The New Wonder Product: Dry Shampoos

No time for a wash and blow dry? Dry shampoo will give you a beauty bailout.

If dry shampoos aren't in your hair care repertory yet, they should be! Dry shampoo—a '70s throwback that has been updated and improved—can give you on-the-spot hair cleansing without water, extend the life of a blow dry, refresh your hair after a sweaty workout at the gym and offer instant volume, all with just a bit of oil-absorbing powder.

So what's not to love? Well, dry shampoos once got a bad rep for depositing a white veil over your hair, but luckily, the latest dry shampoos solve all of your dirty hair problems beautifully! Here's a guide busting the myths of this miracle in a canister:

Myth: It leaves behind a white powder residue.
Fact: Yes, many dry shampoos soak up oily residue between washes with a white, powdery formula. And yes, those formulas have been known to stick to strands creating a white veil that gives away your dirty little hair secret. But now smarter dry shampoos spray on clear, offering a water-free freshen-up that when rubbed in, completely disappears. Try Oscar Blandi Pronto Invisible Dry Shampoo, $11. It's the perfect size to toss in your handbag to solve on-the-go hair emergencies.

Myth: It's hard to apply.
Fact: If you've tried dumping a hair powder on your roots, you may have fumbled to dispense the right amount and to

distribute it properly. Improved dispensing technology, including sprays and specially designed tops make application easy. Try Jonathan Product Green Rootline Dry Shampoo, $19. Available in light and dark formulas to match your hair color, this brush-on applicator is equipped with a dial so you can control how much of the oil-absorbing powder comes out of the brush as you run it along your hairline.

Myth: The scent leaves something to be desired.
Fact: Dirty hair has a tendency to smell, so if the very thing that you're using to prolong your blowout leaves an alcohol-infused overpowering fragrance behind, the results can be less than satisfying. Beauty manufacturers have smartened up to solve the problem. Try Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Dry Shampoo, $20. The 99 percent natural formula incorporates oil-absorbing French clay, and leaves behind the fresh light scent of green tea bergamot.

Myth: All formulas contain talc.
Fact: If you're an eco-beauty maven and you don't want to risk breathing in talc (a carcinogen), you now have talc-free formulas to choose from, including the aforementioned Alterna and Oscar Blandi. Try Frederic Fekkai Au Naturel Dry Shampoo, $23. Cotton fibers, rice starch and cornstarch—not talc—work together to absorb oil and neutralize odor.