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The 12 Best Dry Shampoos for Fine Hair That Boost Volume, Tested & Vetted
By Marissa Wu,
5 days ago
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Newsflash: Styling your hair takes forever, so whenever possible, I’d love to be able to extend my time between washes. The problem is, if I don’t wash my fine, thin hair every day, it starts to look…well, gnarly is the polite way of putting it. Discovering dry shampoo was a little lightbulb moment: It gave my greasy roots the light, fluffy, just-washed appearance with the added bonus of preserving (and boosting) volume and texture , two things I desperately need. Here, I’ve rounded up fellow fine-haired PureWow editors’ and testers’ 12 favorite picks for the best dry shampoo for fine hair, including R+Co, Hailey Bieber-approved IGK, Beachwaver and the crowd-favorite Bumble & bumble. May a good hair day be ever in your favor.
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The Top 10 Best Dry Shampoos for Fine Hair at a Glance
@alondra.leneisha
Meet the Experts
How I Chose the Best Dry Shampoo for Fine Hair
To select the following dry shampoos, I, along with a team of PureWow editors and testers, tried nearly 30 different products over the course of several weeks. We all have fine hair in varying degrees of density. When testing, we evaluated each dry shampoo on the following criteria: efficacy, scent and ease of application. Additionally, I spoke with hairstylists Jennifer Korab and Sheila Guillermo about key ingredients and formulas to prioritize when shopping.
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Of all the dry shampoos I tested, FEKKAI stood out for saving my two-day old hair, effortlessly absorbing oil, adding a volume boost and having a pleasant—but not overpowering—scent. It’s a gentle, refreshing citrus with staying power, but isn’t too cloying. For me, that’s a huge plus because aggressive scents give me nausea. The FEKKAI dry shampoo didn’t leave a heavy residue, even after spraying it multiple times over a couple days, though I did notice a *miniscule* change in my hair color from dark to a slighter brown. Otherwise, it felt like my normal hair with a volume bump, which is always much appreciated. My only (tiny) complaint is that the nozzle is a turn-to-lock situation, which is nice, but it’s slippery. If it rotates even a fraction away from the “on” position, it’s locked, so you really need to hold it in place.
“I have combination hair—it’s oily and dry at the same time (lucky me), so lots of times with other dry shampoo products, I’m just adding to the problem by making my hair drier and greasier. What I really liked about Olaplex was 1: It gave my hair that clean feeling without drying it out more. And 2: The smell is intoxicating—in a good way. I want it in candle form next.” - PureWow executive editor Dara Katz
“I love this dry shampoo and I’ve had a hard time finding one that works just as well. It’s easy to use and doesn’t leave any white residue. The smell is nice, but it’s a bit overpowering for me so that’s a downside. I wish it wasn’t so pricey because it’s very effective, but I’m not someone who cares much about their hair so it’s hard for me to justify spending over $30 on a hair product when I rather spend that on skincare or makeup. But, I guess it’s a testament to how good it is, because I keep buying it when I run out!” - PureWow director of special projects, branded content, Rachel Gulmi
“I actually [really] liked the application of the R+Co Bleu Vapor Lotion. It’s creamy, so you rub a small amount between your hands then work it into your hair (almost like lathering in shampoo). This was faster and more thorough than using a spray or powder. As for the scent, it’s like fancy sunscreen—a little coconutty and musky. It’s strong upon application, though it dissipates quickly. [Personally, I enjoyed it, but] I could see the scent-averse disliking the strong fragrance.” - PureWow senior food editor Katherine Gillen
“This is my go-to budget-friendly dry shampoo. It’s easy to find pretty much anywhere, so if I’m traveling and am in need of a quick refresh, it’s what I reach for. It really absorbs grease well—even oily, flattened roots that seem beyond hope—but it requires more careful application. I feel like it’s very easy to overdo it and wind up with white roots from the residue, so it’s definitely best for light hair (though they also have formulas specifically designed for darker hair). It gives a nice little boost of volume, and the scent is fresh, with citrus and lily notes.” - PureWow vice president of editorial Candace Davison
“By far my favorite dry shampoo I’ve ever used. The rice-based formula doesn’t leave a powdery residue in my hair. I just spritz a little on my part and brush it in, and watch as my hair gets a little volume—without becoming matted or tangly, which normally happens with my baby fine hair—and the greasiness disappears. The light Brazilian Berry scent is sweet without overpowering, too; it’s beachy and lends to the laid-back, effortlessly undone vibe it gives my hair.” - PureWow vice president of editorial Candace Davison
R+Co’s Death Valley dry shampoo offered the perfect balance of volume and texture while giving my hair the illusion of cleanliness. The residue was minimal after brushing it through my hair, but it definitely had staying power. I was impressed that even on day three, after being out in the sun all day, my hair still looked presentable. Death Valley does amp up the volume and texture, but subtly. I appreciated this because I often find texture sprays to be drying. While I still experienced that sensation to a small degree, it was much less crispy than other dry shampoos I tested.
“I tried [the Verb dry shampoo] on three-day-old hair, right after back-to-back yoga and barre [classes]. It smelled pleasant, felt nice, and absorbed some oil. My only qualm is the application. I found it difficult to get an even application of the powder directly onto my hair, so I wound up squeezing it into my hands, [blasting my black tee] in the process. However, it was effective: I probably could have gotten another day out of my hair with this. I [found it was on] par with my favorite Prêt à Powder from Bumble & bumble.” - PureWow tester Anna Vitacco
After testing tons of aerosols, I was skeptical about the paste formula, but it worked surprisingly well. It was easy to apply and allows for a much more targeted application than a spray nozzle. I also appreciated that there was no residue at all. The major plus here is that R+Co Badlands is travel friendly because it’s basically solid. To use, you scoop a tiny, pea-sized amount onto your fingertips and rub to melt, before applying to scalp and tousling into your hair. It gave me an instant volume and texture boost, which was nice. I would say that, due to the application method, it might not be the most convenient if your hair strands tend to get oily, too, as it really just targets the scalp/roots. However, you could try distributing the product with a boar-bristle brush.
“ Hailey Bieber is known to love IGK , and the brand’s Jet Lag Dry Shampoo didn’t disappoint. It was lightweight and left my hair feeling soft.] I appreciated that the strength of the spray is pretty forceful, as I sometimes feel like dry shampoos can get clogged in the nozzle or just don’t spray well from the get-go. [The scent] is light, floral-y and clean. [There aren’t any major cons, though I did find it just a tad gritty at times], and I don’t think it would be strong enough for a really greasy hair day. [However,] I liked that it didn’t leave a ton of residue.” - PureWow senior food editor Katherine Gillen
Several editors and testers mentioned Bumble & bumble’s Prêt à Powder as a reference point while testing other dry shampoos. Notably, a tester with fine but dense hair said it did an excellent job of absorbing excess oil more effectively than some aerosols she tried. The scent is a delicate combination of clementine, hyacinth and sandalwood, and the oat flour and tapioca starch in the formula leave you with refreshed strands while adding a bit of volume and texture.
While I enjoyed many of the dry shampoos on this list, I actually don’t like having tons of product in my hair. However, I have been trying to figure out how to extend the time between washes without looking like a total grease ball. Enter: Altesse Studio’s boar bristle brush. The magic of a boar bristle brush is that it deftly distributes the scalp’s natural oils through your hair. (It’s also great for working in products like said dry shampoo if you choose.) According to the brand’s founder, Julia Tissot-Gaillard, after three to five weeks of the 100-stroke method, excess sebum should be cleared, sebum production should be more balanced and you should be able to push your wash back by a day. While I haven’t been able to test the theory for a full five weeks, I did notice that my two- or three- day old hair looked a lot nicer brushed with boar bristles than it did with my regular nylon-bristle brush, and looked more intentionally glossy than greasy. This is what I’ll be doing from here on out. And yes, $320 is steep, but you can also look at it this way: That’s eight tubes of R+Co Bleu Vapor Lotion that you never have to buy again.
What to Consider When Buying Dry Shampoo for Fine Hair
If you’re a fine-haired person who also struggles with volume and texture, dry shampoo can be a great way to give you a little boost of both, making it appear fuller, Korab says. “Look for a lightweight, volumizing dry shampoo specifically formulated for fine hair. These dry shampoos contain ingredients that will add volume and lift without weighing your hair down.”
When shopping, choose products that work for your hair type, and throw a bottle of clarifying shampoo or scalp scrub into your basket, too.
“Dry shampoo is generally safe to use and can be a convenient way to extend the time between washes, but it is important to use it correctly, so it doesn’t cause buildup on scalp issues,” she adds. “I recommend using a clarifying shampoo or a scalp scrub periodically to help remove any buildup and thoroughly cleanse your scalp and hair.”
Regarding ingredients, Korab advises choosing gentle products that will absorb the excess oils. She prioritizes starch-based ingredients like rice or corn, as well as absorbent powders like silica and arrowroot. Things vitamin E and aloe vera will add a little hydration, but Guillermo says to tread lightly, as they can weigh down your hair. If you do use a dry shampoo with these ingredients, opt for a light mist. Additionally, if you have dark-colored hair, “[look] for dry shampoo that has cacao powder or charcoal powder, which won’t leave that annoying white residue you see with many dry shampoos,” she notes.
Finally, if you have color-treated hair, be sure to select a dry shampoo that won’t leave a residue and will help maintain vibrancy, Korab tells me. “I would look for tinted or clear dry shampoos, as well as color safe formulas and UV protectants.”
PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.
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