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If you have fine hair, you know how tricky it can be to find hair products that don’t weigh your hair down. If you put too much product in dry hair, it can quickly start to look heavy. Fine hair also tends to get greasy more quickly than thicker hair, so you likely wash it more often than other hair types, and maybe even use a volumizing shampoo to give it more body. On days when you skip washing your hair, though, you might want to reach for a dry shampoo.
Dry shampoos are great tools to use in between wash days, but when you have fine hair, you need to choose your dry shampoo carefully. “When picking a dry shampoo, I look for a lightweight consistency for fine hair types,” says celebrity hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos. “These are best because they won’t leave behind a residue that usually weighs the hair down. Look for absorbing ingredients such as rice starch and always, always avoid silicones. Consider volume-boosting infused products that feature polymers or silica to help the hair appear fuller and more voluminous.”
Keep reading to find our top recommendations for dry shampoos for fine hair, vetted by experts and ELLE editors.
Pros
Smells good and helps your hair hold onto scent
Cons
- May leave a slight residue on darker hair
Not only does this dry shampoo help absorb oils and impurities, it also gives your hair tons of body. It also has fragrance retention technology that helps lock in Oribe’s signature scent (bergamot, jasmine, and sandalwood) all day long.
Key ingredients: Translucent starch blend, watermelon, lychee, edelweiss flower
Size: 8.5 oz.
Amazon rating: 4.3/5
An ELLE editor says: “This dry shampoo smells so good, I don’t even feel like I need to wear perfume when I wear it. It does spray on white, so you need to work it into dark hair, but once it’s worked in, it gives hair tons of volume and makes it look freshly washed.” —Katie Berohn, beauty editor
Pros
- Clear spray leaves no film or residue on hair
Cons
- Some find it too fragranced
If your least favorite thing about dry shampoo is the white residue, Garnier’s dry shampoo is a great option to try. Unlike most formulas, Garnier has no visible residue. Thanks to rice starches, it absorbs oil right away without leaving any kind of film on your hair.
Key ingredients: Rice starch
Size: 4.4 oz.
Amazon rating: 4.2/5
Our expert says: “This is a recent favorite of mine. It has nourishing rice starch, and instantly absorbs built-up oils while leaving no white residue with its clear spray.” —Giannetos
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Best for Dark Hair
L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Tinted Dry Shampoo for Dark Hair
Pros
- Absorbs oil with rice starch and matches darker hair
Cons
- Some find that the tint gets onto their skin
Since this dry shampoo is tinted, it’s perfect if you have dark hair, since it won’t leave a white cast like some dry shampoos can. It’s sulfate-free and made with rice starch to absorb oil, so your hair can look freshly washed.
Key ingredients: Rice starch, rose extract
Size: 4.05 oz.
Amazon rating: 4.1/5 stars
Our expert says: “I absolutely love the L’Oréal DryShampoo because it also works to refresh the color of your hair while absorbing oil. For those with brown or dark hair, this is great for maintaining the richness of your hair.” —Giannetos
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Best for Brassiness
Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo Light Tones
Pros
- Protects hair while it absorbs oil
Cons
- Argan oil might weigh down fine hair if you use too much
This dry shampoo is formulated with violet pigments, which helps counteract brassy tones in light hair. The rice starch to absorb oil is milled super finely in this dry shampoo, which makes it feel light as air on your hair and scalp.
Key ingredients: Violet pigments, rice starch, argan oil
Size: 5.4 oz.
Amazon rating: 4.6/10
Our expert says: “I love this one because of the scent, it has nourishing hair properties and even features UV-protection to help protect strands. Argan oil is great for all hair types, but for finer types, use it sparingly.” —Giannetos
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Best for Volume
Olaplex No. 4D Clean Volume Detox Dry Shampoo
Pros
- Doesn’t leave residue or film on hair
Cons
- Some wish it absorbed oil better
Olaplex’s dry shampoo is virtually weightless. The formula helps detoxify your scalp while it absorbs oil and adds volume and body to your hair. It’s made with rambutan seed extract, which neutralizes odors rather than hides them, keeping your scalp fresh all day.
Key ingredients: rambutan seed extract, microstarch
Size: 6.3 oz.
Amazon rating: 4.2/5
An ELLE editor says: “I’ve been a huge fan of this dry shampoo from Olaplex since it launched. It doesn’t leave any residue on my hair, and it really does make my hair look freshly washed, even if it’s been a few days. One tip: you absolutely have to let it sit in your hair for a minute before you rub it in in order for it to activate.” —Katie Berohn
Pros
- Volumizes and prevents breakage
Cons
- Some may not like using a dry shampoo foam
If you don’t like using a spray dry shampoo, this foam is a great alternative. This dry shampoo has hydrolyzed silk to help prevent breakage while it absorbs excess oil and adds volume. Key ingredient: Size: Amazon rating: Our expert says:
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Best for Thinning Hair
Vegamour GRO Dry Shampoo for Thinning Hair
Pros
- Phytoactives may help prevent hair loss
Cons
- Some find the smell overwhelming
If you struggle with thinning hair, this dry shampoo is formulated with phytoactives like red clover and mung bean that are clinically proven to help prevent hair loss. It also adds tons of volume to hair and is extremely lightweight.
Key ingredients: red clover, mung bean, rice starch
Size: 3.95 oz.
Sephora rating: 4.4/5
A Sephora reviewer says: “I have thinning hair from health issues and I frequently use dry shampoo due to having dyed hair, so this has been such a great addition to my routine. It doesn’t leave any white residue and really works well at getting rid of oil in my hair and scalp.”
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Best Powder for Dark Hair
Kitsch Rice Protein Dry Shampoo Powder
Pros
- Tinted powder doesn’t leave any filmy residue
Cons
- Some might prefer a spray
Powder dry shampoo works well for absorbing oil, and it’s also travel-friendly. This one is tinted for dark hair, so it won’t leave a residue. It’s also made with ashwagandha, which helps absorb excess oil while softening your hair.
Key ingredients: ashwagandha, rice protein
Size: .28 oz.
Ulta rating: 4.1/5
An Ulta reviewer says: “As a person with lots of fine, straight hair, my hair quickly becomes flat and greasy looking. I’ve tried a multitude of dry shampoos but most of them are so heavily perfumed that I get a raging headache and my hair is still flat and gross-feeling. In addition, all of the powder ones I tried before this made my hair feel weighed down and gunky. Not what I was looking for. I had pretty much given up on ever finding a dry shampoo I liked. But then I saw this one and the reviews were so good it convinced me to try one more time even though I was sure I’d have the same experience again. I’m so glad I tried it! This is the one! My holy grail! No fragrance at all (so no headaches), doesn't weigh down my hair, doesn’t feel gunky, and it actually does volumize my flat hair.”
Pros
- Makes hair feel clean and freshly washed
Cons
- Not fragranced but some might not like the slight smell
Like the rest of their product range, K18’s dry shampoo is innovative and different. It’s a non-aerosol dry shampoo, so it sprays out like water, and it uses a patented OdorBIND technology that helps eliminate odor and makes hair feel truly clean.
Key ingredients: Translucent microbeads, OdorBIND technology, microalgae
Size: 4 fl. oz.
Sephora rating: 4/5
An ELLE editor says: “I’d never used a non-aerosol dry shampoo spray before, but I’m happy I tried this one. I find it’s the closest thing to actually shampooing my hair—it makes my scalp feel really clean and fresh.”
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Pros
- Kabuki brush helps ensure targeted application
Cons
- Some might prefer a spray
For the most targeted application possible, this powder dry shampoo comes with a kabuki brush to apply wherever you need it most. It’s also made with ingredients like tsubaki seed oil to add moisture to your scalp without weighing it down.
Key ingredients: tsubaki seed oil, tannic acid, tapioca starch
Size: 1.1 oz.
Sephora rating: 4.7/5
A Sephora reviewer says: “No more flying dust from all those other applicators out there. This one is lightweight, smells amazing, and doesn’t leave that stiff feeling that other dry shampoos deposit, plus no residue left behind when you run your hands through your hair.”
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Best for Scalp
Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Biotin Dry Shampoo
Pros
- Helps prevent excessive oil production on your scalp
Cons
- Some don’t like the applicator nozzle
This dry shampoo doesn’t just focus on absorbing oil—it’s also meant to help your scalp. It’s made with witch hazel to help curb oil production on your scalp and charcoal to draw out impurities.
Key ingredients: witch hazel, charcoal, biotin
Size: 1.7 oz.
Dermstore rating: 4.4/5
A Dermstore reviewer says: “The product does not feel like a normal dry shampoo. It doesn’t make my hair feel weighted down. It gives so much volume and feels good on my scalp. Easy application!”
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How does dry shampoo work?
Unlike regular shampoo, dry shampoo doesn’t actually clean your hair—instead, it helps curb excess oil. “Dry shampoo works by absorbing the oils and excess dirt built up over periods of time,” says Giannetos. “It can come in different forms—spray, powder, or even a cream texture. [Dry shampoo can] help to add texture back to the roots, while adding volume and other cleansing properties to help extend the time in between washes while maintaining your hair’s natural oils.”
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What ingredients should someone look for in a dry shampoo if they have fine hair?
If you have fine hair, consistency is key. Giannetos stresses that looking for a lightweight or finely milled dry shampoo is key, since it won’t weigh hair down. Ashley notes that you should look for dry shampoos that contain some kind of starch, as this is the agent that absorbs oil best.
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What’s the best way to use dry shampoo if you have fine hair?
When you have fine hair, a little dry shampoo goes a long way. “Over-applying will reverse results and can sometimes weigh down hair, making it appear more greasy, says Giannetos. “Start by sectioning the hair and applying the product directly on the roots. Let it sit for a few minutes. and massage gently. It helps if you blow out the hair afterwards to give it volume and make the hair look freshly blown out.”
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Meet the experts
Dimitris Giannetos is a celebrity hair stylist.
Brendnetta Ashley is a curly and textured hair expert and Schwarzkopf Professional ambassador.
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Why trust ELLE beauty?
As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, ELLE beauty editor Katie Berohn interviewed stylists and tested products to find the best dry shampoos for fine hair.
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Shop Beauty Products for Fine Hair
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