The 9 Best Dry Shampoos of 2023
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Go longer between wash days with the help of our favorite dry shampoos.
Real Simple / Kristin Kempa
Washing your hair can feel like a chore, but a good dry shampoo can help extend the time between washes. The best dry shampoos will absorb excess oil and blend harmoniously into your hair color without weighing down your locks, so your hair will look and feel great for longer.
We spent hours researching formula types, sizes, scents, and ingredients to offer a curated selection of top-performing dry shampoos. We also consulted Sarah Lund, a STYLE.MASTER for the KEVIN.MURPHY brand. "Dry shampoos work with either a powder starch base or an alcohol base (or both!) to absorb excess dirt, oil, and odors," explains Lund.
No matter your hair type, these dry shampoos will effortlessly extend the amount of time you can go between washes.
Living Proof Perfect hair Day (PhD) Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo
Best Overall Dry Shampoo
Who it’s for: People who want a fast-absorbing dry shampoo that works on all hair types.
Who it isn’t for: People with very dry hair.
Living Proof's Perfect hair Day (PhD) Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo is an updated formulation of the brand's iconic aerosol dry shampoo. What sets this version apart is the shower-mimicking technology and enhanced ingredient profile. Fast-absorbing powders tackle excess sebum and sweat as odor neutralizers keep you feeling (and smelling) fresh.
Added benefits include pollution protection from environmental stressors that can make hair dull and flat, conditioning agents that enhance the shine and manageability of strands, and a transparent formula that won't leave visible residue in the hair. This dry shampoo works for all hair types and textures and comes with 100 percent recyclable packaging.
Price at time of publish: From $18
Product Details:
Type: Aerosol
Size: 2.4, 5.5, or 9.9 ounces
Scent: Light scent
Not Your Mother's Clean Freak Original Dry Shampoo
Best Drugstore Dry Shampoo
Who it’s for: People who want an affordable and widely available dry shampoo for all hair types.
Who it isn’t for: People who are willing to spend more for a dry shampoo that conditions the hair.
The dry shampoo from Not Your Mother's is a vegan and cruelty-free formula with a refreshing citrusy scent that instantly saves hair between wash days. Using rice and barley starches, this dry shampoo works for dark and light-toned hair, thanks to a formula that leaves no white residue behind. This lack of residue also means minimal product buildup on the scalp, so long as you incorporate scalp exfoliation or a clarifying shampoo into your routine once a week.
Price at time of publish: $9
Product Details:
Type: Aerosol
Size: 7 ounces
Scent: Fresh citrus
Briogeo Scalp Revival Dry Shampoo
Best Powder Dry Shampoo
Who it’s for: People looking for a naturally-derived, powder dry shampoo.
Who it isn’t for: People who want a dry shampoo for on-the-go use.
This non-aerosol dry shampoo is infused with activated charcoal to detoxify the scalp as added biotin works to fortify strands, resulting in hair that feels resilient and oil-free. Despite the powder formula, witch hazel is in the ingredient profile, which acts as an additional astringent to normalize sebum production on the scalp.
Like the rest of Briogeo's line, the Scalp Revival Charcoal + Biotin Dry Shampoo is free from silicone, sulfates, phthalates, parabens, artificial dyes, and DEA (diethanolamine). As a bonus, this is one of the few products on the market that is actually gluten-free, making it safe for those with sensitivities.
Price at time of publish: $25
Product Details:
Type: Powder
Size: 1.7 ounces
Scent: Fresh
Batiste Waterless Cleansing Foam + Shine
Best Foam Dry Shampoo
Who it’s for: People with dry hair.
Who it isn’t for: People with moderate to intense oil production.
The Batiste Waterless Cleansing Foam + Shine is a lightweight and hydrating foam ideal for individuals with normal to dry hair types who need to prolong the time between hair-washing days. And, unlike traditional dry shampoos that tend to leave a white cast on the roots, the foam delivery system ensures no visible residue is seen even on the darkest hair colors.
There's also no wait time with this dry shampoo. Just dispense the product into your palms and massage it onto the roots of your hair. It dries within one minute of application, allowing you to style as usual.
Price at time of publish: $12
Product Details:
Type: Foam
Size: 3.6 ounces
Scent: Coconut
Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo for Dark Tones
Best Dry Shampoo for Dark Hair
Who it’s for: People with dark hair who find dry shampoo to leave behind a white residue.
Who it isn’t for: People with blonde or bleached hair.
Infused with the brand's iconic argan oil, the Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo Dark Tones is specifically formulated for individuals who find traditional dry shampoos to leave behind a white or powdery residue on their roots. Rice starch aids in absorbing excess sweat and sebum production, while antioxidants and essential fatty acids from the argan oil keep strands conditioned post-application.
The formula is safe for individuals with color-treated hair plus all hair types and styles. Not to mention that this dry shampoo is available in two sizes, making it an ideal choice for anyone needing a TSA-friendly dry shampoo to take with them on their next trip.
Price at time of publish: From $12
Product Details:
Type: Aerosol
Size: 1.7 and 5.4 ounces
Scent: Signature Moroccanoil scent (spicy amber and musk with sweet floral)
Verb Dry Shampoo for Light Hair
Best Dry Shampoo for Blonde Hair
Who it’s for: People who want a purple-tinted dry shampoo that blends into light hair.
Who it isn’t for: People who prefer a powder formula.
Dry shampoo can also leave a visible residue on blonde hair, but the Verb Dry Shampoo for Light Hair is the perfect antidote. Similar to shampoos formulated specifically for blondes, this aerosol oil absorber has a light violet hue, blending more seamlessly into bleached locks. The formula uses rice starch as the primary active ingredient, which is part of what makes this product vegan and cruelty-free. It also features added glycerin and pomegranate extracts to keep strands feeling hydrated (never parched) when compared to other dry shampoos. Verb’s dry shampoo is also available in a version for dark tones, too.
Price at time of publish: $20
Product Details:
Type: Aerosol
Size: 5 ounces
Scent: Grapefruit and oatmeal
Olaplex No.4D Clean Volume Detox Dry Shampoo
Best Volumizing Dry Shampoo
Who it’s for: People who want their dry shampoo to do double duty and provide extra volume.
Who it isn’t for: People looking for a travel-friendly dry shampoo.
As the name suggests, the Olaplex No.4D Clean Volume Detox Dry Shampoo lifts hair to new heights as it swiftly eliminates excess oil from the hair's roots. Included in the formula is the brand's beloved bond-building technology that helps restore hair strength after excessive bleach and heat exposure. However, the main ingredients in this dry shampoo are zeolite and bentonite clays that work in conjunction with rice starch to deliver a weightless and colorless fresh-out-of-the-shower feeling to the hair. And, unlike other products on the market, Olaplex uses rambutan seed extract which acts as an odor-neutralizer.
Price at time of publish: $30
Product Details:
Type: Aerosol
Size: 6.3 ounces
Scent: Fresh
Billie Floof Dry Shampoo
Best Natural Dry Shampoo
Who it’s for: People seeking a minimal-ingredient dry shampoo.
Who it isn’t for: People who prefer an aerosol spray application.
The Bille Floof Dry Shampoo is an affordable powder option for anyone keeping natural ingredients top of mind. This super-fine powder dissolves into the roots for an invisible application. Baking soda and rice starch effectively eliminate oil and sweat from the scalp. And it’s available in both light- and dark-toned formulas. Dermatologist-approved for all skin types, vegan, and cruelty-free, this no-frill and no-mess dry shampoo is a worthy hair routine essential.
Price at time of publish: $14
Product Details:
Type: Powder
Size: 1.2 ounces
Scent: Amber
Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo
Best Scented Dry Shampoo
Who it’s for: People with dry or damaged hair and people who want a dry shampoo with a long-lasting fragrance.
Who it isn’t for: People who are sensitive to fragrance.
Oribe's Gold Lust Dry Shampoo is everything you know and love about the signature line in an on-the-go, effective, and deliciously-scented product. The brand describes its distinctive Côte d'Azur fragrance as "embodying the glamor and heat of the legendary destination," thanks to scent notes of Calabrian bergamot, white butterfly jasmine, and sandalwood.
And while this does add to the experience of using the Gold Lust Dry Shampoo, it doesn't eclipse the fact that the use of translucent rice starch mixes with the Oribe Signature Complex to leave hair feeling refreshed, resilient against environmental stressors, and hydrated, all while enhancing shine and prolonging the time between hair washes.
Price at time of publish: From $23
Product Details:
Type: Aerosol
Size: 1.3 or 6 ounces
Scent: Oribe’s signature Côte d’Azur (bergamot, jasmine, and sandalwood)
Final Verdict
Our favorite dry shampoo is the Living Proof Perfect hair Day Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo because it swiftly absorbs excess oil, sweat, and odor, as well as enhances shine. Plus, this dry shampoo is lightweight and suitable for all hair types and shades.
How to Shop for Dry Shampoo Like a Pro
Ingredients
Dry shampoos should help hair to feel cleansed without weighing it down, so efficacious ingredients are crucial. "I like a powder-based dry shampoo, particularly a corn-based powder, as they do a really good job of absorbing oil and refreshing any odors," explains Sarah Lund, a STYLE.MASTER for the KEVIN.MURPHY brand. However, that doesn't mean your trusted aerosol dry shampoo won't do your hair justice. Most aerosols also utilize corn and rice starches to soak up excess oil. The formula tends to feel more weightless and offers additional benefits, like smoothing or hydrating, compared to powders.
Color
Individuals with darker hair tend to notice the white and powdery residue that comes with untinted dry shampoos. The same is true for those with hair that is quite light. The residue is occasionally still seen if the formula has a high opacity. Fortunately, brands have released transparent dry shampoos, offering universality across hair colors. There are also formulas in hues suited for medium to deep brunettes and natural to bleach blondes.
Scent
Since dry shampoos are a quick fix when trying to prolong the time between washes, having a scent can be beneficial in masking odors that linger in your hair. Something light and fresh that won't irritate those with fragrance sensitives is ideal, but some formulas offer notes of floral or musk. Of course, individuals sensitive to natural and artificial fragrances or individuals with sensitive scalps should look for dry shampoos free of scents. It doesn't change the efficacy of oil absorption or odor neutralization; it just affects the sensory experience of using a dry shampoo.
Questions You Might Ask
How does dry shampoo work?
According to Lund, dry shampoos can use either a powder starch base or an alcohol base to absorb excess oil and dirt. The benefit is that you can revive hair post-workout or prolong the time between washing your tresses in the shower. It also works as a great styling tool to give freshly washed hair texture, allowing for updos and undone waves to maintain its shape.
What’s the best way to apply dry shampoo?
The best way to apply dry shampoo is directly and strategically. "Concentrate on the oily parts of the hair," says Lund. "The hairline, part line, and crown area. Allow the product a few seconds to work, then brush out with a boar bristle brush to remove the buildup.” We suggest waiting 30 seconds to one minute before gently brushing out the product. This technique ensures maximum absorption and maintains the integrity of the length of your hair.
How often can you use dry shampoo instead of washing your hair?
Dry shampoo is known for being occlusive to the scalp if overused. This product buildup can result in dandruff, clogged hair follicles, or potential hair loss. That's why Lund tells her clients, "1-2 days of dry shampoo should suffice."
But, if you are an avid dry shampoo user, Lund's antidote includes proper cleansing: "I recommend a detox shampoo at least once per week when regularly using a dry shampoo to ensure the scalp is clean.”
Take Our Word for It
This article was written by Samantha Parsons, a beauty industry veteran, and writer with experience across the cosmetics, skin, and wellness industries. She researched countless sites and brands to find the best dry shampoos with effective ingredients and ample versatility. She also worked alongside Sarah Lund, a STYLE.MASTER for the KEVIN.MURPHY brand, to solidify these selections.
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