t overpowering and fades away quickly to leave a neutral sort of fragrance. I can actually stretch out going without washing my hair for two days instead of one with One More Day, it’s brilliant. I had to give my precious bottle to my hairdressing sister as she “had to have it”, but I’ll definitely be getting a replacement!

Lisa
lisahh-jayne.com

I've never used anything from Philip Kingsley before, but I've heard great things about them, so I was looking forward to testing the One More Day dry shampoo. I've been used to how Batiste leaves my hair feeling chalky with a bit of product build up going on, so I thought that's just how dry shampoo worked. But I found this Philip Kingsley one to be a very lightweight spray that refreshes your hair between washes. It made my hair feel exceptionally clean, like I had just washed it.

I found the smell to be quite nice as well, it had a clean scent about it, which really helps to think that you've just washed your hair. What I also like about this is that you don't get any of the dreaded grey hair streaks or product build up after use like you do with other dry shampoos like Batiste.

Kim
Escentual

As for the Rene Furterer Naturia dry shampoo, I am so impressed! It added alot of oomph, (by oomph, I mean volume/life) back into my hair when it started to go flat by the end of the 2nd day. I found just 2 to 3 sprays of this went a long way, and I also sprayed some in my brush and brushed it through which worked really well in giving it volume.

What I really cannot stand is having a flat, oily fringe and this dry shampoo worked absolute wonders for it. Even once I’ve just washed, dried and styled it, I will still give my fringe a little extra 'oomph' with 2 sprays of this dry shampoo on a barrel brush. Another thing I like about this dry shampoo is the smell. It’s not at all overpowering, if anything, I find it very pleasant, refreshing. I can happily say my search for a good dry shampoo is finally over and the Rene Furterer dry shampoo is definitely on my essentials list.

Mez
mezmadeup.blogspot.co.uk

Very subtle scent, not overpowering. It has a powdery white reside, so I have to give a bit of a rub and brush for all the powder to blend in, especially on dark hair. Spray works completely fine and provides an even mist. As for effectiveness the clay powder is quite thick and didn't have to spray much on to cover thick slightly greasy hair.

Have used other dry shampoos that leave my hair with a grey cast whereas this did a better job. Most dry shampoos do a good job of providing my hair with volume and this was no exception. Was able to do a quiff ponytail style without the use of hairspray and a few grip pins. It left hair with a bit of texture and not as light or flowy as usual but nothing hugely noticeable. Overall a great product and does a better job than the other cheaper dry shampoos previously used, however not enough to justify the price difference of over £10/12 more than what I usually pay for dry shampoos.

Georgie
Escentual

Ireally enjoyed using this dry shampoo. It is definitely the best I have tried. I had only tried the Batiste brand before I wasn’t a big fan of dry shampoos… Until trying this! It freshened and brightened my blonde hair, meaning I could go an extra day without washing it... perfect time saver for all the summer socializing!

The fragrance was fairly subtle, and it did not irritate my sensitive scalp. It is just a shame it does not come in a larger can, as I seemed to get through it fairly quickly, having said that I will be re-purchasing.

Gemma D
gemseren.blogspot.co.uk

Isuffer from a sensitive scalp and find some dry shampoos to leave my head feeling uncomfortable and itchy, so I was really excited to try this shampoo formulated for sensitive scalps. I think that this is a fantastic dry shampoo and possibly the best I have tried. It has a light floral scent to it, nothing too overpowering.

The product itself does not leave my hair feeling 'crispy' and full of product like other dry shampoos I have tried, it’s very light weight and you only need a small amount for it to work. With certain dry shampoos, my hair is left looking dull but with Klorane it still retains shine without being oily. It doesn't affect my sensitive scalp at all either. Overall a great dry shampoo and one I would not hesitate to recommend to anyone.

Pat
Escentual

The Schwarzkopf dry shampoo is very good for giving lift to both long and short hair. It’s really great to use if your fringe is a bit greasy, as the spray action means you can use it just on the areas where you need it most. As well as a clean, fresh feeling, it leaves hair looking as though it had been freshly washed.

It’s a fabulous time saver on those days that you don’t have time to wash and style your hair! A little goes a really long way, so use sparingly. It doesn’t leave any build up and has such a lovely fresh smell. I think it’s great value for money and the packaging is very cute!

Rose
www.mixedgems.co.uk

First of all it has to be said that the scent of this spray is divine. A fresh and floral scent, hair is given a refreshing burst of fragrance that lasts well into the day. In terms of texture, this is the lightest texture I’ve found in a dry shampoo. My hair is naturally dry and so heavy, chalky textures can leave my roots and ends looking frazzled, however this was very fine with no powder residue.

It is light enough to be used in the morning without any tell-tale white patches. When applying, I did find that I had to spritz quite a few times to get my desired level of freshness. I did, however, find that limp, straggled hair was bouncier and shinier. This was a welcome side effect as my second day hair is often flat, but not after a hearty dose of this. The size of the bottle is ideal for fitting into your handbag, perfect for pre-meeting or post-work touch ups. Going forward, I’ll definitely repurchase this spray. A must try for the on-the-go girl!

Lauren
Escentual

Generally I’m not a fan of dry shampoos and as I have fairly short hair, I find it a lot easier to just wash my hair to get rid of oiliness; however this product did challenge this! I loved the fact that it was transparent and didn’t go on to my hair as a thick white covering to brush out, some dry shampoos look like talcum powder and I don’t understand why more isn’t done to stop this. I let it absorb the oil and then brushed my hair to get rid of any excess, making my hair a lot easier to style. The fragrance isn’t overpowering, it neutralises any smells so your hair feels and smells fresher.

In terms of its main selling point, I wasn’t that impressed with the ‘volumizing’ claim; I felt that it went too far into being a firm hold hairspray as opposed to a dry shampoo with volumizing benefits. Try not to spray too much as it can be a little sticky.

Sarah
fridayisforeverblog.com

I've tried a lot of dry shampoos and this is definitely the best of the lot for bringing hair back to a 'just washed' matte look, removing all signs of oil. It brushes out well, doesn't leave a powdery white finish like some others, and the fresh 'shampoo' scent adds another welcome element of 'just washed' fakery. Most importantly though, It adds texture as well as volume to my fine, limp hair, so as a hair volumising product, it wins big points.

A little goes a long way, and, being used to using a quarter of a can of cheap brands, I've learnt that using more than a few sprays of this leaves an odd texture to the roots, no different to that left by a volumising powder. This isn't visible at all, but its not the nicest feeling, trying to run your fingers through stiffened roots. For that reason alone, I'd say this is best used for a volumised up-do!

Emma
Escentual

My hair is long and dark, and always looks best when it’s freshly washed. I’ve steered clear of dry shampoos in the past as I just love the feel of clean, swishy hair, but then I watched some tutorials showing how such sprays can be used for style prep and volume, and I had to try it for myself. This dry shampoo from TIGI is a brilliant choice for those like me who want to give their hair a little ‘something’. It weightlessly builds up volume and texture, and my hair still feels clean and swishy.

I normally spray some onto a paddle brush and swipe it through my roots, but I’ve also used it as a traditional ‘spray and rub’ dry shampoo between washes and can confirm that it does the job just as spectacularly. The fragrance is a HUGE plus point for me. It’s so sweet and exotic - I just wish they made a perfume with the same aroma!

Gemma T
miss makeup magpie.com

Ihave found the most PERFECT dry shampoo in the form of Catwalk by TIGI Session Series Transforming Dry Shampoo. Firstly, it smells out of this world. TIGI products are renowned for their gorgeous scents, and this dry shampoo follows suit. It smells like it could be perfume, you're spraying onto your hair and once I've applied this to my hair, I simply cannot stop myself from smelling my own hair.

The best feature of the Catwalk by TIGI Session Series Transforming Dry Shampoo, has to be that it leaves a lightweight matte finish that is virtually translucent. No white or grey powdery patches, or awful texture at all! It also neutralises odours rather than just masking them, leaving hair gorgeously perfumed. When sprayed onto the roots, it is completely undetectable and gives the appearance that I've had hot rollers in the roots when I've simply sprayed, scrunched and sniffed the beautiful scent!

Richard
Escentual

My hair is naturally a little oily, so I'm testing out the shampoo specifically aimed at oily hair. The directions suggest I should leave the shampoo in for a couple of minutes before running a brush through and I'm pleasantly surprised by the result.

If the holy grail of dry shampoo is to mimic the results of a normal wet shampoo then Klorane have missed the mark here, but not by a whole lot. It left my hair feeling distinctly smoother and cleaner, if not quite out-of-the-shower pristine. Still, it is of course a vastly more convenient option and that is, in the end, precisely the use of a dry shampoo. Klorane's nettle concoction will sit happily in your bag and help you out when your hair feels as if BP have got to it, giving you a reprieve before you can rush home and get your head under a tap.

Nicole
thetwoscoops.com

French pharmacy brand Klorane are masters in gentle yet effective haircare and their dry shampoo with nettle extract doesn't disappoint! For limp, oily-looking locks, I found the best way to use it on second-day hair was to spray it on a paddle brush and to work it through your hair as you brush it. But for on-the-go grease-busting, it worked just as well with the traditional 'spray in, brush out' technique. And with no overpowering scent, you can do a discreet touch-up in the office before heading out.

Unlike other dry shampoos I've tried, Klorane doesn't leave you with a grey, powdery barnet or a dry and itchy scalp - just light, fresh hair, that's brilliantly bouncy!

Becky
Escentual

Ifound the TIGI Bed Head Dirty Secret dry shampoo an excellent product for in-between washes when there isn’t enough time to wash and blowdry your hair. The product needs a good shake, otherwise it sprays out on to the hair powdery. It’s a very fine mist, so it does spray evenly, and my hair looked shiny and volumised on finish, and lasted the whole day until I washed it out in the evening.

If I had to give the product a negative, it would be the smell, which was slightly chemically, however, this would not stop me using it, as the smell soon vanished, and I felt it was good value for the size of the can.

Sascha
beauty geek uk

TIGI Bed Head Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo is a surprisingly gentle yet effective dry shampoo, that does a really good job at prolonging the life of your wash and/or blow dry for that crucial extra day. Not only is it a great hygiene product, it also adds texture and a little volume, making it a really handy styling product for giving hair that slightly undone look that can be tricky to achieve on freshly washed hair.

The scent is slightly fruity but thankfully not overpowering, and the spray itself is actually very fine for a dry shampoo. The fact that this is a multi-use, gently scented and well formulated product justifies it’s slightly higher price tag, plus you get a decent amount for your money at 300ml. I definitely recommend this as both a dry shampoo and a texturiser and I’m so impressed that it succeeds at both!

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