I simply do not have time to wash my hair daily, so I keep a rotation of the best dry shampoos on my vanity, in my car, at my desk… you get the idea. According to dermatologist Lynne Goldberg, washing daily isn't in my best interest anyway. In fact, shampooing daily can do more harm than good to your hair and scalp. Take it as just another example of how too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.
"It's paradoxical, but people who wash their hair a lot to get rid of oil are drying out their scalp and producing more oil," Goldberg previously told Business Insider. But this isn't to say you have to live with greasy strands — a few sprays of dry shampoo can give your hair a necessary refresh.
To be clear: dry shampoo can buy you some time between wash days, but it can't replace it. "Dry shampoo is suitable for all hair types and can be used as needed, but it's advisable to restrict usage to a few times per week," Richard Mannah, Miami-based hair artist and Joico Global's Senior Artistic Director, tells Business Insider. "Excessive use may result in product build up on the scalp. Shampooing the hair after a few days of usage is vital to eliminate all the built up oil, product, and dirt from hair and scalp."
The very best dry shampoo I tested is the Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo. Beloved by our editors, professional stylists, and yours truly, its fast-absorbing powders applied evenly while it actively cleansed my hair and scalp of oil, sweat, and odor.
I tested over a dozen other highly rated formulas to identify the best dry shampoo for every hair type and budget, which you can read about below. Learn more about how Insider Reviews tests and researches style products.
The top 5 dry shampoos I tested:
This beloved 3-in-1 dry shampoo gets rid of oil, sweat, and odor so your hair looks and smells fresh. It's normally pricey but is available for Prime Day for 24% off the original price.
This drugstore dry shampoo holds up to high-end options and is available in various scents and shades.
Crown Affair’s powder dry shampoo refreshes hair without weighing it down. The innovative packaging is certainly chic but can get messy.
Designed for those with oily hair, this ultra-fine powder soaks up oil with the help of binchotan charcoal and features hair-nourishing ingredients like biotin.
Boosted with argan oil and plant protein, this dry shampoo absorbs oil while amping up volume.
Best overall
This beloved 3-in-1 dry shampoo gets rid of oil, sweat, and odor so your hair looks and smells fresh. It's normally pricey but is available for Prime Day for 24% off the original price.
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I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Living Proof's Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo is by far the best formula on the market.
Unlike its competitors that simply mask the fact that you haven't washed your hair, PhD dry shampoo actively works to clean your scalp and strands from the moment it touches your head. It's formulated with fast-absorbing powders, plus the brand's patented Healthy Hair Molecule that keeps hair fresher longer by extracting powders, oil, and dirt.
For best results, the key is to let the spray sit for 30 seconds upon application before massaging it into the scalp with your fingers. This allows the formula to clean and deodorize the scalp and hair properly.
The only caveat of Living Proof's Perfect Hair Dry Shampoo is arguably its scent, which some reviewers feel is too strong. I personally find it pleasant, but if you'd prefer a subtler fragrance, give Living Proof's new Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo a try.
Best drugstore dry shampoo
This drugstore dry shampoo holds up to high-end options and is available in various scents and shades.
What we like
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What you get isn't always what you pay for, especially in the beauty world. Sometimes, an expensive product falls flat; other times, an inexpensive product exceeds expectations. This was my experience with the Batiste Original Dry Shampoo.
A much more affordable option than our overall pick, the Batiste Dry Shampoo is available in over 15 fragrances, three color-based sprays, and one volumizing formula. However, I stuck with the original for this test, which won an Allure Best of Beauty award in 2020.
The waterless formula absorbs dirt and grease to revitalize hair and has been enhanced with keratin proteins to keep strands strong and protected from environmental stressors. This particular spray boasts a citrusy scent.
What's nice about the Batiste Dry Shampoo is there's no wait between when you apply the spray and when you should massage it into the scalp. My hair looked better as the day went on, but I didn't have to waste any time; I styled my hair and headed out the door.
Some Amazon reviewers point out that the white cast is an issue on brunette hair, but this could be a matter of ensuring you properly massage the product with your fingers and follow up with a quick brush through.
Best dry shampoo for dry, frizzy hair
Drybar’s dry shampoo contains amla oil to replenish and moisturize dry hair while eliminating excess oils.
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Is your hair unruly and brittle? Then you'll love Drybar's Detox Clear Invisible Dry Shampoo.
Not only does this spray formula eliminate excess oils with its proprietary powder blend, but it also instills moisture into the scalp and strands with amla oil. What's more, amla oil (derived from the Indian Gooseberry) gives hair a soft, visibly sheer finish, so dry tresses feel hydrated and clean, and look it too.
In addition to these rockstar ingredients, kiwi extract is also highlighted as a standout addition that lifts residue from hair. Regarding the scent, one reviewer said the fragrance is comparable to the brand's Triple Sec Texturizing Finishing Spray and Sparkling Soda Shine Mist, with notes of coconut, amber, and vanilla.
Best lightweight dry shampoo
Crown Affair’s powder dry shampoo refreshes hair without weighing it down. The innovative packaging is certainly chic but can get messy.
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Crown Affair's Dry Shampoo is lauded for its weightless formula and chic, innovative packaging. The finely milled powder takes no time to absorb, partially due to the kabuki brush, which allows for targeted application. This product provides light volume and refreshes the hair and scalp. It's lightweight enough to be applied to freshly washed hair to amp up volume or enhance certain styles, particularly for those with fine, thin hair.
The only downside to this product is the packaging. It isn't easy to prevent the powder from spilling everywhere, especially because the brush is stored inside the container.
Best dry shampoo for oily hair
Designed for those with oily hair, this ultra-fine powder soaks up oil with the help of binchotan charcoal and features hair-nourishing ingredients like biotin.
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Unlike traditional spray cans, Briogeo's dry shampoo applies a cloud of white powder when you squeeze the bottle over your strands. It takes two minutes to set and another minute or two to style, but if you have that time to spare, I can't recommend the Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Biotin Dry Shampoo enough.
This powder formula dry shampoo is made to work on all hair textures — straight, wavy, curly, and coily — but it's specifically designed for those with naturally oily hair (like mine). It's a detoxifying blend formulated with binchotan charcoal to draw out impurities and any buildup that might clog the pores and nutrient-rich biotin, bamboo extracts, and witch hazel to regulate oil production.
Upon application, the white cast looks daunting, but it's actually lightweight and blends in easily. Reviewers say it's gentle on sensitive scalps, too. However, while Briogeo's formula gets five stars from me, the applicator isn't great. You have to give the bottle a good squeeze, and the powder can fly everywhere, but if you can get past this hiccup, it's a great product.
Best dry shampoo for adding volume and texture
Boosted with argan oil and plant protein, this dry shampoo absorbs oil while amping up volume.
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I'm not sure why it's taken me so long to give the Eva NYC Freshen Up Invisible Dry Shampoo a try, but now that I have, I'm ready to buy up bottles in bulk. (And you will be too.)
With over 1,100 reviews and just shy of a 5-star rating on Amazon alone, Eva NYC's lightweight, waterless spray absorbs excess oil and enhances shine, but its true claim to fame is the level of volume it offers lifeless strands. It doesn't just freshen up hair, it completely re-styles it.
The magical formula contains argan oil, which is rich in antioxidants, fatty acids, and vitamins A, C, and E, plus plant protein for added hydration. Reviewers note the spray smells "heavenly," and that a few spritzes resulted in soft, bouncy hair. If you can't (or don't want to) spend almost $30 on the Living Proof dry shampoo, this will be your new holy grail.
Best dry shampoo for fine hair
In addition to helping preserve hair pigment, Arey’s dry shampoo gives volume and texture to fine hair.
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Arey's dry shampoo powder absorbs oil and adds volume while nourishing the hair. The brand's entire lineup is dedicated to protecting hair pigment and slowing the appearance of greys, and this product, formulated with Arey's proprietary Dehydrated Mela-9™ Complex, is no different.
The formula is especially a dream for those with fine hair looking for a boost of volume and added texture. Aluminum starch quickly absorbs oil and adds grip, while silica helps to volumize. It features a light and refreshing cedar and sage scent, and the packaging is small enough to take on the go easily, but the product will last you for months.
Best dry shampoo for thinning hair
Vegamour’s GRO Dry Shampoo promotes hair growth while refreshing the scalp with a lightweight formula.
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If you want to combat hair thinning and cleanse and refresh your scalp between washes, this pick from Vegamour's GRO line might be a game changer for your hair routine. Containing organically grown phytoactives that support hair density and increase active hair follicles, the brand claims you can expect to see fuller, thicker hair in as quickly as three months of use. This dry shampoo is also color-safe and available in a travel size.
Reviewers love how lightweight the formula is and how quickly it absorbs into the hair, but some also report that the scent is too overpowering.
Best dry shampoo for dark hair
This weightless dry shampoo features an invisible formula, so no blending is required.
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This lightweight IGK dry shampoo boasts a completely invisible formula, so there's no blending time required — making it the perfect solution for dark hair. Finely milled volcanic ash absorbs seamlessly and helps to cleanse and purify, while ginger root and mango extracts soften the hair and boost shine.
"I love IGK products and the smell," Christina Olivia, hairstylist and owner of Olivia Christensen Salon, tells Business Insider. "I feel like scent is a very big factor for me and what my clients are driven towards as well. This product works well by removing oils and build up and straightening hair follicles."
It's important to note that this dry shampoo contains one percent cleansing powders, offering a lightweight, gentle cleanse. In other words, it's designed to be used on 1-2 day hair (or to revive styles throughout the day) and not on extremely oily hair that needs a major refresh. Check out IGK's First Class Dry Shampoo for a more heavy-duty option.
Best dry shampoo for light hair
R+Co’s lightweight formula absorbs excess oil, while ingredients like vitamin E help restore luster and brighten lighter tones.
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Lightweight and rich in nourishing ingredients, R+Co's Death Valley Dry Shampoo is a quick way to refresh your style while strengthening your strands. The formula's vitamin E boosts luster and shine, which may be helpful for lighter tones that need a bit of brightening. Along with standard dry shampoo ingredients like silica, which absorbs oil, this one also contains a thickening agent, pro-vitamin B5, to build volume.
Reviewers note that this dry shampoo provides lots of touseled volume without leaving behind residue, and while some love the musky floral scent, others say it's too strong for them.
Best dry shampoo for sensitive scalps
Thanks to the gentle oat milk in the formula, Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk removes dirt and oil without roughing up your scalp.
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Featuring plant-based ingredients like oat milk and corn and rice starches, Klorane's Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk is designed to be ultra-gentle and nourishing for both the hair and scalp. Reviewers note minimal residue, but for the most seamless application, the directions advise spraying the product onto the roots of the hair and waiting 2 minutes before rubbing in. It also features a more delicate scent, unlike others on this list with bold fragrances.
Because of its lightweight formula, this dry shampoo may not be effective on very oily hair. Rather, it's best used to touch up styles throughout the day or refresh hair 1-3 days after washing.
Best scented dry shampoo
This ambery vanilla-scented dry shampoo effortlessly refreshes hair for a more voluminous look (without the yucky white residue).
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"While dry shampoo powders and sprays often leave a white cast or gritty texture at my roots, this mist refreshes my hair in between washes, all while being surprisingly lightweight and completely invisible on my dark brunette hair," writes freelance beauty reporter Olivia Rose Rushing about Blake Lively's luxuriously scented formula.
"Immediately, I can see why this product has become a standout for the brand. It has officially replaced the dry shampoos I was using before. It helps renew my look, and importantly, I don't feel like I'm overloading my scalp with product."
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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@jkmperu.com.
