Being able to wash and dry your hair in peace is probably a thing of the past, now you've got a little one to run around after. Sometimes it's just easier not to wash it. However, it can leave you feeling a bit deflated when your hair isn't looking its best. In steps dry shampoo to save the day! The best dry shampoos will help to revive your hair in between washes, giving it a fresh and clean look.
Not only will a dry shampoo mop up oil, revive limp roots, and inject texture and movement to your hair, but it will give staying power and grip to ponytails and updos. We think a dry shampoo should be an essential that every mum has in their bathroom cabinet.
Related: 20 easy hairstyles for mums
How to use dry shampoo
According to Batiste, there are four easy steps to follow to get the best results from your chosen dry shampoo.
Step one - Shake the bottle
When you're in a rush to get ready, this step is often skipped, but it's really important you don't miss it. One of people's biggest complaints when using dry shampoo is that it can leave behind a white powdery residue. By shaking the bottle, you mix up everything inside. Making the dry shampoo more effective and leaving the minimum amount of residue.
Step two - Section your hair, then spray in short bursts.
By separating your hair into medium-sized sections, your chosen dry shampoo can easily get to the base of your roots. You'll want to spray the dry shampoo around 12 inches away from your roots as this will help the product to fall evenly.
Step three - Massage into roots
It's really important to massage the product into your roots if you want to avoid that white powdery residue we mentioned earlier. Massaging will activate the starch element in the dry shampoo to help accelerate product absorption. You can use either your fingers or a brush to massage your hair from root to tip.
Step four - Style
After following the above steps, it's time to style your hair. Whether you want to straight, curl, slick it back in a ponytail or shove it up into a messy bun. Dry shampoo gives your hair a bit of extra grip, so it's the perfect product for tying hair up and creating braided styles.
Shop: the best dry shampoos to revive your hair in between washes
Recommended
With triple-action cleaning technology, this dry shampoo is perfect for those days you're too busy to wash your hair. Leaving virtually no residue, it absorbs and removes oils, sweat and odour and works on all hair colours.
Review: "I’ve tried them all - this is different, no residue, smells fresh. My hair actually feels clean with a very small amount of this and one application lasted 2 days. Yes, it’s pricey but it’s so worth it!"
Recommended
You can't go wrong with a can of Batiste. With an array of different scents, there's a Batiste for everyone, making hair feel gorgeously clean and fresh.
Review: "A quick spritz of this makes my hair look presentable. Though my hair is black if I spray this from more than 30cm away and then brush my hands through a few times, you cant tell I've used dry shampoo. This is by far the best I've used as it doesn't make my hair tangle up and is very easy to wash out. Not a lot of product is needed to refresh my hair and I'm not left with a layer of powder on my scalp. As part of my no-poo routine, I'm supposed to stretch out the days between washing my hair with low-poo/conditioner to get my hair to eventually produce less oil. This helps with that routine and I've certainly noticed a difference in the health of my hair. Highly recommended"
Recommended
This ultra-gentle formula is great for sensitive scalps. The oat milk helps soften and enrich each strand of hair too, and helps to eliminate oils, and add volume to hair by simply spraying in and brushing through before styling!
Review: "This is a powder that's built like a spray, so you press on the bottle to dispense it into semi-targeted areas on your head. I've been using it pretty sparingly and it's the best dry shampoo I've used. I have used about 6-7 different ones (including Klorane regular spray, Batiste, Herbal Essences, and others) and I am so happy I've found this one. I'm a brunette and despite the fact that this is a white powder, it disappears on my head, I've used it once and twice with good results for up to 4-5 days without washing my hair. It's also pretty effective when your hair is already pretty greasy (for example on the 3rd day). It makes my hair feel clean but not sticky or straw-like and it still remains soft and manageable. I'm super happy I tried this!"
Recommended
www.philipkingsley.co.uk
This dry shampoo is very lightweight, so there's no need to brush through after spraying and it's great for fine hair! The gentle formula helps cleanse the scalp and also keeps irritation at bay.
Review: "Best dry shampoo ever. Fine spray with no residue. Would recommend to a friend."
Recommended
This dry shampoo smells so good you'll want to use it every day! Not only does it give your hair a gorgeous fruity scent, but once massaged into the roots it absorbs excess oil and dries so it's invisible.
Review: "Really good for the days you haven’t got time, smells great and leaves your hair nice and soft."
Best natural dry shampoo
Made from 100% natural ingredients such as rice and barley starch, this quick and easy-to-use dry shampoo will keep your hair fresh between washes. It absorbs excess oil and moisturises both the scalp and hair.
Review: "Nice and natural dry shampoo. I always search for natural cosmetics without harmful chemicals and this one is perfect. The only thing that should be improved is the container as the pump doesn't give out much powder but I unscrew it and just tip a bit in my palms and put on my hair. It leaves my hair lovely, soft and refreshed. Love it and will reorder."
Recommended
www.percyandreed.com
Light and airy, this favourite dry shampoo will transform ‘day-old’ hair fast. Try it sprayed through lengths and ends too, before tying hair up, to give it more grip and volume.
Review: "I often find dry shampoo makes things worse, not better. Since I love this line I thought I'd give it a try -- and it's awesome. The first dry shampoo that actually seems to make your hair look nicer -- not just like you dunked it in powder."
Best vegan friendly dry shampoo
Reinvigorate your hair between washes with this 100% natural and vegan-friendly dry shampoo powder, which leaves a fresh summery scent. Its key ingredients are Arrowroot Powder which leaves hair feeling smooth and soft and Bentonite Clay, helping to stimulate hair growth and detox the scalp.
Review: "I had never used dry shampoo before and after reading some reviews of this one I was expecting it to be difficult to find the right amount to apply for it to work and not make my head look dusty. However, I was impressed by how immediately effective it was, and it didn’t leave any residue! I just rubbed a very small amount between my fingertips and massaged it into my roots and was amazed to see how my hair turned immediately from greasy to soft , bouncy, and looking like it had just been washed! I applied tiny amounts like that all over my head until I had covered every zone: I first massaged the top of my head, then the back, and then each side. This is also how I typically shampoo myself when I wash my hair because my hair is very thick, so I find it easiest to apply small amounts of shampoo to different areas rather than trying to cover everything at once. I am very happy with this product’s efficiency, and I am very picky with scents but I enjoyed this one’s as well: it’s mostly citrusy and a little fruity while still being subtle enough that I just smell fresh at the end."