The 12 Best Dry Shampoos for Fine Hair That Boost Volume, Tested & Vetted

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. 

Fast Facts

• Size: 1.7oz, 7.7oz 
• Scent: citrus florals 
• Ingredients: kaolin clay, apple extract, vitamin E, glycerin  

“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

Fast Facts

• Size: 2.4oz, 5.5oz, 9.9oz
• Scent: citrus
• Ingredients: rice starch 

“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

Fast Facts

• Size: 3oz
• Scent: bergamot, lemon, driftwood 
• Ingredients: Blue Molecule Complex, colloidal oatmeal, radish root ferment 

“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 

Fast Facts

• Size: 3.8oz, 7.6oz
• Scent: bergamot, lily, rose 
• Ingredients: rice starch, hydrolyzed keratin 

“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 

Fast Facts

• Size: 5.4oz
• Scent: Brazilian Berry
• Ingredients: rice starch 

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.  

Fast Facts

• Size: 6.3oz
• Scent: bergamot, fig, lotus flower, cedarwood 
• Ingredients: rice protein, vitamin E, silica, vitamin B

“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

Fast Facts

• Size: 1.6oz, 5oz
• Scent: fruity 
• Ingredients: pomegranate extract, bilberry extract, rice starch 

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.

Fast Facts

• Size: 2.2oz
• Scent: citrus, eucalyptus, amber 
• Ingredients: volcanic ash, coconut oil, zeolite, sunflower seed extract, argan oil 

“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

Fast Facts

• Size: 6.3oz
• Scent: floral
• Ingredients: volcanic ash, ginger root extract, mango extract

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. 

Fast Facts

• Size: 0.5oz, 2oz
• Scent: clementine, hyacinth, sandalwood 
• Ingredients: corn starch, tapioca starch, silica  

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. 

Fast Facts

• Size: n/a
• Scent: n/a
• Ingredients: boar bristles (keratin fiber)