I’ve used many powder dry shampoos over the years, and Crown Affair’s generously sized jar is by far my favorite. It smells amazing (bergamot, yuzu, and lemongrass) and blends in quickly and effectively—even on my dark hair—with the included kabuki brush. I also appreciate that it’s refillable (a new insert for the container runs $32), and the little shaker top twists closed for travel.

This tiny tube’s claim to fame is the inclusion of Rootbiotic Ferment, a fermented botanical blend of red ginseng root, reishi mushroom, coffee berry, rice and pea proteins, and more, which provides bioavailable nutrients for the scalp and hair. I didn’t love the price for what appears to be about a tablespoon of product, but I loved just about everything else about this dry shampoo—the pocket- and makeup-bag friendly container, the method of application (pull the translucent tube down to dab the brush onto your roots; note that this step is not obvious from the directions), and how well and easily it blended into my dark hair. It was also essentially unscented and effective, keeping oily hair at bay for well over 24 hours.

Klorane as a company has been around since 1965, and I’ve had multiple friends rave to me about the effectiveness of this hypoallergenic, plant-based formula. They were right, and it’s also a solid option for those with a sensitive scalp who are looking for something clean and non-aerosolized.

The small, 1.7-ounce white plastic bottle looks like a spray bottle, but the cap twists around to reveal a hole; squeeze it to release a puff of product. I found it slightly messier to use and more difficult to blend than Crown Affair’s powder, but that’s the only reason this category wasn’t a tie.

★ A bigger bottle: Bumble and Bumble’s Prêt-à-Powder ($35) is a little more expensive than the Klorane, but with a similar design and a slightly larger bottle at 2 ounces. WIRED reviewer Nena Farrell says that bottle can last her for years, and she loves it for her high-porosity hair that tends to soak up aerosol-based dry shampoos and beg for more. It does add a little volume and nicely spruces up curled or blown-out hair.

If you’re a fan of Fine’ry scents, you’ll love the brand’s companion dry shampoos. Available in Not Another Cherry, Pistachio Please, The New Rouge, Sweet on the Outside, and Without a Trace, the dry shampoo scents are fairly true to their body wash and body spray counterparts, which makes them perfect for scent layering. Performance was average for a dry shampoo—they go on white and thick and last just fine, on par with drugstore brands like Batiste or Not Your Mother’s.

My favorite scents are Pistachio Please and Sweet on the Outside, though the latter only had one application in the $16 can. This only happened with one of the five cans I tried, but others online have reported similar issues, so it may not be an anomaly—be sure to save your receipt. (The dry shampoos are only available at Target for now.)

This formula admittedly wasn’t as effective as the other picks in this lineup, the smell was a bit chemically, and it did leave fine white flakes, but I liked that it was lightweight and didn’t weigh my hair down. Using dry shampoo on color-treated hair is a legitimate concern for many, and Pureology is known for its sulfate- and paraben-free formulas that are specifically designed for UV protection and retaining hair color. Like the rest of Pureology’s line, this dry shampoo has a patented anti-fade complex. If you just dropped big bucks on a balayage or bleach and don’t want to take any chances, this is your best bet.

Like many other of the more effective dry shampoo sprays, this aerosol goes on alarmingly white but rubs in surprisingly quickly. (For brunettes, there is a tinted version, though I only tested the regular formula.)

It’s much more lightweight than every other drugstore brand I tried and has a very light scent. I found it to be just as effective and long-lasting as other aerosol dry shampoos twice the price.

Perhaps you’re not a regular user of dry shampoo, and just need a can for a week you’ll be in the hospital, or on a trip, or in some other situation where regular showering is out of the question. These new Suave formulas are perfectly serviceable and the best you’ll find at this price point. They go on thick and white, but they blend OK and last a while. The scents (choose from Refreshing sweet coconut, Volumizing bamboo & hibiscus, or Invigorating rosemary & mint) don’t last long, but they are all pleasant.

No bulky aerosol cans, spillable gels, or messy powders here—this 2.2-ounce, TSA-approved pot with a unisex red-rock-landscape design won me over for its unique, zeolite-based paste formula that doubles as a sort of pomade. I also quite liked the scent, which could best be described as citrus green tea-ish. It was present but not overwhelming like some sprays’ scents can be.

Keep in mind this is also styling/texturizing paste, so it will add some texture—a little goes a very long way, and adding too much can make your hair quite stiff. (On the plus side, however, it can help to tamp down frizz.) If you have long hair and/or don’t need the texture, I’ve found that brushing it through helps.

This charcoal-based, tinted aerosol spray, while heavily scented, won top ranking in my tests for not going on too thick and lasting a whole day. Note that the color is more of a medium brown, so if your hair is either light brown or very dark brown to black, you will need to blend.

However, unlike cheaper tinted dry shampoo options like Dove’s Care Between Washes Brunette, the avocado-coated pigment does not rub off on hands, hair tools, towels, or bedding. It’s also safe for chemically treated and colored hair.

★ Another option: Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo Dark Tones ($30) is another solid tinted option for dark hair that costs $4 less. I didn’t think it blended as well or was quite as dark as IGK’s, but it’s still worth grabbing if you see it on sale.