As someone with super thin hair that’s also very oily, I completely understand the importance of finding the best dry shampoos for fine hair. Since, as you know, this wonderful hair type is especially prone to getting greasy, a dry shampoo can really come in handy before wash days. Not sure if you have fine hair? An easy way to check is to take to strand of hair and roll it between your fingers. “If you don’t feel it or it feels light, you have fine hair,” says Raven Hurtado, a hairstylist at Chicago’s Maxine Salon. “If you completely feel the hair, you probably have thick or textured hair.”
If you’re wondering why your fine hair is getting so greasy so fast, well, it comes down to your hair routine. “Thin hair, being finer and less dense, can easily become oversaturated with hair products. This gives the impression that it’s oily,” says Rogerio Cavalcante, a hairstylist and owner of NYC’s Second Floor Salon. Translation? Because fine hair is thinner, it tends to get weighed down—and appear oily—quicker than other hair types. So, when looking for a dry shampoo powder or spray, look for lightweight options that volumize without weighing down strands.
Cavalcante also recommends using a gentle shampoo for fine hair and minimal conditioner or leave-in products, and to avoid deep conditioning treatments. If you struggle with an oily scalp, consider adding a scalp treatment like a clarifying shampoo between washes. Cavalcante is a fan of The Roostist, which offers a great Clarifying Balancing Serum with salicylic acid that is easy to use. “Simply apply it to the scalp after washing your hair, every other wash, and style your hair as usual.”
Below, Glamour editors recommend dry shampoos they’ve tried and tested for fine hair.
The best dry shampoo for fine hair, at a glance
- Best Dry Shampoo for Fine Hair Overall: Olaplex No.4D Clean Volume Detox Dry Shampoo, $30
- Best Volumizing Spray for Fine Hair: Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo, $43
- Best Volumizing Powder for Fine Hair: Rahua Voluminous Dry Shampoo, 32
- Best Dry Shampoo for Oily Scalp: Crown Affair The Refillable Dry Shampoo, $42
- Most Lightweight Dry Shampoo for Fine Hair: Amika Perk Up Talc-Free Dry Shampoo, $28
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Best Dry Shampoo for Fine Hair Overall: Olaplex No. 4D Clean Volume Detox Dry Shampoo
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Best Dry Shampoo for Fine Hair Overall: Olaplex No.4D Clean Volume Detox Dry Shampoo
Original photo courtesy of Glamour associate beauty editor Danielle Sinay
Oily, fine-haired girlies: Meet your new best friend. Beloved by beauty pros and editors alike, this innovative dry shampoo from Olaplex provides clean and weightless body while detoxifying the scalp. In fact, it’s so good that it won the 2023 Glamour Beauty Award for best luxury dry shampoo—and even won over my husband, who never cares about anything beauty related.
Obviously, I could go on and on about how well it works, how good it smells, and how it leaves little to no white cast. But I won’t, because what’s most impressive is that my husband, who truly has no feelings toward any hair products whatsoever, fell so deeply in love with my (first) bottle that he took it for himself. Now I have to replenish his stock along with mine because we’re both so obsessed. That, to me, is proof enough that this is the real deal.
Nearly a year after having first tested it, both my husband and I have remained loyal to the innovative dry shampoo—and eternally grateful that the company has since released a travel size version. My recommendation? Lift your hair at the roots and spray it about an inch above the scalp. It lifts roots for days!
Save when you shop for the best dry shampoos for fine hair with these Sephora promo codes.
Best Volumizing Dry Shampoo Spray: Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo
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Best Volumizing: Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo
Original photo courtesy of Glamour associate beauty editor Danielle Sinay
A gold standard in the dry shampoo category, this is a favorite among consumers, hairstylists, and celebs alike. It’s also Hurtado’s number one recommendation for people with fine hair. “Living Proof Perfect Hair Day is great for fine hair because it’s light and absorbs oil and leaves no residue,” she says.
Glamour editors feel the same way. “What can be said about the Living Proof dry shampoo that hasn’t already been said? This is my go-to dry shampoo because its fast-absorbing powders leave my scalp feeling clean without any uncomfortable buildup or white cast,” says Glamour contributing editor Emily Tannenbaum, who’s been using this dry shampoo for years. “Sometimes I even use it just to add a touch of volume and texture to my hair if it’s feeling a bit flat, no matter when I last showered.”
How much everyone loves it comes as no surprise, seeing as it can make hair look bouncy and freshly blown out in less than five minutes. Bangs can be especially hard to refresh with a dry shampoo, which can often weigh them down. But this lightweight, silicone-free formula from the Jennifer Aniston–loved brand is a great quick fix for flat, greasy fringe. Plus, it also comes in a travel size!
Save when you shop for the best dry shampoos for fine hair with these Sephora promo codes.
