I’ve Been Using Dry Shampoo for Years. A New Release Just Dethroned My Favorite.

I first used I Dew Care’s dry shampoo on my day-two hair (no gym or runs during that time) to see how it would fare on my normal oily roots. While it advertises itself as a translucent powder, it definitely shows up on dark hair. This is to be expected, especially of powder dry shampoo, so I wasn’t too disappointed, and I was able to blend it in with a bit of brushing. The powder got rid of my greasiness, but throughout the day, I noticed a stiffness at my roots that felt as if I had applied hairspray. I think this was intended to add volume, but I wasn’t a fan of how rough my hair felt. I showered first thing the next morning to get my hair back to normal. Willing to give it another go, I applied again, this time post-run. (My thinking here was maybe I applied too much product and there wasn’t enough grease.) After a particularly sweaty long run, I tapped this on my roots and along the sides of my hairline and brushed it in. Unfortunately, this didn’t change the outcome; my hair was still stiff, and I ended up washing the product out right after.

Hindsgaul Hair is a new-to-me brand that was started byStranger Things’shairstylist Sarah Hindsgaul. I had slightly higher expectations for this one, since it’s the most expensive of the bunch I tested. I followed the same routine as the I Dew Care by first applying it to day-two hair. My roots weren’t as stiff; instead they had some texture — almost a grippiness — and extra volume. I have pretty thick hair, so this was more volume and texture than I’d like upon first application, but it wasn’t a deal-breaker. That came the next day, unfortunately. I noticed the areas where I had applied the dry shampoo were itchy. The itchiness persisted, and I ended up taking a shower to wash out the leftover product. It was a good contender, but I couldn’t get past my scalp’s reaction.

As someone who frequents the beach, I was particularly interested in Nous’ dry shampoo because of its added SPF. I tested this out before a midday run to help control oiliness and add a layer of sun protection. This puff was the most difficult to apply of the bunch. Only a little bit would dispense at a time, so covering the top of my head with product took longer than with the others. It also took longer to blend into my dark hair, but it was still possible to do. As for actual performance, the dry shampoo withstood all the sweat from my run without any issue. While my face and body were nearly soaked, my hair was still dry and fluffy out of my ponytail. I was impressed with Nous’ dry shampoo, but I was still hung up on the application, especially since my ideal powder puff is something super easy and convenient.

This compact from K-beauty brand Mise en Scène was the most interesting of the bunch, since it uses a “wet powder” formula. Upon opening it, I thought I was sent a faulty product, but I went ahead and dabbed the cushion, applying a bit of the liquid on my day-two hair. It made my roots look slightly damp at first, but within seconds, it dried down, leaving my hair noticeably less greasy. I chalk this up to its silica-infused formula, which is oil-absorbing and mattifying. It worked incredibly well for my normal day-two hair, especially since it left no white cast and didn’t require any blending. But when I tested it after a sweaty workout, I ran into some issues. It took significantly more product than my overall picks to refresh my roots. While the formula’s great for everyday touch-ups, I wouldn’t reach for this when I need a workhorse. Because of that, I couldn’t in good faith deem it a favorite.

Ceremonia’s dry shampoo has been on my radar since it was released last year. It uses arrowroot and Brazilian clays to absorb excess oil, aloe vera to add shine and reduce frizz, and a celery-derived active to reduce irritation and support scalp health. My first test on day-two hair went swimmingly. It only took about two light pats on my scalp and very little blending with my fingers for it to completely refresh my hair. My tresses felt fluffy and shiny (but not greasy), as if I had just washed them, and I didn’t have to reapply again until the next day. An unexpected plus: I noticed that my hair had significantly less flyaways after application. When I tested it out post-run, it performed just as well. It took maybe twice as many pats of dry shampoo (still not a ton of product), and the sweat was zapped from my roots instantly. I’d say it works better than my Briogeo in that less product’s needed, it has extra styling benefits with the frizz reduction, and it’s overall longer-lasting. Dethroning my longtime favorite was quite a task, but Ceremonia managed to do it.