Yahoo Movies 20 Best Dry Shampoos for Every Hair Type, According to Experts
If you want to stop washing your hair everyday but can’t imagine walking around with your hair feeling gross and unclean, it’s time to give dry shampoo a try. The best dry shampoo can be the perfect hair pick-me-up for those in-between wash days. Just spray it on, let it sit, then brush it out and — voilà — your hair is good to go for at least another 24 hours. Not to mention, you save a ton of time by not shampooing and restyling your hair every single day.
What is dry shampoo and how does it work?
Dry shampoo is typically a fast-drying aerosol powder used to refresh your hair between wash days. A few spritzes to your scalp can give you up to two additional days between washes.
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“The dry powder encapsulates the oil, surrounds it, and makes it easier to brush out of the scalp without triggering the glands attached to your hair follicles to produce more oil,” explains Julian Contreras, a San Francisco-based hairstylist and colorist at Patrick Evans Salon.
When you spray on the dry shampoo, the powder is an alcohol or starch base, which makes it easier to brush out once you’ve allowed the dry shampoo to settle in. Many dry shampoos contain fragrances, too, to leave your hair smelling as refreshed as it looks. But remember: Dry shampoo has its limitations.
Top Dry Shampoos of 2022
Best Overall: R+Co Death Valley Dry Shampoo
Best Non-Aerosol: Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Biotin Dry Shampoo
Best Natural: Innersense Organic Beauty Refresh Dry Shampoo
Best for Volumizing: Ouai Super Dry Shampoo
Best Nourishing: Sol de Janeiro Joia Refreshing Dry Shampoo
Best for Curly Hair: Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo
Best Texturizing: Drybar Triple Sec 3-in-1 Finishing Spray
Best for Color-Treated Hair: Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo
Best for Oily Hair: Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo
Best Drugstore Shampoo: Dove Invisible Dry Shampoo
Best for Brunettes: Kristin Ess Style Reviving Brunette Dry Shampoo
Best for Fine Hair: Batiste Instant Hair Refresh Original Dry Shampoo
Most Affordable: Tresemmé Volumizing Dry Shampoo
Best Smelling: Sexy Hair Big Sexy Hair Dry Shampoo
Best for Dry Scalp: Klorane Non-Aerosol Dry Shampoo
Best for Blonde Hair: Pureology Refresh & Go Dry Shampoo
Best for All Hair Types: Kérastase Fresh Affair Dry Shampoo
Best Expert Pick: Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Tapioca Dry Shampoo
Best for Dark Hair: Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo Dark Tones
Best Vegan Shampoo: Vegamour Gro Dry Shampoo
Below, check out the 20 best dry shampoos for every hair type to add to your spring hair care shopping list, along with expert tips for what to look for in the best dry shampoo and how to use dry shampoo.
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R+Co Death Valley Dry Shampoo
Best Overall
Size: 6.3 fluid ounces
Key ingredients: Rice protein, vitamin E, pro-vitamin B5
Fragrance: Floral
Oily hair requires a formula that volumizes and adds texture. “R+Co Death Valley Dry Shampoo is my favorite dry shampoo of all time,” Contreras says. “It’s sulfate-free, paraben-free, and sodium chloride-free, which means it can be used with any texture, any color, and any type of hair. It’s free of most of the chemicals that cause buildup, create damage on the hair, or make your hair color fade.”
What reviewers say: “I am a loyalist to this dry shampoo. I have tried many different types of dry shampoos but while others may be cheaper, I keep coming back to this because it is just better. It doesn’t make my hair feel laden down with product or dried out. Even though it is more expensive than most others, it’s a fairly large bottle and lasts me about 2 months if I use it every other day.”
R and Co. Death Valley Dry Shampoo
Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Biotin Dry Shampoo
Best Non-Aerosol Dry Shampoo
Size: 1.7 ounces
Key ingredients: Biotin, charcoal, clay, and witch hazel
Fragrance: Fresh
Not all dry shampoos come in pressurized aerosol containers — this one by Briogeo is a powder formula with dry ingredients, making it great for travel. A few puffs will refresh your style while imparting hair mask-caliber benefits: Biotin supports hair growth, witch hazel regulates oil production, and charcoal absorbs build up from other hair care products.
What reviewers say: “I love that it’s not an aerosol and it makes it so much easier to travel with. I love everything about this, from the scent to the ease of use. The product absorbs any oils on my scalp and leaves my hair looking clean and shiny.”
Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Biotin Dry Shampoo
Innersense Organic Beauty Refresh Dry Shampoo
Best Natural Dry Shampoo
Size: 2.37 ounces
Key ingredients: Tapioca starch, witch hazel, and quinoa
Fragrance: Citrus
A foam-based dry shampoo sounds like it might leave your strands sticky, but this option from Innersense Organic Beauty does just the opposite. The formula transitions to powder after you massage it in your hands, so you can apply it with your fingers from roots to mid-lengths. It’s full of natural powerhouse ingredients: You’ll get tapioca starch and witch hazel to soak up oils, plus certified organic honey for reflective (not oily!) sheen.
What reviewers say: “A little bit goes a long way, and it dries nicely and has a soft citrus scent. I use this to refresh day 2 or 3 hair, or after a workout, and it works well for my moderately oily hair.”
Innersense Organic Beauty Refresh Dry Shampoo
Ouai Super Dry Shampoo
Best Volumizing Dry Shampoo
Size: 4.5 ounces
Key ingredients: Volcanic minerals, rice starch, and rhodiola rosea extract
Fragrance: Sweet floral
If you’re after volume, Ouai’s dry shampoo is the one for you. You’ll be hard pressed to find a formula that imparts as much lift, especially around your roots. The powdery formula mattifies shine courtesy of its rice starch and volcanic minerals, but you won’t get a white cast once you massage it onto your hair.
What reviewers say: “I have thick, straight, dark brown hair, so I can always see when my roots are getting the least bit oily, which is pretty quickly. This is the only dry shampoo that works with my super oily hair. After I use this, my hair has so much lift and volume, and it seems to also work as a texturizer.”
Ouai Super Dry Shampoo
Sol de Janeiro Joia Refreshing Dry Shampoo
Best Nourishing Dry Shampoo
Size: 4 ounces
Key ingredients: Brazilian kaolin clay, rice starch, and pro-vitamin B5
Fragrance: Sweet
You know Sol de Janeiro for the intoxicating scents in the brand’s body care offerings. So it’s no surprise that their dry shampoo smells like a gourmand, with notes of pistachio, jasmine petals, and sandalwood. But the real beauty of the formula is in the ingredients. Kaolin clay and rice starch sop up excess oil without drying out your scalp, and pro-vitamin B5 soothes any irritation — so you can apply it right onto your roots.
What reviewers say: “This smells amazing and takes care of the slight oily feel I get in between shampoos. My hair is dry and regularly color treated, so this product helps keep it healthy and clean without having to put it through all the stress of over washing, blowing out, etc. I’ve really noticed a reduction in split ends and frizz.”
Sol de Janeiro Joia Refreshing Dry Shampoo
Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo
Best Dry Shampoo for Curly Hair
Size: 5.3 ounces
Key ingredients: Rice starch and sea buckthorn
Fragrance: Sweet citrus
Shoppers have flocked to Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo for 10 years and counting. Curly and coily hair types do best with infrequent shampoos, and this formula is excellent for maintaining your style between wash days — it won’t weigh down your ringlets or create residue with repeated use. To top it off, the formula is certified vegan and safe for color-treated hair.
What reviewers say: “I have very dry curly hair with scalp eczema, so I resigned myself to the fact that dry shampoo was not a possibility for me. This dry shampoo changed that! If you’re a curly hair person and are on the fence about this product definitely try it. It helped to restore root definition without drying out my hair. Plus the build up was so minimal I hardly noticed even after using it on days 4 through 7 after wash day. And yes, this product got me from day 4 hair to day 7!”
Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo
Drybar Triple Sec 3-in-1 Finishing Spray
Best Texturizing Dry Shampoo
Size: 4.2 ounces
Key ingredient: Zeolite
Fragrance: Sweet
Drybar’s Triple Sec 3-in-1 Finishing Spray is a hairspray-dry shampoo hybrid, so it’s a perfect choice for those looking to fluff up fine strands. Zeolite brings oil-absorbing powers: The ingredient decreases shine while increasing separation between strands for more volume and texture. You can shop three different scents, but we’re partial to the Blanc option, which has notes of coconut, vanilla, and amber.
What reviewers say: “I have super fine hair and most hair products just weigh it down. Regular hair spray makes my hair look stiff and unnatural. Triple Sec holds it in place but still allows the tousled look that I love.”
Drybar Triple Sec 3-in-1 Finishing Spray
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo
Best Dry Shampoo for Color-Treated Hair
Size: 4 ounces
Key ingredient: Mineral powder
Fragrance: Citrus
Felicia Leatherwood, natural hair stylist and founder of Brush with the Best, calls this dry shampoo from Living Proof one of her favorites, in large part because it works for color and chemically treated hair. “A lot of times, dry shampoo can be heavy or cakey on the hair,” she says. “Living Proof keeps the hair light and in a way that I can still manipulate and style it, and it still absorbs the oil in the hair, which helps me get more volume out of it.” She also adds that it’s great for all hair textures.
What reviewers say: “I have very thick, wavy, long hair and this works wonders at keeping my style, blow out, etc, in peak condition! It has a nice even spray, no overwhelming smell, and it gives my hair that va-va-voom touch.”
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo
Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo
Best Dry Shampoo for Oily Hair
Size: 6.3 ounces
Key ingredients: Starch blend, celery seed extract, bamboo and rice silk, lavender and chamomile
Fragrance: Woody citrus
Oribe’s dry shampoo is ideal for oily hair. It has a light texture, so you don’t lose volume at the scalp. “Because of the oils it has, it nourishes the scalp and cleanses it at the same time,” says Contreras. “Oribe has a signature scent that was made in collaboration with Tom Ford, so it has a significant scent that’s amazing and very recognizable.”
What reviewers say: “I never leave home without Oribe’s Gold Lust Dry Shampoo. I have dark, fine hair, and have never had much luck with a dry shampoo — until now. My hair never looks greasy or like I’m walking around with day two hair; it’s soft yet manageable and smells lovely.”
Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo
Dove Care Between Washes Dry Shampoo
Best Drugstore Dry Shampoo
Size: 5 ounces
Key ingredient: Tapioca starch
Fragrance: Floral
No greasiness or streaky white residue here. This option from Dove is available in a 5 oz. bottle and more than 500 reviewers swear by this good-smelling dry shampoo that lasts for up to two days. “It has a clean fresh scent and it’s great for absorbing impurities,” says Los Angeles-based hairstylist Clariss Rubenstein. “You can use as much as you want without any risk of a white powdery appearance.”
What reviewers say: “I have very dark hair so sometimes finding the right dry shampoo can be tricky because a lot of them will leave a white cast that’s hard to get out. This did not leave a white cast, smells good, and did exactly what it promised. My roots don’t look shiny and my hair feels refreshed.”
Dove Care Between Washes
Kristin Ess Style Reviving Brunette Dry Shampoo
Best for Brunettes
Size: 4 ounces
Key ingredients: Rice starch, wheat protein, avocado oil, and sunflower seed oil
Fragrance: Floral
Because it uses a tinted formula to add richness to hair, this dry shampoo from Kristin Ess is best suited for oily-scalped brunettes. One of the best elements about this dry shampoo is the bottle’s design. It dispenses a lot of powder, which is necessary if your hair is extra oily. Use a light touch on your first go-round and adjust as needed, but be careful though because it may stain.
What reviewers say: “I used to have greasy hair after 10 hours and could never go 2 days with my hair down between washes. With this, I can go 3 to 4 days, and my hair looks and feels great.”
Kristin Ess Style Reviving Brunette Dry Shampoo
Batiste Instant Hair Refresh Original Dry Shampoo
Best Dry Shampoo for Fine Hair
Size: 6.7 fluid ounces
Key ingredient: Rice starch
Fragrance: Citrusy floral
Batiste is a classic, well-loved dry shampoo for a reason. This option serves up a quick fix for greasy-looking hair. The texture is cloud-like, the original fragrance is nice, and the texture isn’t too powdery. If you have fine hair that tends to appear oily quickly, then this will be a good investment for you. At less than $10 a bottle, it’s super budget-friendly to stock up when you run out.
What reviewers say: “It does all of the things you want, and your hair still feels like hair — it’s very touchable. I have dark auburn hair and you can’t see any residue in my hair at all. There’s no strong scent that comes along with the product either. I can spray this in my hair in the morning, go to work all day, go out for drinks after, not get home until late, and my hair still looks oil-free.”
Batiste Instant Hair Refresh Original Dry Shampoo
Tresemmé Volumizing Dry Shampoo
Most Affordable Option
Size: 7.3 ounces
Key ingredients: Mineral clay and grapefruit and tangerine peel extracts
Fragrance: Fruity
According to the pros, this affordable dry shampoo from Tresemmé is an absolute steal and works just as effectively as the pricier options. It barely leaves a residue and helps boost volume. However, this option doesn’t work as well on oilier scalps, so someone with a combination or dry scalp will see the best results. Also, if you’re scent-averse, skip out on this one, but if you like a good fragrance, this will be a new fave.
What reviewers say: “I’m pretty picky when it comes to dry shampoo, I don’t like my hair left feeling dry, brittle, powdery, or hard to brush, but I still expect my hair to look clean. This one does it all. Not too strong, not too weak. And it makes any hairstyle look good as new!”
Tresemmé Volumizing Dry Shampoo
Sexy Hair Big Sexy Hair Dry Shampoo
Best Smelling Dry Shampoo
Size: 3.4 ounces
Key ingredients: Zeolite and sunflower seed extract
Fragrance: Fresh
If you want a dry shampoo with an irresistible fragrance, then you need this one from Sexy Hair. Use it on any hair color for visible, volume-enhancing results. For this dry shampoo, it’s best to let it sit for a few minutes before brushing. Some reviewers say that the texture is a little sticky, so skip this one if that’s a texture turn-off for you. Sadly, the container is one of the smallest on this list at just over 3 oz.
What reviewers say: “This is equal parts dry shampoo and volumizing product—it’s going to give your hair a good amount of grip to both absorb oil and keep your hair from looking flat. I’ll spray it on my ends occasionally to give them some texture.”
Sexy Hair Big Sexy Hair Dry Shampoo
Klorane Non-Aerosol Dry Shampoo
Best Dry Shampoo for Dry Scalp
Size: 5.4 ounces
Key ingredients: Oat kernel oil and rice starch
Fragrance: Floral
Since it’s alcohol-free, the nearly 12 oz Klorane dry shampoo with oat milk is a dream if you have a dry scalp. Filled with nourishing, gentle ingredients with sensitive scalps, will love this formula’s soothing feeling and still offers all the texture and volume you need. The ultra-fine powders seamlessly blend onto the scalp without leaving visible residue.
What reviewers say: “I’ve tried a few dry shampoos on my oily hair. Most of them leave this gritty residue and dry out my scalp. This dry shampoo gets rid of the oiliness at my roots without the residue and the scent isn’t overpowering. If I use this, I can generally go another 24 to 48 hours before washing my long hair.”
Klorane Non-Aerosol Dry Shampoo
Pureology Refresh & Go Dry Shampoo
Best Dry Shampoo for Blonde Hair
Size: 5.3 ounces
Key ingredients: Rice starch and sunflower seed extract
Fragrance: Woody floral
Pureology’s Refresh & Go dry shampoo helps limp hair restore movement while removing impurities without the drying effect. This lightweight, rice starch-based formula is 100% vegan, works well for color-treated hair and even adds volume and shine. It offers a floral blend of tuberose, almond milk, and cedarwood for fragrance.
What reviewers say: “I love the way this sprays, it’s a really fine mist and doesn’t weigh down your hair. It smells really fresh and does a good job of absorbing the oil without dulling shine.”
Pureology Refresh & Go Dry Shampoo
Kérastase Fresh Affair Dry Shampoo
Best for All Hair Types
Size: 5.3 ounces
Key ingredients: Neroli oil, vitamin E, and rice starch
Fragrance: Floral
This dry shampoo from Kérastase can reliably absorb excess oil on the scalp and hair. “It’s lightweight to the touch,” says Jennifer Korab, founder of Renaissance Salon & Spa in New Jersey. “The best way to use this product is to hold 10-12 inches away from your hair, focusing on the roots and scalp. I find it’s best to thoroughly brush through and restyle with the blow dryer. I also love to use dry shampoo after a fresh blowout to extend the blow dry and delay oil buildup.” And even better, it provides a 24-hour long-lasting Neroli oil scented fragrance.
What reviewers say: “I have an oily scalp but super dry ends, so I wash my hair every other day. This one is my favorite — it is super lightweight, dries instantly, absorbs grease, and doesn’t weigh my hair down, giving me extra volume and allowing me to go an extra day without a hair wash.
Kérastase Fresh Affair Dry Shampoo
Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Tapioca Dry Shampoo
Best Pro Pick
Size: 7 ounces
Key ingredient: Tapioca starch
Fragrance: Sweet
The Not Your Mother’s dry shampoos are a pro pick. They come in a variety of fragrances, leave little to no residue, and are especially helpful for oily hair. Not to mention, the bottle is a whopping 7 oz. This particular product has a fairly strong smell, so if you’re not into fragrance, keep that in mind.
What reviewers say: “It works great and doesn’t leave any white residue. It keeps my hair smelling really fresh between wash days. It also adds a nice lift to my roots which usually fall flat.”
Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Dry Shampoo
Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo Dark Tones
Best Dry Shampoo for Dark Hair
Size: 5.4 ounces
Key ingredients: Argan oil and rice starch
Fragrance: Woody
Do you have dark and/or textured hair? Then Moroccanoil’s dry shampoo was made for you, as it easily absorbs grease while adding volume with ingredients like rice starch and argan oil. The formula specifically designed for dark hair makes black and brown tones have a richer look, and the tinted powdery pigments are so fine, you can’t see them on the hair. This brand also has a formula for light-colored hair that performs just as well.
What reviewers say: “The smell isn’t overwhelming and the texture is amazing. I can use this for several days in a row, and my hair feels clean and smooth and doesn’t get that gritty dry shampoo feel.”
Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo Dark Tones
Vegamour GRO Dry Shampoo
Best Vegan Dry Shampoo
Size: 3.95 ounces
Key ingredients: Organic rice starch and red clover
Fragrance: Citrus
Searching for a vegan dry shampoo? Vegamour’s dry shampoo is a great pick. It features a fresh bergamot scent and uses organic rice starch to soak up grime. It’s one of Leatherwood’s go-tos because the super effective formula leaves hair feeling clean, so you’re able to style hair with ease.
What reviewers say: “Not only does this dry shampoo give my hair weightless body but it has nutrients in it to promote healthy hair growth and also helps prevent future hair loss.”
Vegamour GRO Dry Shampoo
How to Use Dry Shampoo
Basically, dry shampoo is a solid second or third day alternative. “It’s not meant to replace shampoo,” says Korab. “It is to be used as a refresh or to extend your style.”
If your scalp feels fine and your hair looks fine, then additional products are unnecessary. However, if your scalp is looking oily or you worked up a sweat during a workout, dry shampoo is a lifesaver.
“I would recommend using dry shampoo one or two times a week,” says Starr Mason, field education leader at Hair Cuttery. “But no more than two days in a row. The hair and scalp need moisture, so you don’t want to replace your normal shampooing regimen exclusively with a dry shampoo.”
Still, those extra days could be a lifesaver for your hair. Washing your hair every single day is too drying for the scalp and rinses away much-needed oils. In fact, it’s best to not wash your hair daily, even if you regularly exercise.
To apply dry shampoo, start by sectioning your hair into 4-6 sections, then spray the dry shampoo directly onto your scalp with the can at least six inches away. Using your fingertips, massage the product in and let it sit for at least 30 seconds.
Once the product is set, brush the product out with a high-quality hair brush that can effectively detangle your hair and gently exfoliate your scalp. If you work out daily, use dry shampoo on your scalp before and after you exercise to help maintain your hair’s freshness.
If you have curly hair that’s thin or fine and you like flexi rod sets, using one of the best dry shampoos can work wonders. “Once the hair dries, and they take the rods out and start opening up the curls, spray on a bit of dry shampoo,” says Leatherwood. “It will make it fuller at the base and give more volume to the curly sets.” When you do wash your hair, try a thickening shampoo so the hair already has a volumized base.
And while it may be tempting to spray dry shampoo all over, resist the urge. It’s not meant to be used as a texturizing or holding spray.
What to Look for in the Best Dry Shampoo
When you’re looking for a dry shampoo, think of it the way you’d think of your skin care routine. If your skin is extra dry at the moment, you’re probably going to need products with lots of hydration. The same concept applies to dry shampoo.
Some of the factors you want to keep in mind include:
Scalp: Consider what your scalp needs the most. If your hair is oily, select a dry shampoo with more powder so it can bind to the excess oil and brush away easily. The same goes for those with dry scalps — some dry shampoos are formulated with more oil and other hydrating ingredients, and those are what you want to reach for. Before you purchase a new dry shampoo, take a moment to check in with your scalp. If it’s behaving the same way it was when you bought your last dry shampoo, feel free to repurchase the same product if you liked how it worked. If you’re interested in trying something different, pick out a product that will address the scalp concerns you’re dealing with right now.
Hair Color: Not all dry shampoos are created equally, and that’s not a bad thing. With the product’s rising popularity, more variations are available depending on your hair color. “For dark hair, I really love Dove invisible dry shampoo,” says Rubenstein. “There’s no risk of white residue, and it completely absorbs with no work. There are so many dry shampoos now — the label tells you what you need to know and usually gives you some direction.”
Fragrance: Many dry shampoos are formulated with fragrance to mimic the freshly washed hair experience. No one wants to go two days without shampooing and smell like it. But if you don’t like scented products or you’re sensitive to fragrance, look for an unscented or lightly scented dry shampoo.
Texture: Bad dry shampoo reviews tend to come from people who aren’t fans of the texture. The best way to figure out if you like a texture is to try the dry shampoo for yourself. You can also ask your stylist if they have any recommendations.
Is Dry Shampoo Bad for Your Hair?
Bottom line:? No, dry shampoo isn’t bad for your hair. The fine print, though, is that you need to use it correctly. Don’t freestyle. Follow the instructions on the product packaging.
You also need to wash your hair after no more than two days of dry shampoo use. If you don’t thoroughly rinse off your scalp, the dry shampoo can harm your hair follicles and inhibit hair growth. Washing provides much-needed moisture to keep your hair and scalp healthy and strong.
“Make sure you’re using nourishing products in and after the shower,” says Rubenstein. “I liken it to makeup. Powder may give a temporary drying effect on the skin, but if you have a good skincare routine, you should be good.”
The effects dry shampoo can have on your scalp are important to keep in mind when you’re applying the product, too. “When I spray it on, I pat some of it out so it won’t be too heavy on the hair follicle,” Leatherwood says. “It can make it difficult for your hair to grow.”
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