Festival season is here, and there are a number of products we just simply cannot live without when stuck in the middle of a field for the weekend. The Mirror Choice team has realised that most of us revert to using the most popular range of dry shampoos, like Batiste, but there are so many other brands now available to give a try.
After scouring the internet for the best, we came across some pretty varied price ranges, so we've done the hard work for you and tested them out to find out which one is the best.
As anybody who has used a dry shampoo before will know there are some which can leave your hair streaky, some that give your hair a chalky feel and some you just know will make it feel even greasier the next day.
Here's our thoughts.
New Living Proof Jumbo Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo
With a crazy busy work and life schedule, I never always find enough time to wash, blow dry and style my hair, so receiving the Living Proof's new dry shampoo to trial, I really thought it would just be another product I would use but not necessarily fall in love with- and I couldn't have been more wrong.
I like to be able to leave my hair without a wash as long as possible, and in most cases, be able to keep styling it with a quick natural wave using my Dyson Airwrap. Although it's not always possible, I have a better routine with having specific styles to make a wash last even longer.
I can more often than not get a day one and two blow dry, a low ponytail with lose waves on day three and then a slick back pony/bun on day four. The Living Proof Jumbo Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo will last me forever it seems, althouh a little more pricey than other brands, the quality is unmatched.
This breakthrough formula cleans and cares like a rinse-out shampoo, eliminating oil and sweat while leaving hair with just-washed softness and shine, and especially in a heatwave, you can feel the difference so much in the lack of oils on your scalp.
Although it's quite expensive considering there are some out there much, much cheaper, it's a great product that will last a long time.
You can purchase the spray bottle in sizes 90ml, 198ml and 355ml (jumbo), which is the size I tried for £38.
Rating: 5/5
Schwarzkopf Got2b Fresh It Up Extra Fresh Dry Shampoo
Like most shoppers, I tend to just buy certain household essentials out of convenience, and usually on my weekly shop I would throw in a bottle of Batiste dry shampoo at my local store. But, they would never completely do the trick, they were just handy and dominated the market. So I decided to look a little further than when I was playing supermarket sweep doing the food shop.
Before and After of using the Got2B dry shampoo
The picture above is before and after using the Schwarzkopf Got2b dry shampoo which really transformed my look to get one more day out of my hair. I really try to not over wash and style my hair now that I have nano bond hair extensions. I find that if I leave it and just wash it once, or twice a week, the condition of my hair is kept better much longer.
I loved that this dry shampoo brand didn't leave a white residue like many other brands do, and it smells gorgeous. The only down side, for such a small amount I sprayed, it felt like I had used half of the bottle.
I picked up the bottle from my local Superdrug for £2.99 for a 200ml bottle, but managed to find a really good deal for 6 bottles for just £15.98 on Amazon. I think for those quick refreshes it is worth the price, it's just a shame it doesn't feel it would last as long as other brands I have previously used.
Rating 4/5
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Joia dry shampoo
As much as I wish I was blessed with thick, bouncy hair, mine is actually annoyingly fine and gets greasy unfairly fast, so dry shampoo is an absolute must-have in my house.
I usually go for dry shampoos that add volume in an effort to give my limp, lifeless hair even a hint of body, so I was a little nervous to try Sol de Janeiro's Brazilan Joia dry shampoo in case it didn't give me the root boost I so desperately crave.
In recent years, I've become a little obsessed with the Sol de Janeiro brand and the completely delicious fragrances of its products. My favourite body moisturiser of all time, its famed Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, comes in its signature Cheirosa 62 scent and I was delighted to spot its dry shampoo in the same dazzling aroma.
Sol de Janeiro's Brazilan Joia dry shampoo promises to "eliminate excess oils" and "provide weightless volume". I was impressed when the vegan and cruelty-free product did exactly what it says on the tin.
It's incredibly easy and fast to use and while, like all dry shampoos, it does leave a white residue that needs brushing out, it fades quickly and leaves my hair looking and feeling fresh and clean, with a decent amount of volume. I absolutely adore the fragrance and while the product is extremely effective, it's the smell that's got me completely addicted.
It's ideal for a quick fix between hair washes and it smells completely divine - I've never had so many compliments on how "amazing" I smell! It's expensive, but I'm really pleased with this product and will definitely be repurchasing.
You can buy Sol de Janeiro's Brazilian Joia dry shampoo from Selfridges, Boots, Look Fantastic, ASOS and more.
Rating; 4/5
Cherry scented Batiste dry shampoo
Batiste cheeky cherry dry shampoo
My first experience with dry shampoo was at my first festival back in 2015 in a bid to keep my pretty lifeless teenage hair looking fresh. These days in my twenties, you’ll never find me without a can on my dressing table.
I’d never really been loyal to a brand and typically pick up whatever is on offer - but in doing so, discovered some really poor quality dry shampoos that make you look like you’ve just come in from a snow storm.
However, I find for my light coloured hair, Batiste works really well for my hair type. And while it does leave a white cast on the hair, it looks natural on blondes and fair-haired people once brushed through and styled.
My favourite is the cheeky cherry version of their dry shampoo, which you can find in Boots for £2.44 for a 200ml tin, where it’s racked up nearly 150 five star reviews.
It’s best used from around a 30cm distance and shaking the can before spritzing is an absolute must to avoid that snowy look. However, when you’ve mastered the technique, massaged it into the hair to absorb the excess oils, it works a real treat.
Not only is it ideal for festivals and holidays, but it’s great for general, everyday use to stretch the length of time between washes, offering a refresh with a subtle but fruity fragrance. It also works wonders as a styling product, making bobby pins grippier, adding texture to messy buns or updos, and adding volume where needed, saving your scalp from resorting to backcombing, because that’s one thing we don’t need to bring back from Y2K.
You can buy the Batiste cherry dry shampoo here for £2.44.
Rating: 4/5
Moroccan Oil Moroccanoil dry shampoo dark tones
As someone with very dark hair, it's often hard to find a dry shampoo that doesn't leave your hair looking dull, white or as if you have dandruff. I've tried various brands that supposedly cater for darker hair but I've always been left disappointed and the tint has never quite matched my roots.
While I tend to go for the cheaper range, opting to apply before bed to avoid any white-cast, I decided to try something from the next bracket up, which has been made with dark hair in mind: Moroccanoil dry shampoo, dark tones.
Priced at £15.63, the can looks and feels like any other dry shampoo, but the spray itself was powerful. Instead of using the product in my night-time routine, I decided to apply it first thing to see if it was something I could wear day-to-day.
Before: my hair was greasy and tired with plenty of flyaways
I did as the instructions told me: shake well, spray six inches from roots, let it dry, massage into your scalp, then brush out. At first, I was concerned and not at all convinced this was going to work on my brunette hair.
As I sprayed, my roots turned a very contrasting grey and I found myself double checking the can to see if I'd picked up the fair hair option. However, I persisted and carried on the process. Once it had dried and I'd brushed it through, my natural colour returned and I did not find any residue that diminished any shine or vibrancy.
In terms of smell, the Moroccanoil dry shampoo it was nice enough at first but did have a hint of WD-40. Saying that, I often find dry shampoo smells can be a bit headache-inducing, and this had a much more pleasant scent.
After: my hair was left refreshed and smooth
Although it felt counterintuitive putting an oil-based product on already greasy hair, I was surprised that my hair regained some of the glossiness you get after conditioning and I'd definitely feel confident to prolong the periods between washes. That being said, with the higher price tag, this would be a product I'd only splash out on for special occasions.
You can buy the Moroccanoil dry shampoo dark tones here, for £15.63.
Rating: 4/5
