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HAIR POWDER IS definitely one of the more under-utilized hair styling products, but if you talk to hair stylists, they'll tell you over and over again that it's their secret weapon. Why? It adds volume and grit to any style to help you achieve that perfectly messy, second-day-hair look. Plus, it's travel-friendly which makes it easy to throw in you weekend or gym bag to ensure your style stays on point.
The best hair powders are multi-functional: they're part dry shampoo, part styling product. Some hair powders even help give the appearance of thicker, fuller hair thanks to the addition of color and/or hair-building fibers. Most hair powders are made from natural ingredients like rice power, clay, or corn starch, which add instant volume and texture while at the same time soaking up excess oils. Although these plant-based, all-natural ingredients are good for you, you want to make sure you're using a good clarifying shampoo at least once a week whenever you wash your hair to get rid of any build-up on the scalp.
Best Hair Powders for Men
Hair powders add volume to thin hair without weighing it down or making it look too stiff. Plus, they can also help hold a style in place, which is why it's such a popular product for hairstylists and groomers who use it on their celebrity clients for red carpets and events. And if you happen to have long hair, it's the perfect 2-in-1 styling product you need keep your long locks looking healthy and grease-free without having to wash your hair every day.
What to Consider
Key Ingredients
Mostly you’ll find ingredients like clays, rice powder, talc, silica and more that are designed to soak up oil from hair and also plump it up at the same time. Since hair powders are meant to pull double duty, these ingredients work to make hair look both cleaner and more voluminous. Sometimes you’ll find additional ingredients that impart hold or give hair a temporary color depending on what kind of powder it is.
Hair Type
Most hair powders can be used on all hair types, though some are specifically designed for certain kinds of hair like thinning hair or gray hairs. Powders are typically best for fine or thin hair that needs volume but not weight, since they pump up hair without weighing it down, but all hair can benefit from them at times.
Application
You’ll typically find two kinds of applications: a shaker or a pump. A shaker is like a salt shaker and is easy to use and typically smaller. Just shake a little bit of powder into your hands and run it through your hair, making sure to massage it down into the scalp. Pumps can be beneficial because they propel the powder directly from the bottle and make it a little easier to target the roots of your hair, which is where you want most of the powder anyway to soak up oil.
Water Resistant
Most powders aren’t water resistant per se, though they do soak up moisture. But if you are using on with color, it’s best to choose one that is so you avoid the telltale drips or streaks down the side of your fade if you sweat.
How We Selected
For the past two years, we consulted with Men's Health's Grooming editors and writers on the top grooming products for men. Experts, including our Grooming Editor Garrett Munce, have tested every major hair powder on the market and evaluated their effectiveness, scent, and value. Munce has more than a decade's worth of experience testing hair products. Read on for our favorite powder picks that add life to limp, thin hair.
Pros
- Matte finish
- Citrus, peppermint, and woody scent
Cons
- Make sure to shake before use
This super-fine powder allows you to control how much grit you want to add to your style, so don't worry about overdoing it. It works well as a base styling product to add volume at the root without weighing your hair down. Follow with a medium hold pomade to set your style in place for the rest of the day.
Not only is this powder suitable for every hair type, but we’d argue that it’s the easiest to use on this list. The pump applicator makes it easy to target roots, where you want most of the powder to go for extra lift, and the powder itself is super fine which means it won’t clump up on your scalp or leave your hair looking chalky. Use your fingers or a brush to run it through your hair for incredible volume with just a little bit of grip to texturize it at the same time.
Read more: Best Hair Thickening Products for Men
Active ingredients | Silica silylate, sodium benzoate, citric acid |
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Hair type | All |
Application | Pump |
Water resistant? | No |
Pros
- Helps fill in bald spots
- Color blends in naturally and flawlessly.
Cons
- Needs to be secured in place with hairspray
If you suffer from thin hair, you probably want products that add volume and give you the appearance of thickness. This hair powder from Toppik features hair-building fibers made from colored keratin protein that blend into the hair, creating a fuller-looking head of hair. It comes in a variety of shades, from blonde to black and everything in between, so there's surely a color that matches your existing hair color.
The thing about this powder, and why it’s one of the best kept secrets of hair stylists and celebrity groomers, is that it doesn’t just pump up existing hair like so many others. The fibers in this powder actually build onto what hair you have, making it look like you actually have more hair, not just thicker strands. That’s why it’s important to use a color that matches your existing color so it blends seamlessly. It’s also water and sweat resistant so you don’t have to worry about the color running down the sides of your face when you sweat. Keep this on hand for special events and any time you want a little extra oomph.
Active ingredients | Keratin, silica |
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Hair type | Thinning |
Application | Shaker |
Water resistant? | Yes |
Pros
- 100% natural
- Fragranced with natural essential oils
Cons
- May look powdery on hair unless you brush it through well
At three ounces, this is the only bottle of hair powder you'll ever need to buy. All you need is a small amount to breathe new life into thin, fine hair. The combination of rice powder, sea clay, and kaolin clay works wonders on medium to long hair that tends to get frizzy but quickly becomes limp or greasy with hair creams.
While ideal for fine or thin hair, or greasy hair for that matter, all hair types can get a benefit from this powder. Not only can it soak up dirt and oil (it’s the clay) and extend time between washes, but it also adds volume and texture to any type of hair without the need for “wet” products. That means you get weightless volume that doesn’t go limp after a few hours. Shake some into your hand and run it through your strands every time you feel like your hair needs a little pick-me-up.
Active ingredients | Shavegrass, rice powder, clay, and eucalyptus |
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Hair type | All |
Application | Shaker |
Water resistant? | No |
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Pros
- Lightweight
- Adds instant volume
Cons
- Needs to be massaged in well to avoid a chalky finish
This tiny bottle of texturizing powder packs a powerful punch. It instantly adds lift and texture throughout the hair length for hair that looks and feels clean without a chalky finish.
Speaking of a chalky finish, it’s a risk with most hair powders unless you really make sure to work it through your hair (using your fingers or a hair brush), and this one is no exception. However, the pump nozzle application makes it easy to target roots versus a shaker bottle, so target your scalp when you apply it and then use your hands to massage it through your hair. If you use that method, the risk of any chalkiness goes down exponentially.
Active ingredients | Corn starch, silica, rice starch, kaolin |
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Hair type? | All |
Application | Pump |
Water resistant? | no |
Pros
- Doesn't leave any residue
- Completely matte
Didn't have time for a shower? Don't sweat it. This texturizing powder from Davines absorbs dirt, oil, and odor to help you fake it until the next wash day. Simply sprinkle it into your hair at the root, massage it into the scalp, and no one will even be able to tell that you woke up late.
Not only does oil make hair look greasy, but it also weighs it down, which is how this powder pulls double duty. By soaking up greasy oil, it not only makes your hair look cleaner, but it also instantly gives it more volume and texture. Of course, it’s ideal if you want to keep your hair looking clean between showers, but it’s also great to refresh your hair after a long day (we recommend keeping a bottle of this in your desk drawer at the office) or any time your hair needs to be pumped up a bit. Just one shake is all it takes for a whole new ‘do.
Active ingredients | Silica, rice bran oil |
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Hair type | All |
Application | Shaker |
Water resistant? | No |
Pros
- Natural fragrance with notes of notes of cucumber, oakmoss and ylang-ylang
- Promotes scalp health
Cons
- Still needs to be worked through hair to avoid chalkiness
This powder is a dry shampoo and volumizer all in one. It absorbs oil and leaves hair smelling and feeling refreshed while also lifting the hair at the root. Plus, it has corn, maranta, and arrowroot to keep your scalp healthy and balanced.
Not only does this powder contain natural ingredients, including a (very nice) 100 percent natural fragrance, but it’s also dermatologist tested to make sure it won’t mess up your scalp while it goes to work on your hair. The oil-absorbing, volumizing properties are some of the best we’ve ever tried and it also rinses off easily and doesn’t build up on your scalp. The small size goes a long way and is easy to take with you to refresh your hair on the go, wherever you are.
Active ingredients | Corn starch, maranta arundinacea root powder, rice starch, kaolin, silica |
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Hair type | All |
Application | Pump |
Water resistant? | No |
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Pros
- Adds long-lasting hold and texture
- Lightweight powder
Cons
- Shaker makes it easy to apply too much
For that perfectly imperfect texture and lightweight hold, our pick is the Dust IT Mattifying Powder from OSiS+. The innovative formula features silica, which is responsible for the strong matte feeling and makes this a must-have for men with straight to wavy hair who can't stand shiny hair.
Not only does this powder instantly degrease and de-shine your hair, but it also has a little bit of hold in the formula, which will help keep your hair in place but won’t set super strong like a hairspray. This one really shines in the texturizing area, since it has a bit of “grip” that allows hair to piece together and create a separated appearance (not to mention the aforementioned hold factor).
Active ingredients | Silica silylate, sodium benzoate |
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Hair type | All |
Application | Shaker |
Water resistant? | No |
Pros
- Precision pump for targeted styling
- Sets with natural matte finish
Cons
- Must remember to shake before using
If you're intimidated by shaker bottles that look like they belong in your kitchen, not your bathroom, this hair powder is for you. The high precision pump delivers a hit of volume and texture exactly where you need it. Plus, the 0.14-ounce bottle makes this product great for using on-the-go.
In addition to the fact that this powder is super easy to use and target your roots (the most important place to apply a hair powder), it has a high amount of hold that keeps your newly-volumized and texturized style from deflating. Think of it more as a styling product than anything else, which is a good thing when we’re talking about traveling with a minimal amount of product. This can be the only styling product you need in your bag.
Active ingredients | Silica silylate, sodium benzoate |
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Hair type | Straight to wavy |
Application | Pump |
Water resistant? | No |
Pros
- Provides flexible hold
- Propylene glycol helps retain the hair's natural moisture
Cons
- Dispenser is hard to use
This weightless powder adds a dose of grit and gravity-defying texture to transform limp, lifeless locks into a camera-ready look. Simply shake the puck to loosen up the powder and apply at the the root for maximum lift and separation.
Unlike many of the other powders on this list, this one is best when your hair looks too clean and you want to add a little grit to it. You know how your hair looks best, like, the day after you wash it when it’s just a little bit dirty? This powder is designed to give you that look right out of the shower. It adds a little bit of grit and grip to your hair, creating cool texture and separation that gives it a casual, bedhead type style.
Active ingredients | Propylene glycol, silica silylate, citric acid |
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Hair type | Straight to wavy |
Application | Pump |
Water resistant? | No |
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Pros
- Hair retains its natural shine and feel
Cons
- Doesn't add volume or texture
If you're not ready to go gray, this cover-up powder can help cover up those pesky silver strands starting to poke their way through at the root. The mineral powder adheres to hair without leaving it feeling sticky, oily, or stiff. Coloring over your hair at the root gives the appearance of thicker and fuller hair without using traditional hair powder products. For guys who are just beginning to see silver, this product lets you have your color back without any permanent dyes or costly treatments.
Keep in mind that this isn’t a permanent solution to gray coverage - it’s more of a temporary fix. This powder covers up grays effectively but also washes out cleanly, so you’ll have to reapply it whenever you want a camouflage some grays. Consider this a special-occasion powder, ideal for parties, photos and other big events where you want to look your absolute best.
Read More: Gray Blending for Dark Hair Guide
Active ingredients | Talc, mica |
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Hair type | All |
Application | Pump |
Water resistant? | No |
How Hair Powder Works
Hair powders contain ingredients like silica silylate or rice powder, which create matte texture by increasing the amount of friction between hair strands. This creates volume and adds a gritty feeling to the hair, while ingredients like kaolin clay work to absorb moisture and oil, which increases volume and fullness, especially in thin hair.
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