Top 10 Best Dry Shampoos for Oily Hair in the UK 2021 (Klorane, Batiste, and More)

For oily hair, dry shampoo can become your ultimate saviour in more ways than one. Aside from lessening the damage caused by over-washing, there are many benefits to using dry shampoo in between washes.

Dry shampoo is an underrated product when it comes to styling. It’s great for adding grip, as well as eliminating flyaways and oily strands. It can even add texture, volume and lift to roots, breathing life back into dull, tired locks.

Dry shampoo is also an excellent option for dyed and damaged hair. As you’re washing less often, the colour will stay looking vibrant for much longer. Plus, swapping out a full wash for a quick spritz will save you heaps of time in the morning! 

In this section we'll go through the different types of dry shampoo, so you'll know exactly what features to look out for when shopping online. We've even included a few little bits of advice to help you choose the right product for your specific needs!

Long gone are the days when the only option was a product that resembled gritty flour in a hairspray can. These days, dry shampoo comes in a range of different forms and applications, each with their own benefits. 

Aerosols are the most common type of dry shampoo. These are an excellent option if you need a quick refresh after a sweaty workout, or are in a hurry and don’t have time to fully wash your hair. A quick spritz through and a bit on the roots, and your hair will be revived in no time!

A decent aerosol dry shampoo will also add volume and create shape, which makes them particularly good for fine hair which tends to rest flat. A top tip for getting an even coating is to massage the product into the scalp after it’s been sprayed. Follow it up with a quick brush from root to tip to ensure the product is evenly dispersed throughout.

Powder dry shampoos are sprinkled directly onto the roots to absorb any excess oils. They generally come in a small bottle or can, which makes them ideal for travelling as some airlines have strict rules about carrying aerosols on board.

As well as being excellent at reducing grease, they are also great for styling - especially volumising. If you are blessed with luscious, thick locks, you may find styling products often weigh down your hair, leaving it looking limp and lifeless. By massaging a bit into your scalp, the dry shampoo will gently lift your hair from the roots adding natural volume, without drying out the strands.

Foams are the mid-way point between dry shampoo and fully washing your hair. It might sound a little controversial to apply foam onto dry hair, but it works a treat, giving you that fresh, clean feeling without needing to wet your hair. 

These are great for music festivals and camping trips where you don't have access to a shower. While the other two options work by coating and masking the grease, foams are instead massaged into the scalp and hair to clean it. 

One of the main things to look out for when choosing a dry shampoo for oily hair is which oil-absorbing ingredients are used. These are essential in allowing the dry shampoo to do its job properly. 

These ingredients work by regulating sebum formation which is a natural oil produced by your hair follicles. When this oil builds-up, it gives your hair a greasy appearance. These ingredients soak up some of the excess oils that are left sitting on your scalp.

The most common ingredients used are starches, flours and natural clays, but there are a wide range of options including silica, octenyl succinate and magnesium carbonate. The more of these ingredients, the drier your hair will be. However, there is such a thing as a scalp that is too dry - even for oily hair! Too many drying ingredients can irritate sensitive scalps, resulting in sore and flakey skin. 

Some dry shampoos can leave a lingering scent, a little like talcum powder. If this puts you off, there are plenty of sweet-smelling dry shampoos. Some even smell so good that they can double up as a perfume for your hair. That said, if you are already wearing perfume, the mix of the two, might be a bit overpowering.

You might prefer to opt for a fragrance-free dry shampoo. These are particularly good for people with sensitive skin. Perfumes, especially when in aerosol form, can be quite harsh on the scalp, leading to itchiness, flaking and general discomfort. So if you have sensitive skin, we recommend choosing a fragrance-free product instead. 

As well as being cursed with particularly oily roots, some of us are also prone to dry ends - especially if your GHD's hold prime place in your morning routine! Dry shampoo does its job by drying out excess oils, but when the product is brushed all the way through, it can also dry out your already parched tips, leaving your hair with a straw-like texture. 

If you have particularly dry ends to begin with, make sure your dry shampoo contains moisturising and damage repairing ingredients as well as those which absorb extra oil. The most common ones found in dry shampoo are ginseng, panthenol, keratin, argan oil and Rhodiola Rosea root extract among many others.

Many products in the beauty industry are packed with chemicals which can do more harm than good in the long run. If you’re particularly prone to a sensitive scalp, it’s best to use products containing natural ingredients. These are kinder to your scalp and to the environment - so it’s a win-win! 

The list of ingredients on any beauty product these days is often hard to discipher, what sometimes sound like chemical ingredients are often actually natural plant extracts. The best way to approach this list of ingredients is to avoid the main chemical culprits. These tend to be ingredients like parabens, sulfates and mineral oils.

LPG's (Liquid Petroleum Gas's) are used in most aerosol dry shampoos. This is what's responsible for jetting the product through the air onto your head. However, too much of these can potentially be harmful. So be wary of any product that lists lots of LPG's, alcohols, or silicones.

Dark hair can be a little more problematic when it comes to using dry shampoo, especially if you’re cheaping-out on the product. All too often, dry shampoos leave a white, gritty residue which is particularly noticeable on dark hair.

 
If you’re dark-haired, make sure you choose a product which is proven not to leave behind any white powder. If you’re not sure of the reviews, opt for a product which is specifically formulated for darker hair colours.

Now that we've let you in on all the secrets to finding the best dry shampoo for you, let's dive into the recommendations! Here in ranking order are the top 10 best dry shampoos for oily hair in the UK. 

No matter your hair type, it's important to find the right products to properly care for your locks. We've gathered a selection of some of the best protective haircare products in the UK for a strong and healthy mane. Click the links below to find out more!

Have any in the list particularly caught your eye? We hope that you've found this article on dry shampoos useful for combatting oily hair and scalps. Perhaps it will inspire you to lengthen the time in between each wash, by incorporating one of these products into your weekly haircare routine!

Author: Roxy Pratley