Dry shampoo is meant to be used on dry hair -- so if you're sweaty post-spin class, use a blow dryer to get the moisture out of your hair before reaching for your dry shampoo.

"If used while hair is still damp, the formula may not absorb properly or clump, causing less than desirable results," says Dove celebrity stylist Mark Townsend.

Try: Dove Refresh+Care Invigorating Dry Shampoo, $3.94

Image courtesy Ljepota

The active, oil-absorbing, hair-refreshing ingredients in a dry shampoo can settle while sitting on your shelf, says Markham. He says to "rigorously" shake the can before you apply to ensure that you're not just spraying your hair with ineffective, inactive ingredients.

Try: Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo, $22

Try: R+Co Dry Shampoo, $29

Separate your hair into two-inch sections and spray at the root of each section, says Townsend.

If you don't section off your hair, product can get concentrated in one area, warns Potempa. Too much dry shampoo will leave a light-reflecting residue (that will be especially apparent if you're going to be photographed).

Try: Pantene Pro-V Blowout Extend Dry Shampoo, $6.99

Image courtesy Listane Studio

You're not going to get better results the closer you hold the can to your head -- in fact, the opposite is true (Potempa says this is the most common dry shampoo mistake).

Townsend recommends holding the can 6 to 8 inches away from the root of each section.

Potempa adds that you should start at your ear, and spray the dry shampoo from underneath your hair. If you don't start at the base of your hair, you won't reap the volumizing benefits of dry shampoo, and your hair can fall flat as the day wears on.

Try: Acure Argan Stem Cell Dry Shampoo, $12.99

Image courtesy A Beautiful Mess

"Dry shampoos take a minute or two to absorb," says Markham. So, let the product sit for a couple of minutes before you touch your hair.

If you're pressed for time, use heat from a blow dryer to speed up the process, says Markham. "Heat helps the oils absorb and the force of the air from the blow dryer helps to distribute the product from roots through ends," he explains.

Try: Suave Keratin Infusion Dry Shampoo, $4.98

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