The first time I heard the words "dry" and "shampoo" together, I was 16 and sitting in my friend Alexis' room getting ready on a Friday night. Alexis sprayed something from an aerosol can into her hair and told us the product was like washing your hair [1] without actually washing it. I was pretty mystified. Back then, I was still dyeing my hair [2] out of a box and getting my eyebrows waxed [3] at my local nail salon, so new beauty trends weren't really on my radar. Even back then, with my limited beauty knowledge, I was still sceptical. That was almost 15 years ago, and it has taken me a good chunk of that time to find a dry shampoo that actually works.

A few years ago, I was at the point where I felt like I tried every dry shampoo on the market. I had tested out drugstore brands as well as salon-quality formulas, and I was close to concluding that dry shampoo just plain didn't work. That changed the first time I tried Moroccanoil's Dry Shampoo Dark Tones [4]($26). I stumbled across the product when I was at Sephora stocking up on Moroccanoil's shampoo and conditioner, which I love for its amazing scent. I decided to purchase the dry shampoo on a whim, and I'm really glad I did.

After just one use, I knew I would love the product forever. It didn't weigh my hair down, but instead left my hair silky smooth and soft to the touch. It absorbed quickly and without leaving a white cast, thanks to the darker tint. It also didn't make my hair feel sticky or powdery, and it didn't leave behind any weird residue. It added body to my hair, all while making my hair smell like a combination of musk, vanilla, and citrus. The product also comes in a Light Tones option, which my (blonde) bestie swears by.

Lately, I have been using my extended time at home to skip makeup [5], try new beauty products, let my brows grow out [6], and give my hair tools a break. I'm also trying to go even longer between washes, which means getting daily use out of my favourite dry shampoo.

Day 1 Hair

Through a lot of testing, I've figured out the method that works best for my hair. I'll apply the dry shampoo at night before going to sleep or right before working out, which works best when I divide my hair into sections and spray the bottom sections first, working my way up to the top.

I massage everything in, like I'm lathering shampoo, and then I run a brush through it.

Day 5 Hair

This magic recipe has enabled me to go up to seven days without washing my hair, but here's an example of what it looks like after day five for me. (Tomorrow, I'll definitely be putting it in a ponytail, but today I'm happily wearing my hair loose and down.)

I've now been using this dry shampoo for three years, and unless Moroccanoil comes out with an upgrade, this is the dry shampoo I'll be using for the rest of my life. It's on the pricier side at $26 a can, but it's worth it to me to not have to wash my hair every day. (Plus, think of all the money I'm saving on shampoo and conditioner!)

Moroccanoil's Dry Shampoo Dark Tones