Regularly washing your hair with the right products is the key to keeping your locks and your scalp healthy. But the best dry shampoos definitely come in handy when you’re pressed for time, or don’t have the energy for a full hair washing session.
Dry shampoo, available in both aerosol and non-aerosol forms, can keep your hair looking and feeling fresh and clean between washes. Unfortunately, choosing the right option can be a little tricky. After all, there are hundreds of products out there, and they all have their own distinct pros and cons depending on your needs and your type of hair.
To help you make the right choice, our salon experts put some of the most popular and highly rated dry shampoos to the test. Here’s what we discovered.
What to Look for in the Best Dry Shampoo
Choosing the “best” hair product for anything is a bit of a subjective process. Everyone has different hair needs and types. However, there are a few things worth keeping in mind when you’re sorting through your options. Here’s what we focused on when comparing the top dry shampoo products:
- Ingredients: We believe hair deserves nothing but the best. We focused on finding dry shampoos with ingredients that are gentle on sensitive skin and hair, but still effective at soaking up oil, adding volume, and improving hair vitality.
- Residue: One of the biggest downsides of dry shampoo is it can often leave your hair covered in extra “chalky” residue. That’s a problem if you have darker colored hair, like many of our Korean stylists, so we tried to avoid options that left too much residue behind.
- Scent: Some dry shampoos are more heavily fragranced than others. If you’re sensitive to stronger perfumes, it’s a good idea to look for subtler scents, or unscented formulas. We looked at a few options for all kinds of fragrance preferences.
- Value for money: Budget is always a consideration when you’re shopping for hair products, but it’s important to look beyond the initial price of whatever you buy. We compared pricing to results, and long-lasting performance, to examine value for money.
The Best Dry Shampoo: 8 Options
Since the ideal dry shampoo varies depending on your hair type, and other factors like budget, we chose a handful of different solutions to appeal to a wide range of customers. Here are our top picks for the best dry shampoo this year.
1. DryBar Detox Dry Shampoo: Best Overall
It might not be the cheapest dry shampoo on this list, but for our testers, the DryBar Detox shampoo delivered the best results. It’s excellent at absorbing oil and getting rid of excess sweat and dirt, so you feel as fresh as you look. Plus, it’s cruelty-free, and lacks all of those unwanted extra ingredients like phthalates and sulfates that can harm your hair.
This dry shampoo works well with all kinds of hair types, whether you’ve got frizzy, dry or oily locks. Plus, although the “original scent” is quite strong, it wasn’t overwhelming. The scent is clean, fresh, and natural, so you don’t smell like you’ve drowned yourself in perfume.
Pros:
- Excellent cruelty-free formula
- Easy to apply
- Great at absorbing oil
Cons:
- Slightly expensive pricing
- Has a long lasting scent
2. Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo: Best Lightweight Option
Amika’s Perk Up product is easily one of the best dry shampoo options around if you’re looking for something fresh and lightweight that doesn’t leave behind a lot of residue. It isn’t packed full of talc, so you don’t end up with white streaks on your hair.
Plus, it features some great built-in ingredients, such as Rambutan seed extract to hydrate the scalp, and Mandelic acid for PH balance. The scent is a little stronger with this shampoo than some of the other options we tried, but it’s a pleasant fragrance.
The overall smell is fruity, with notes of warming vanilla. Plus, this shampoo is wonderfully long-lasting. It can boost your hair’s volume and appearance for days at a time.
Pros:
- High-quality, nourishing ingredients
- Very little to no residue left behind
- Lightweight and refreshing feel
- Long-lasting performance
Cons:
- Slightly stronger scent
- Not as effective on very oily hair
3. Living Proof Dry Shampoo: Best Unisex Option
The best dry shampoo isn’t just for women that want to keep their hair looking fresh between washes, but a lot of options do have flowery scents that are less appealing to men. The Living Proof dry shampoo is an excellent alternative. It’s designed to appeal to all types of consumers, and there’s no lingering, high-powered scent to put you off.
Not only does this dry shampoo keep your hair looking clean for longer, but it’s also excellent at giving extra volume to your locks. Plus, unlike some dry shampoos, this product actually cleans your hair, making it feel softer, and well cared-for.
Pros:
- Cleans and revitalizes hair between washes
- No talc (for a lightweight experience)
- Fast results
- Safe for color treated hair
Cons:
- May not last as long as some alternatives
4. Klorane Dry Shampoo: Best Dry Shampoo for Sensitive Scalps
If you’ve had a hard time searching for the best dry shampoo before, because you have a sensitive, dry or itchy scalp, you’re in luck. The Klorane dry shampoo is an eco-friendly option that’s great for absorbing oil, while protecting your scalp. It features built-in oat milk, which helps to soothe and protect your skin, and fights back against irritation.
Plus, this is a non-aerosol shampoo, which is better for your skin (although it does make application a little more complicated). We loved how clean and healthy this shampoo made our hair feel, and were impressed by the level of volume it could give our locks between shower sessions.
Pros:
- Non-aerosol design
- Included oat milk to reduce irritation
- Gentle and subtle scent
- No white residue left behind
Cons:
- Slightly expensive
- Application can be a little fiddly
5. IGK Direct Flight Dry Shampoo: Best for Oily Hair
While all of the best dry shampoo options we tried were excellent at eliminating excess oil from our hair, few did it as effectively as this heavy-duty option from IGK. Ideal for longer periods between washes, or a quick refresh after a workout session, the IGK First Class dry shampoo uses high-quality detoxifying charcoal powder to absorb oil and sweat.
It also features white tea powder to help calm the scalp and strengthen your hair follicles. More than just making your hair look great, this high-performance shampoo helps to eliminate excess, so you feel as good as you look. It’s also suitable for all kinds of hair types, from wavy and frizzy to straight, and chemically treated hair.
Pros:
- Exceptional oil absorption
- Nourishes and protects your scalp
- Excellent for all hair types
- Vegan and cruelty-free
Cons:
- Doesn’t add much volume compared to others
- A little pricier than some alternatives
6. Briogeo Scalp Revival: Best Cleansing Option
One major problem with a lot of dry shampoo options is they just make your hair look cleaner, without actually removing any real dirt or grime. That’s not the case with the Briogeo dry shampoo, however. This aerosol-free product comes packed with tea tree oil and charcoal to detoxify your scalp and absorb any impurities.
It also comes with extra ingredients that can actively improve hair follicle strength and elasticity. With this eco-friendly product, you’ll feel truly refreshed after each spray, even if you don’t have time for a full shower. Just keep in mind, a few of our testers found the smell to be a little intense.
Pros:
- Actively cleans and detoxifies hair
- Protects your scalp and hair follicles
- Easy to apply with a squeeze bottle design
- Cruelty-free and eco-friendly
Cons:
- Scent can be quite intense
- Doesn’t deliver a lot of extra volume
7. Billie Floof Dry Shampoo: Best for Dark Hair
As a Korean hair salon, we frequently serve clients with darker hair, looking for a way to preserve their beautiful, natural locks. Unfortunately, a lot of dry shampoos can leave darker hair looking ashy, particularly if you can’t blend the formula into your hair properly.
The Billie Floof Dry Shampoo addresses this issue with a darker powder, that effortlessly dissolves into your roots. It’s vegan and cruelty-free, and it’s super fine too, so you won’t end up looking like you’re struggling with dandruff. Plus, there are plenty of nutrients built in to protect your scalp and keep your hair looking and feeling incredible.
Pros:
- Excellent formula for darker hair
- Eco-friendly and vegan formula
- Rich in crucial nutrients like biotin
- Simple application
Cons:
- The scent is a little strong for some
- The small bottle might not last long
8. Olaplex No 4D Dry Shampoo: Best for Scalp Health
Last but not least, if you’re worried about the pore-clogging impact certain dry shampoos can have on your hair, Olaplex could have the solution for you. Our testers chose this product as one of the best dry shampoo options for scalp protection, as it actually detoxifies your scalp, eliminating excess oil without leaving gritty or powdery residue behind.
The Olaplex dry shampoo is very easy to apply, and you’ll find your hair looks and feels cleaner immediately. Plus, this shampoo is excellent at giving your hair an extra boost of volume, when you want that “salon fresh” look for longer. Just keep in mind it’s not as effective as some other alternatives for extra-oily, or fine hair.
Pros:
- Lightweight volume with minimal residue left behind
- Easy application
- High-quality scalp protection
- Gentle, subtle scent
Cons:
- Limited oil control for some hair types
- Expensive pricing
Choose the Best Dry Shampoo for Your Hair
Overall, the best dry shampoo for your needs will depend on your specific hair type, budget, and the goals you have for your product. However, we think that the DryBar Detox shampoo definitely stands out as the best all-around option for most hair types.
If you’re not sure which dry shampoo is right for you, or you need some additional hair product recommendations, reach out to our team for some professional insights. Alternatively, check out our other articles for insights into the best hair dryers, conditioners, and more.
