We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Beauty Hair Hair Products & Tools The 23 Best Dry Shampoos for Just Washed-Looking Hair, Tested & Reviewed Go ahead and skip wash day, because these dry shampoos will have your hair feeling fresh. By Irene Richardson Irene Richardson Irene Richardson is a beauty + fashion commerce writer for Dotdash Meredith's beauty brands. She covers trends surrounding style, makeup, skincare, and more. InStyle's editorial guidelines Updated on February 27, 2024 @ 01:30PM In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews What to Keep in Mind Your Questions, Answered Why Shop With Us InStyle / David Hattan We love any beauty product that allows us to take a passive approach, and spritzing dry shampoo onto our roots between wash days is one of our favorite tricks. Nothing's easier (or faster) than a great dry shampoo to give limp or oily strands a freshly washed look, as the formulas are packed with super absorbent powders, like charcoal and corn and rice starches, that sop up oil, dirt, and odors fast, while adding volume and texture. There are a lot of dry shampoos out there, but we don't mess around with our hair. In search of the best, our team of InStyle editors, across a range of hair types, textures, and needs, tested more than 60 dry shampoos. We judged each formula for the quality of ingredients and their ability to absorb oil fast, any lingering residue or white cast, scent, and of course, whether it gave our hair a gorgeous, refreshed, and volumized final look. After spritzing 60+ dry shampoos into our hair, we can definitively say that these 16 are the very best ones out there. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo at Amazon ($30) Jump to Review Best Drugstore: Not Your Mother’s Dry Shampoo at Amazon ($10) Jump to Review Best Benzene-Free: Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo at Amazon ($28) Jump to Review Best Powder: Crown Affair The Dry Shampoo at Sephora ($36) Jump to Review Best for Thinning Hair: Vegamour Gro Dry Shampoo at Amazon ($36) Jump to Review Best Dermatologist-Tested: Odele Dry Shampoo at Ulta ($12) Jump to Review Best Natural: Briogeo Scalp Revival Dry Shampoo at Amazon ($25) Jump to Review Best Lightweight: Dae Fairy Duster Dry Shampoo at Sephora ($30) Jump to Review Best for Travel: Bumble and Bumble Prêt-a-Powder at Nordstrom ($13) Jump to Review Best for Dry Scalps: Olaplex Detox Dry Shampoo at Amazon ($30) Jump to Review Best Overall Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo Sephora View On Amazon $30 View On Nordstrom $16 View On Dermstore $43 What We Love: This product includes an ingenious powder removal active that eliminates any visible residue.What We Don’t Love: Despite having a finer texture than many powder formulas, it still takes longer to sink into roots than a spray. Not in the mood to wash your hair, let alone style it? We’ve all been there. But a less common experience is finding the unicorn of dry shampoos that will restore freshness, soak up oil, ideally add a little volumizing pep, and neutralize unseemly odors without prioritizing one feature over the other. Balancing all of these qualities is indeed a tall order, and Living Proof’s aptly coined PhD dry shampoo is a triumph. Although senior beauty commerce editor Kaitlin Clark hesitated to try it because of the priceher only regret is waiting so long. “It gets rid of oil fast without weighing down my fine hair, but shakes up the texture just enough to get a fab increase in volume that is still daytime appropriate, unlike others where your hair looks like you just stuck your finger in a light socket,” she says. But the best part? “It has to be the nearly invisible scent,” she says. “It gets rid of any lingering sweaty stink without adding perfume or fragrance into the mix.” Type: Powder | Key Ingredients: Starch and microporous mineral blend | Tint: No | Scent: Light citrus | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 10 oz Best Drugstore Not Your Mother’s Dry Shampoo Not Your Mothers View On Amazon $10 View On Ulta $9 View On Walmart $7 What We Love: This dry shampoo ditches irritating parabens and is great for sensitive scalps and budget shoppers alike.What We Don’t Love: Dispersing the product takes a bit of elbow grease as you need to press down forcefully to get it out of the bottle. Anyone who has enjoyed a smooth $13 bottle of cabernet knows price doesn’t always equate to quality — a concept the affordable drugstore brand Not Your Mother’s repeatedly proves. Case in point: This $8 dry shampoo that former assistant commerce editor Emily Cieslak couldn’t stop raving about, saying that “it’s not too chalky but it instantly freshens my hair and increases the volume. Moreover, she appreciates how its light, clean scent isn’t abrasive, “since I tend to get headaches from heavily scented hair products,” she adds. Also worth mentioning, this budget-friendly dry shampoo is formulated without parabens, which can cause scalp irritation, and silicones, which often lead to product build-up and dryness. Keep in mind that your bottle is likely not defective, you just have to press down on the pump more firmly than with other products to disperse the product. Type: Aerosol | Key ingredients: Tapioca, rice and barley starches | Tint: No | Scent: Sweet | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 7 oz Best Benzene-Free Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo Amazon View On Amazon $28 View On Sephora $15 View On Kohls.com $15 What We Love: This fine mist refreshes greasy hair — bangs included! — in an instant without leaving a chalky-looking residue. What We Don’t Love: It’s not super volumizing. No matter what type of bangs you’re rocking, chances are they’re susceptible to turning greasy faster than the rest of the hair on your head, especially if you have an oily T-zone like us. “My forehead slick inevitably flattens my fluffy curtain bangs by mid-day, turning them droopy and sad, so I always keep the travel-sized version of the Amika Perk Up dry shampoo in my tote bag,” says Richardson, who adds that “One sneaky spritz in the bathroom and, presto, they’re voluminous once more, and no one is the wiser thanks to the invisible cast it leaves behind.” Sure, it may not give the va-va-voom type of fullness and height we’d expect from Dolly Parton (or Miley Cyrus) hairdo, but the included rice starch in the gentle, talc-free formula provides the perfect amount of volume to lift our fringe’s finer, thinner strands. Type: Aerosol | Key Ingredients: Natural rice starch, sea buckthorn | Tint: No | Scent: Vanilla, spicy sweet clover | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 5.3 oz Best Powder Crown Affair The Dry Shampoo Sephora View On Sephora $36 View On Crownaffair.com View On Goop.com What We Love: This fast-acting formula instantly sinks into roots and leaves our hair feeling fresh and full for over two days. What We Don’t Love: The price is a little higher with the included kabuki brush. Crown Affair has some of the most eye-catching beauty products around, not to mention effective, and even its grease-absorbing powder stands up to both tasks. The ultra-fine powder is nearly invisible and has a very subtle pink tint so that we could see where we applied it; however, it seamlessly blended into our hair leaving behind only an enticing soft floral fragrance and thicker-looking strands in its wake. “This dry shampoo is an integral, dare I say life-saving, part of my second or third-day hair routine — I clip my mane up with its sturdy mini claw clips and use the soft bristle brush to layer the powder on in three different sections of my scalp,” says Richardson, who adds that, “In seconds I’ve revived dirty strands to their freshly-washed state, and it stays that way for a solid two days.” On that same note, one of the best features about this dry shampoo is that it comes with a cute and quite handy kabuki brush — this nifty little tool allowed us to sweep the powder on and target our oily scalp only without sending the product flying every which way and wasting the precious powder (and making us late for work wiping off our vanities). Type: Powder | Key Ingredients: Tapioca starch, persimmon powder | Tint: Yes | Scent: Bergamot, yuzu, lemongrass | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 0.53 oz Best for Thinning Hair Vegamour Gro Dry Shampoo Vegamour View On Amazon $36 View On Sephora $18 View On Vegamour.com $18 What We Love: These plant-based ingredients help our thinning locks look more luscious and the fine mist sits evenly across our strands. What We Don’t Love: It leaves behind a subtle white cast if you spray it too close to your head. You might recognize Vegamour from its buzzy and editor-touted hair growth serum that stops shedding and fortifies broken strands. Similar to that superstar serum, this vegan and plant-based formula is also super gentle on our fine thinning strands as ingredients such as red clover and kaolin simultaneously add volume and texture while reversing the visible traces of dirt, oil, and grime. Be sure to spray it a good six inches from your roots because it will leave a noticeable white cast. On the flip side, we simply had to run a comb through our hair, and, voila, the product went into incognito mode. Type: Aerosol | Key Ingredients: Mung bean, red clover, rice starch, kaolin clay | Tint: No | Scent: Light floral | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 3.95 oz Best Dermatologist-Tested Odele Dry Shampoo Odele View On Ulta $12 View On Odelebeauty.com View On Target $12 What We Love: What’s not to love is the better question here. What We Don’t Love: We sometimes wonder how long is too long between showers. Really, Odele had us at “dermatologist-tested and approved formula,” and yet, the brand kept on ticking boxes for all the features that are important to us in a dry shampoo. Plant-based extracts, seeds, and botanicals are whipped into a milled powder so fine and so soft that when we first released a puff of product into the air, it disappeared so quickly we thought maybe there was something wrong with the dispenser — but no, the powder really is that lightweight. But that's not to say that it’s lightly effective — in fact, it does everything we wanted and more, especially in the winter when our scalps tend to become dry and flaky. With every dusting of this truly fascinating blend of arrowroot, Spanish lavender, sea kelp, and algae, tossed with a trio of starches, onto our oil-slicked roots, it sunk right into our hair, not only making it look like we did, in fact, just shower, but it also made our scalp feel less dry and more comfortable, while also looking way less flaky during the winter months due to the scalp rebalancing powers of soothing, anti-inflammatory corn-derived sugars and hydrating glycerin. Did we mention it’s less than $12? Type: Powder | Key Ingredients: Sea kelp, algae, starches, glycerin | Tint: No | Scent: Subtle blend of cucumber and oakmoss | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 1.13 oz Best Natural Briogeo Scalp Revival Dry Shampoo Ulta View On Amazon $25 View On Dermstore $25 View On Sephora $25 What We Love: Healthy looking hair starts with a healthy scalp, and with this dry shampoo, you get both.What We Don’t Love: It sells out often, so when you see it, do what we do and snag as many as you can carry. Some people are simply blessed with hair that looks bouncy, shiny, and vibrant without needing to do much of anything. Sadly, we are not one of those people — we need all the help with our hair, which runs the extreme on both ends of the spectrum: Greasy roots and dry strands. But the oil-absorbing powders of this charcoal-based dry shampoo work so instantly and so fully that two puffs is all you need. We never had to cake it on for our hair to look perfect and deceptively clean, and since three of our editors have jet-black or deep espress-hued hair, this made a huge difference. It absorbed with lighting fast speed — sometimes it disappeared into our hair before we had even put the bottle down after applying. Nor did we have to excessively rub it in since there was no white cast or residue to blend, which earned it another gold star, given that our hair is highly reactive and prone to frizz with even the slightest bit of friction. Our matte, volumized roots also looked clean as a whistle for a shockingly long period of time, not just surviving, but thriving, through sweaty sessions at the gym and up to three days without needing a touch-up. Yet one of our favorite things about this Briogeo product is that it doesn’t try to do too much — the lightweight texture felt amazing in our hair, gave our roots a boost without going overboard with disco-ready full bodied volume, and the subtle scent was pleasant and lowkey. Overall, it’s exactly what we think a great dry shampoo should be. Type: Non-aerosol powder | Key Ingredients: Binchotan charcoal, biotin, witch hazel, and blend of clay, tapioca, and rice starches | Tint: No | Scent: Herbal mint with a hint of vanilla | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 1.7 oz Best Lightweight Dae Fairy Duster Dry Shampoo Sephora View On Sephora $30 What We Love: The powder sprays out evenly across our strands and sinks in so fast we spend hardly any time brushing it out. What We Don’t Love: It feels a little chalky on hands. Encased in the most romantic pink packaging, the Dae Fairy Duster paid our strands as many favors as the bottle did to our nightstands. As the name suggests, it puffs out of the spray nozzle bottle like magic — a small cloud of powder delicately fell on our strands where it only sat for a second before sinking into our roots. Though our hair felt smoother than ever, our hands had a little chalky residue on them after we ran them through our hair, but we could quickly brush it off and turn our attention to the product’s divine signature scent. “Full disclosure I spilled the powder all over myself at work (my fault for getting too eager and tearing the cap off) and I was seriously so in love with the bright, warm citrus scent I truly didn’t mind — I hope they find a way to bottle this up and turn it into a perfume!” says Richardson. Type: Powder | Key Ingredients: Mojave yucca, prickly pear seed oil, cactus flower | Tint: No | Scent: Warm floral | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 1.06 oz Best for Travel Bumble and Bumble Prêt-a-Powder Amazon View On Nordstrom $13 View On Sephora $33 View On QVC $30 What We Love: A light tap, tap, tap onto roots instantly gives a jolt of body to flattened roots.What We Don’t Love: It can make a mess of your vanity — we recommend just leaning in. If you’ve ever done the DIY dry-shampoo hack of sprinkling a little bit of baby powder on your scalp, it might be time for an upgrade, and no one has mastered the level up better than Bumble and bumble. The brand takes the old trick from middle school girls everywhere and gives it a face lift, replacing baking soda with a trio of very finely milled dry starches, corn, tapioca, and oat, to sop up every bit of grease and oil from the root. Clark says that this dry shampoo does its best work in a crisis situation when your hair looks woefully dirty and you don’t have time to shower, or when you’re about three days past the very first day you tried to sneak your blowout through. “My workaround is tossing the powder every which way around my head at night before I go to bed — there’s no way to not make a mess with this product — and let it really sink in,” says Clark, adding that, “When I wake up, the whiteness is mostly gone.” Finish with a quick zhuzh and viola: You have yourself a head of oil-free, intensely volumizied hair that you’ll be able to rock for a solid three more days. Type: Powder | Key Ingredients: Oat kernel flour, tapioca and corn starches | Tint: No | Scent: Powdery musk | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 2 oz Best for Dry Scalps Olaplex Detox Dry Shampoo Sephora View On Amazon $30 View On Nordstrom $16 View On Sephora $16 What We Love: It replaces hair and health-damaging ingredients, like benzene, aluminum salts, and butoxyethanol, with natural ones.What We Don’t Love: The fragrance is nearly undetectable. We wouldn’t expect the celebrity-used, editor-approved, and TikTok-adored brand Olaplex to give us anything other than a game-changing dry shampoo formula. And, it pulls off this admirable feat without using benzene, a chemical found in many cosmetics that some scientists say is linked to long-term, negative effects on the body. In place of it, Olaplex packs its ingredient list full of healthier alternatives, specifically rambutan, an antioxidant and antibacterial seed extract that gently and effectively helps cleanse scalps. It's also one of associate director Elena Garcia’s favorite dry shampoos, because it “doesn't leave any residue, nor does it weigh your hair down like so many dry shampoos.” We can credit its lightweight feel to the brand’s signature cleansing technology, which vanquishes dirt, grit, and grime from the scalp without leaving a single trace of powdery residue or buildup. Truth be told, we practically have no notes other than we wish the fragrance was less subtle, but the flipside to this is that it won’t trigger sensitive noses. Type: Aerosol | Key ingredients: Rambutan seed extract and ultra-fine micro starch | Tint: No | Scent: Fresh | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 6.3 oz Best for Volume Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo Amazon View On Nordstrom $13 View On Sephora $15 View On Ulta $28 What We Love: By using natural ingredients like micro-fine rice powders and golden root extract, this dry shampoo is a master at absorbing oil, replenishing moisture, and creating volume. What We Don’t Love: Notes of sandalwood, jasmine, and vanilla, give it a sweet floral aroma that may not appeal to everyone. It’s true: Greasy roots flatten once-voluminous hair worse than your favorite trendy bucket hat. Luckily, Drybar’s Detox Dry Shampoo swiftly resolves this issue with a formula full of micro-fine rice powders that soak up all the heavy oils weighing down limp strands. Just ask associate editorial director Shannon Bauer, who says that the dry shampoo instantly perks up her fine hair, which she’s always struggled to make look thick and full. “I can get great volume from this product, so it's one that I keep in my gym and travel bag since I can use it for when my hair gets dirty or oily,” she adds. What’s more, the formula includes moisturizing fruit extracts like golden root, Rhodiola rosea, and citrus along with panthenol, an emollient that traps hydration within strands. To top it all off, notes of sandalwood, jasmine, and vanilla accompany each spritz, and though you may be tempted to say the aroma is too sweet, we think even the floral-averse should give this subtle scent a try. Type: Aerosol | Key Ingredients: Micro-fine rice powders, golden root extract | Tint: No | Scent: Sandalwood, jasmine, and vanilla | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 3.5 oz Best for Fine Hair Dove Beauty Dry Shampoo Target View On Target $7 What We Love: The weightless formula won’t coat fine strands in a heavy layer of product.What We Don’t Love: If you’re not into citrus scents, this dry shampoo isn’t for you. Whether you sport wispy waves or delicate coils, unfortunately, fine hair is more susceptible to oil and tends to get greasy easily, but it’s difficult to find a dry shampoo formula that won’t weigh down dainty strands. Thankfully, Dove doesn’t only make some of the most gentle body washes available, but the brand kept this tender hair type top of mind when formulating its ultra-lightweight dry shampoo, which is made with coconut oil to simultaneously fight frizz and nourish scalps. Don’t skip this pick simply because it’s a drugstore brand — the results will surely surprise you, according to InStyle commerce writer Irene Richardson. who says that this lightweight dry shampoo absorbs oil quickly and blends into hair without looking chalky. A refreshing orange blossom scent accompanies each spritz and though this may be a bit too sweet-smelling for some, it reminds us of the first day of summer and warm-weather picnics. Plus, you can shop the same formula in other fragrances if you’re not into the fruit-forward approach. Type: Aerosol | Key ingredients: Tapioca starch, vanilla planifolia fruit extract, citrus tangerine peel extract | Tint: No | Scent: Orange blossom | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 5 fl oz Best for Greasy Hair Batiste Dry Shampoo Amazon View On Amazon $7 View On Ulta $21 View On Target $4 What We Love: The natural formula is safe to use on treated hair without fear of stripping color — plus, the subtle lavender scent is absolutely irresistible.What We Don’t Love: It does leave a slight cast on darker-colored hair. Not only does the Batiste Original Dry Shampoo attract dirt like a magnet, but despite its powerful, fast-acting formula the product is still incredibly gentle on colored hair. In fact, Garcia, says she even prefers that it has a cast, “especially when my color-treated blonde hair is starting to grow out and I'm maybe a few days away from my next salon visit,” she adds, explaining that the dry shampoo softens the darkness of her roots just enough to make them blend better with her highlights. However, if you have dark hair from root to tip, the cast from this product might be too obvious. But aside from this drawback, we will say that we love the way Batiste’s Original Dry Shampoo smoothes hair texture for a soft and pleasant feel. Not to mention, its pleasant floral scent palette of rose, lily, and lavender douses is divine. Type: Aerosol | Key ingredients: Oryza sativa (rice) starch and keratin | Tint: Yes | Scent: Lavender and musk | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 6.73 oz Best Corn Starch Aveda Shampowder Dry Shampoo Aveda View On Aveda.com $37 What We Love: Aveda’s dry shampoo features a natural blend of montmorillonite clay and tapioca starch that absorbs excess oils and boosts volume. What We Don’t Love: The powder can spill out of the bottle fast if you’re not careful while applying it. Aveda’s Shampowder Dry Shampoo sets hair up for long-term success by formulating its product with natural ingredients, and what’s even better, is that it leaves out potentially damaging ones altogether like parabens, mineral oil, and formaldehyde. Instead, the dry shampoo adds lush texture to hair with an enriching concoction of montmorillonite clay, to combat oil buildup and tapioca starch, to enhance volume and set your hairstyle in place. Contributing beauty writer Deanna Pai attests to the styling power of Aveda’s dry shampoo, saying that she prefers dry shampoo for styling, “namely to give me grit and lift at the roots, which is exactly what this one does,” she adds. Pai also notes that she loves the convenient squeeze function of the bottle as opposed to a spray nozzle — she just advises you to use a light grip to avoid an overabundance of product in your hair. Type: Powder | Key ingredients: Montmorillonite clay and tapioca starch | Tint: No | Scent: Herbal | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 2 oz Best for Colored Hair Hours Dry Shampoo Hours View On Hourshaircare.com What We Love: Naturally occurring clay absorbs excess oil and odor, and the organic ingredient takes it easy on scalps prone to irritation.What We Don’t Love: To get the best results you need to spend a few extra minutes really massaging it into your roots. Listen, rumor has it chunky highlights are making a comeback — even still, we’d prefer if our dry shampoo didn’t leave a streak of white across our dark-colored hair. Seemingly by magic, Hours invented a dry shampoo that diffuses evenly across strands without leaving even a breadcrumb of a white cast in its wake. “This is the only formula I’ve tried that actually feels invisible — as the name suggests,” says Cieslak, who adds that this is one of her favorites because, “The light, clean feel makes it great for using several days in a row, which I do quite often.” Translation: You can really blast your roots with this dry shampoo and not worry about the unsightly build-up and, simultaneously, the thoughtful addition of pea protein bonds will strengthen strands. One note: Factor in a couple of extra minutes in your morning routine to massage the product into your roots as a simple spritz may not effectively soak up extra oil. Type: Aerosol | Key ingredients: Naturally occurring clay and pea protein | Tint: No | Scent: Fresh scent | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8.5 oz Best Non-Aerosol NatureLab Tokyo Dry Shampoo Amazon View On Amazon $16 View On Ulta $11 View On Naturelab.com What We Love: This dry shampoo touts a powder formula with clean ingredients that sop up oil just as well as aerosol sprays. What We Don’t Love: It takes longer than other formulas to absorb into the scalp fully. Nothing deflates our attitude more than checking the mirror mid-day to admire our hard-earned hairstyle only to see it dampened by greasy roots, and for anyone with oily hair, this problem is even more prevalent. Sure, we can occasionally celebrate a chic ballerina bun, but when we want to preserve our voluminous curls and full locks, Nature Lab’s Dry Shampoo instantly revives limp strands and thanks to its non-aerosol powder formula, any white residue can easily be blended into the scalp without fail. What’s even better is that the formula leans on moisture-replenishing, gentle ingredients like jojoba seed, aloe, and perilla ocymoides seed oils so while powders soak up grease they don’t strip hair of the oils we do need and leave it overly dry. Although we can appreciate how its small size gives us extra security if we find our roots need a touch-up while we’re out and about, to avoid any residue we advise taking a few extra minutes to let it sit in your hair before gently massaging the powder into your roots. Type: Powder | Key Ingredients: Corn starch, Japanese rice powder, and minerals | Tint: No | Scent: Japanese almond flower and violet | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 1.2 oz Best Smelling Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo Sephora View On Amazon $26 View On Nordstrom $26 View On Sephora $26 What We Love: This product boasts a fragrance-retention technology that allows the scent of sandalwood to last throughout the day.What We Don’t Love: Its strong scent could compete with your other fragrances, like perfumes and body lotions. If the luxe name or golden-flecked bottle wasn’t enough to pique your interest in the Oribe dry shampoo, know that it features the brand’s enchanting signature scent, Côte d’Azur. When you spray this blend onto your hair, the warm, earthy smell will transport you to a glittering Mediterranean coastline not far from the French fragrance house the brand collaborated with to concoct the (dare we say?) irresistible scent. Alongside the heavenly fragrance, the formula also includes UV protection to save the sun from zapping strands of moisture and boasts a range of hydrating ingredients such as lavender, chamomile, and bamboo extracts that leave hair silky and lush looking. Plus, the formula contains strand-strengthening essential oils, notably myrrh, which tout antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Despite a stacked ingredient list, the dry shampoo is lightweight enough to accommodate all hair types from straight strands to coils, and settles as a fine mist that doesn't clog scalps with excess residue. Type: Aerosol | Key ingredients: Biotin, caffeine, lavender flower extract | Tint: No | Scent: Calabrian bergamot, white butterfly jasmine, and sandalwood | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 6 oz Best Dry Shampoo for Curly Hair Fekkai Dry Shampoo Ulta View On Amazon $27 View On Ulta $27 View On Dermstore $27 What We Love: Vitamin E and glycerin strengthen and smooth delicate, heat-damaged curls.What We Don’t Love: The scent tends to linger all day. As much as we adore our natural curls, Fekkai’s Clean Stylers Sheer Dry Shampoo really comes in handy for any of us who love a sleek blowout, but don’t want to sacrifice the integrity of our natural curl pattern when it comes time to wash again. For example, when we rock our natural curls, oily roots start to appear three or so days after our last wash day, and this dry shampoo is our secret weapon when we want to squeeze a few more days out of our hairstyle, and unlike most other dry shampoos, this one doesn’t cause our curls to loose and frizzy, or fall flat. A balance of salon-quality natural ingredients, namely glycerine and vitamin E, are the secret sauce working together to keep curls looking smooth and feeling strong, without triggering a wave of dry or brittle strands. Not to mention, we can’t help but smile every time we catch a waft of its warm, oaky scent throughout the day — we just hope you enjoy it as much as we do because it doesn’t dissipate quickly. Type: Aerosol | Key ingredients: Kaolin clay, apple extract, vitamin E, glycerin | Tint: No | Scent: Breezy citrus and warm woods | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 7.7 oz Best for Sensitive Scalps Klorane Dry Shampoo Amazon View On Amazon $24 View On Ulta $24 View On Macy's $29 What We Love: The plant-based ingredients are very gentle on the hair.What We Don’t Love: It takes a while for the product to sink in. We couldn't get enough of this dry shampoo by Klorane. It scored well when it came to oil absorption, texture, and invisibility — all the hallmarks of a good dry shampoo. And when we sprayed this product onto our hair, we were so impressed with how much full-bodied volume it added to our roots and mid-shaft instantly. This dry shampoo is formulated with gentle, plant-based ingredients like oat milk, corn and rice starches, and silica, which work together to soothe the scalp, while absorbing dirt and excess oils. It's also free of parabens, sulfates, and silicones, which is great for curly and color-treated hair. We noticed that the spray formula does come out white at first and takes about two minutes to sink in, but working it through your hair with your fingers eliminates any trace of a white cast and the end result is well worth the wait. Type: Aerosol | Key Ingredients: Rice starch, oat kernel oil | Tint: No | Scent: Floral | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 3.2 oz Best for Fine Oily Hair Kristin Ess Style Reviving Dry Shampoo Amazon View On Amazon $11 View On Ulta $11 View On Walmart $15 What We Love: It adds a ton of volume and minimizes the look of split ends.What We Don’t Love: Using it too often could dry out hair. This Kristin Ess dry shampoo does all the things a dry shampoo should do and then some. It not only uses absorbent ingredients to combat oil, eliminate odor, and stretch out the gap between washes, but its proprietary strengthening complex smooths the appearance of split ends and damaged hair cuticles and protects strands from environmental stressors. We were fans of its volumizing, vitamin-enriched formula and its ability to take day-old hair from flat to fabulous in just seconds, which will definitely come in handy for anyone with thin hair. This dry shampoo dissolved oil while giving our hair a bit of volume at the root, and it disappeared instantly, making it the perfect product for quick, on-the-go use. Unlike some dry shampoos, this one did not leave behind any residue and it earned a perfect five out of five score during our chalkiness test. It is safe to use on color or keratin-treated hair as it is formulated without parabens, sulfates, or phthalates. However, it does contain alcohol, so it's best to use this dry shampoo once or twice a week in order to avoid dehydrated strands. Type: Aerosol | Key Ingredients: Rhodiola rosea root extract, keratin | Tint: No | Scent: Fruity and floral | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 4 oz Best for Blondes Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo Light Tones Amazon View On Amazon $26 View On Nordstrom $12 View On Sephora $12 What We Love: It brings out the blonde tones in color-treated hair and combats brassiness.What We Don’t Love: It's not ideal for fine or excessively oily hair. For blondes, Moroccanoil’s dry shampoo is the best at refreshing day-old hair without altering color or leaving a noticeable cast. Its formula features the brand's signature argan oil infusion, which hydrates and nourishes the hair, as well as rice starch, a naturally-absorbent ingredient. In addition to restoring the hair, this product also contains violet pigments to counter brassiness and brighten tones in color-treated hair, similar to a purple shampoo. We were shocked when we realized this formula was purple and left an actual tint on our hair. But once the spray set in, we didn’t even notice it was there, thanks to its invisible finish. As if it couldn't get any better, we absolutely loved the amazing scent. The only downside we perceived is that the inclusion of argan oil makes it a bit too heavy for thin or oily hair. Type: Aerosol | Key Ingredients: Micro-fine rice powders, golden root extract | Tint: No | Scent: Sandalwood, jasmine, and vanilla | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 5.4 oz Best for Dark Hair Billie Floof Dry Shampoo Mybillie View On Amazon $14 View On Mybillie.com $14 View On Walmart $24 What We Love: It's easy to control how much you apply and it leaves no white cast on dark hair.What We Don’t Love: It is difficult to work into curly hair. With a brown hue to its powder formula, this dry shampoo is perfect for brunettes. It's packed with biotin to strengthen strands and rice starch to soak up oil. It also features baking soda to provide an even deeper clean. The powder effortlessly dissolves into the hair without leaving behind any residue and the brown tint ensures even the darkest of hair won't have that unwanted ghostly cast. And because it's a non-aerosol powder instead of a spray, it's easier to control where it goes, so you can apply as much or as little as you'd like to areas that need a refresh. There is both a light and a dark haired option available. We also loved the packaging — the petite, round bottle is chic enough for any vanity or bathroom counter. This product even convinced those of us who were initially hesitant to try powder to make the switch to a non-aerosol dry shampoo because of how well it absorbed oil. However, we will say that those of us with curly hair struggled a bit to work the product into our strands. Type: Powder | Key Ingredients: Baking soda, biotin, rice starch | Tint: No | Scent: Amber | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 1.2 oz Best for Dry Hair OGX Extra Strength Refresh + Restore Coconut Miracle Oil Dry Shampoo Amazon View On Amazon $16 View On Walmart $40 What We Love: It has moisturizing ingredients and doesn't leave any residue.What We Don’t Love: It may weigh down thin hair. This coconut oil-infused dry shampoo is a godsend for anyone dealing with dry, brittle hair. Its blend of tiare essence, vanilla bean extract, and coconut oil is a tag-team effort to absorb oil while also providing tons of moisture. The hydrating formula received top marks for those of us with curly hair as it revived curls and coils without being overly drying or powdery. While it may seem counteractive to use an oil-based product as a dry shampoo, we found that it did not make our hair oiler nor did it leave behind any stickiness. It actually had the opposite effect: it left our hair feeling smoother, healthier, and softer. We added bonus points for the extra bit of lift and volume boost it gave us. The fresh scent was another attribute we loved — it's pleasant, yet subtle. The only downside to this dry shampoo is that the oil-based formula may be a little too heavy for thin or fine hair. Type: Aerosol | Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, vanilla bean extract | Tint: No | Scent: Tropical | Sulfate-Free: No | Size: 5 oz What to Keep in Mind Hair Type: When it comes to hair texture, dry shampoo can be used on a variety of strands, but master stylist and co-founder Edward Tricomi notes that some textures are more in need of dry shampoo than others. “Dry shampoo is best for fine, limp hair, as it really gives hair grit and body,” he explains. However, that is not to say that you can’t use dry shampoo on curly hair, but it’s important to keep in mind that coily textures are prone to dryness, and need an extra dose of oil to retain moisture. So, look for a formula with hydration-replenishing ingredients, like coconut oil and vitamin E, and make sure to use a regular shampoo and conditioner for dry hair periodically, as well. Ingredients: The main purpose of dry shampoo is to “absorb or prevent oil at the root so that you can extend any style,” says celebrity hairstylist Alex Brown, which is accomplished through ingredients such as clay, silica, zeolite, oatmeal, or starches. Additionally, you can seek out products with natural antimicrobial ingredients, like essential oils and fruit extracts, that will keep oil-causing bacteria at bay and curb the growth of bacteria on scalps that lead to greasy strands. Formula: Dry ry shampoos typically come in aerosols, powders, serums, mists, and even mousses. Personally, Brown recommends “an aerosol dry shampoo because it’s usually lighter than a powder,” and adds that while “there are other types of dry shampoo that can be used at the root to add some volume,I find an aerosol helps avoid residue and has styling benefits.” As for the other types of dry shampoos, Brown mentions that “a serum or mist could be helpful if in a pinch after a workout, and a mousse could help to keep curls hydrated while getting the oil-absorbing benefits.” Scent: Make sure to pay attention to whether or not a product is scented, especially if you have a sensitive scalp. If you’re someone who struggles with scalp sensitivity, Brown recommends using dry shampoo sparingly. “You should be able to use dry shampoo but it’s probably best to only use it one day and not multiple days.” You can also choose to opt for dry shampoos that are unscented to avoid irritation that fragrances can often cause. er types of dry shampoo that can be used at the root to add some volume. For example, a serum or mist could be great after a workout, and a mousse could help to keep curls hydrated while still getting the oil-absorbing benefits. Your Questions, Answered Is dry shampoo bad for your hair? While dry shampoos are not damaging, you won't get the same results as a traditional shampoo and conditioner treatment. "Dry shampoos are designed to help lengthen the time between shampoos, but they should be used only once between wash days, and preferably only once a week," master stylist Gregga Prothero says. "If you continually apply it every day it can cause build up that clogs the pores on your scalp and leads to poor hair health." As for other downsides, some dry shampoos cause a bit of white cast residue, but Tricomi tells us that, “preventing a white cast on the hair is as simple as ensuring it is rubbed into the hair well.” Brown adds that because using dry shampoo can cause build up over time, it’s essential to cleanse your hair regularly to make sure to avoid any excess product in your hair. “I recommend adding a weekly detox shampoo if you use dry shampoo regularly to remove any build up,” she says, adding that it’s important to incorporate real shampoo into your hair because at the end of the day, dry shampoo isn’t a replacement, it’s a temporary fix used to get you through wash days. “Dry shampoo is a styling product that doesn’t clean the hair or scalp, so proper cleaning of the hair and scalp is necessary as it helps keep it healthy,” says Brown How do you use dry shampoo? The first step in applying a dry shampoo is to make sure your hair is completely dry. According to Prothero, any wetness "can mix with the dry shampoo and cause some buildup." She also recommends not spraying it directly onto your part and instead "lifting the hair on both sides of your part and then spraying the dry shampoo at the temple, sideburns, and slightly below the crown area." Prothero emphasizes that it is best to focus on the areas that get weighed down easily by oil. Brown agrees, adding that: “You really want to massage the product into the hair with your fingers, a blow dryer, or both. It’s important to evenly distribute the product to get the best result.” As for how often, Brown recommends using dry shampoo on day two or three to help freshen hair. After day three, it will most likely be time to wash your hair with a cleansing shampoo. “You can use it for two or three days, but you will probably start to see and feel build up in your hair after that,” Brown adds. Can you use dry shampoo every day? How often you use a dry shampoo will depend on your specific hair type, how greasy your hair gets, and how many times you wash your hair per week. "If your hair tends to get oily quickly, then you should apply the dry shampoo once your hair has completely dried after a shampoo," says Prothero. "Doing this prevents the hair from getting too limp and greasy throughout the day," she adds. Additionally, Prothero says that "for hair textures that need more moisture and tend to be on the drier side, I'd apply the dry shampoo 2-3 days after your shampoo, so some natural oils can be distributed in the hair." Why Shop With Us Irene Richardson is a beauty and fashion writer at InStyle. To write this article, we consulted hairstylists Gregga Prothero, Alex Brown, and Edward Tricomi, for their tips, tricks, and insights. Sources InStyle uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. 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