Battle of the Most Popular Dry Shampoos

I tested out three of the most popular dry shampoos – here's what I liked and didn't like about each one.

July 02, 2024

Photo by: Courtesy of Jen Glantz

Courtesy of Jen Glantz

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For as long as I can remember, I've had the type of hair that gets greasy fast. Even if I just washed it, within a few hours, it would look dirty. Add a gym session, a hot day, or just a bunch of errands to the mix and my hair is practically screaming to be lathered in shampoo again. But over the years, professionals have told me that a big reason why my hair is like this is because I am overwashing it.

Instead of jumping in the shower to reset my hair every day, I started using dry shampoo to give my locks a refresh. To find one that works well for my overly greasy hair, I tested out three of the most popular dry shampoos. Here's what I liked and didn’t like about each one.

Pacifica's Best Day Ever Dry Shampoo Powder

I have used other Pacifica hair products in the past, so I decided to test out their dry shampoo powder. I liked that it was 100% vegan and cruelty-free. I grabbed a bottle and used it for a week.

Photo by: Courtesy of Jen Glantz

Courtesy of Jen Glantz

Pros

I was initially attracted to Pacifica's Best Day Ever Dry Shampoo Powder because it's more natural than the others and doesn't have harsh chemicals, paragons, or sulfates. I sprayed the product directly on my roots and combed my fingers through my scalp to massage it in. It took me about 30 seconds to make sure the powder was fully rubbed in. After that, it was fully blended and over the next hour I noticed that my hair felt a lot less greasy. This product also gave my hair more of a lift in volume. For the first few days after washing my hair, this dry shampoo kept my hair bouncy and fresh.

Before using Pacifica's Best Day Ever Dry Shampoo powder.

Photo by: Courtesy of Jen Glantz

Courtesy of Jen Glantz

Before using Pacifica's Best Day Ever Dry Shampoo powder.

After using Pacifica's Best Day Ever Dry Shampoo powder.

Photo by: Courtesy of Jen Glantz

Courtesy of Jen Glantz

After using Pacifica's Best Day Ever Dry Shampoo powder.

Cons

Because Pacifica's Best Day Ever Dry Shampoo Powder comes in a non-aerosol bottle, it was harder to spray it evenly on my scalp. I had to use a lot of product each time I used it to make sure there was enough on my roots. The bottle is only two ounces and if I used it regularly, I don't think it would last me a month. I wish the bottle was larger or the product went on easier so I could use less.

Amika Perk Up Talc-Free Dry Shampoo

When I asked my friends for a dry shampoo suggestion, most of them recommended that I try Amika's Perk Up Talc- Free Dry Shampoo. I've never used this product before, so I picked up a bottle and used it for a week.

Photo by: Courtesy of Jen Glantz

Courtesy of Jen Glantz

Pros

Out of all the dry shampoos that I tried, Amika's Perk Up was the only one that left no white residue. Even when I first sprayed it on, it was hard to see any product on my hair at all. I barely had to rub it into my scalp because it absorbed quickly. An hour later, my hair looked like I had just washed it. Because the product was easy to apply, I didn't need to use very much of it every day. I purchased a 1.8-ounce bottle of Amika's Perk Up and felt like it could last me around six weeks.

Before using Amika's Perk Up Dry Shampoo.

Photo by: Courtesy of Jen Glantz

Courtesy of Jen Glantz

Before using Amika's Perk Up Dry Shampoo.

After using Amika's Perk Up Dry Shampoo.

Photo by: Courtesy of Jen Glantz

Courtesy of Jen Glantz

After using Amika's Perk Up Dry Shampoo.

Cons

When it comes to hair products, I prefer them to be fragrance-free. While all the dry shampoos that I tried did have a scent, Amika's Perk Up was the strongest and most poignant. It smelled nice, but I didn't like that it was so overpowering. I also found the nozzle hard to press down on when spraying the product onto my hair. I felt like I was one use away from breaking the bottle.

Batiste Dry Shampoo

One of the most highly rated dry shampoos on Amazon was Batiste's Dry Shampoo. With over 14,000 reviews, it seemed like a product that a lot of people adored. I bought a bottle and used it for a week.

Photo by: Courtesy of Jen Glantz

Courtesy of Jen Glantz

Pros

Batiste's Dry Shampoo was easy to use and when applied to my roots, it made my hair feel extra soft and fluffy. I felt like I had just left the salon with a fresh blowout after using the product for the first time. While the product was scented, it wasn't overpowering and the smell didn't bother me as much as other dry shampoos that I tried.

Before using Batiste's Dry Shampoo.

Photo by: Courtesy of Jen Glantz

Courtesy of Jen Glantz

Before using Batiste's Dry Shampoo.

After using Batiste's Dry Shampoo.

Photo by: Courtesy of Jen Glantz

Courtesy of Jen Glantz

After using Batiste's Dry Shampoo.

Cons

Batiste's Dry Shampoo worked wonderfully 1-2 days after washing my hair. But after that, it started to add a thick build-up on my scalp and felt itchy. I could get away with not washing my hair for 4-5 days using the other two dry shampoos but with this one, after day two, I had to give my scalp a good scrub in the shower.

Bottom Line

After giving three different popular dry shampoos a try over a month, I decided that Pacifica's Best Day Ever Dry Shampoo Powder worked best for my overly greasy hair. I liked that the product used more natural ingredients, didn't have a strong odor and gave my hair a boost of volume.

Even though the bottle is small and I need a few sprays each time to get the job done, the upside is worth it.

I already bought my next bottle of Pacifica's Best Day Ever Dry Shampoo Powder because it worked so well and I didn't need to wash my hair for four days.

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