We Tested 25 Dry Shampoos – Here’s the Top 13 We Think You’ll Love

You can expect a faint floral scent when using this product. But it doesn’t linger throughout the day and is rather inoffensive, so no worries about it causing headaches or overpowering your perfume.

Everyday Health editor Nicole Bonaccorso found this product’s performance impressive. “This does well to soak up oil. I noticed that my hair looked and felt cleaner,” she shared. But, she did warn that it does indeed dry into a powder on the scalp, and she found that her hair appeared a bit “powdery,” and she got some powder residue on her fingertips. A quick brush through should help ease this issue. Pro tip: Spray as close to the roots as possible to avoid drying out your tresses.

Dry shampoos can have harsh ingredients, making those who prioritize gentle and natural formulas hard-pressed to find a good fit.

Even worse, folks who have sensitive skin may feel they’re doomed to the cycle of having to wash their hair anytime it gets the slightest bit oily, thus drying out their scalp or using a dry shampoo that only irritates their skin further.

A formula free of these pollutants is key. Non-aerosol, gently scented, and vegan, this dry shampoo offers a hefty dose of powder to the scalp, making it ideal for those with fine hair.

I personally tested this formula. I am a Black woman with 3C curls, so I am never seeking products that promise volume or texture.

While I wasn’t the ideal candidate for this dry shampoo, I must admit it works very well. The application involves squeezing the bottle, which puffs out a large pouf of powder. Then, after waiting two minutes to soak in, you brush it through your hair.

I noticed my scalp was instantly refreshed. However, it did add a big boost of volume and texture, which often leaves my curly hair tangled. This information let me know it was a great fit for those with fine hair.

There is a bit of a learning curve with the application — be sure to hold the bottle about 10 inches away from your scalp for an even distribution of the powder.

We’re all about dry shampoos that focus on unique ingredients and deviate from the standard aerosol can, as they’re often gentler on the scalp and the environment.

That said, we are also all about dry shampoos that actually work. After all, what’s the use of an environmentally-sound product if it doesn’t work and will end up in the trash?

Everyday Health writer Ashley Ziegler was already familiar with this product long before we asked her to test it out. “I’ve been using this product regularly for the last couple years,” she said. She loved the scent. While those with scent sensitivities may appreciate that it doesn’t linger, she wishes it did because she thinks it smells that good.

But what has kept her coming back all these years is simple. It just works. “I think my hair looks great when I use this,” she explains. It also adds a bit of volume, refreshing her hair enough to go a bit longer between washes.

If you struggle to blend it in, consider trying out the brush designed to work with this product. Don’t get discouraged if it takes a few tries to get the hang of using the bottle. It’s a bit different since it’s a pump, but it is super easy once you get used to it.

Since dry shampoos are often sold at drugstores and big-box chains, it’s easy to assume there are no luxury options out there.

If you’re someone who loves an elevated experience, fret not. The Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo works well, is easy to apply, and is suitable for all hair types. Oribe is known for making high-end products with gentle yet effective ingredients, so we’re not surprised its dry shampoo is a hit.

Ziegler tried this product on her fine, straight hair. The first thing she noticed was its efficacy. “This is a really effective dry shampoo. It’s probably the best performing of all the products I tried,” she said.

It drastically altered the appearance of her hair. “It looked very clean,” she adds. This dry shampoo doesn’t add much texture or volume. For folks with curly textured hair like mine, that is fantastic news, but others may be looking for a lift with their dry shampoo, so it’s worth noting.

Heads-up: The scent is heavy and does linger. It wasn’t Ziegler’s favorite, though we found in our research that others enjoy it. Sensitive noses, beware.

“When I say this product is unscented, I mean it,” said Bonaccorso. “I didn’t detect a bit of scent — no fragrance, no chemical smell. Though this is a simple, straightforward dry shampoo, it’s one of my favorites because of its lack of scent, as well as its ability to add volume, making your hair truly look like it was just washed and blow-dried.” She was able to stretch her wash day by a day without needing to reapply, and said she wouldn’t be surprised if her hair held out an extra day on top of that with a reapplication.

It’s made without sulfates, parabens, silicones, or dyes and is cruelty-free and vegan. So what’s absorbing all that oil? Barley and rice starches, aka, no talc. It’s safe for color-treated hair, but even on Bonaccorso’s blonde tresses, she noticed quite a bit of powdery residue that blended when she brushed and tousled her hair. Getting rid of that residue may be a bit tougher on darker hair. We love that it comes in a large bottle but you can also get it in travel-size.

For some, added fragrance is a plus when it comes to dry shampoos. Ouai Super Dry Shampoo Melrose Place is scented with hints of rose, bergamot, lychee, white musk, champagne, and more, to create a rich fragranced dry shampoo that will leave you smelling more than fresh. The formula absorbs oil and sweat, adds volume, and is gluten-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, and cruelty-free. “This is my new go-to dry shampoo,” says editorial director Simone Scully. “It makes my hair look great and smell amazing.”

One ingredient some may squint at is the aluminum starch. This is not an uncommon ingredient in cosmetics, and has been deemed safe by the Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety. [Alice Akinsulie, et al. Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate. International Journal of Toxicology. September 29, 2023. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10915818231204281] However, according to the Environmental Working Group, concerns for this ingredient are a bit higher when the product in question in inhalable (i.e. in sprays and powders). Still, it ranks low for concerns like cancer, allergies, and developmental and reproductive toxicity, according to the site. 

Due to my long, thick curly hair, I am especially discriminating with dry shampoos. I’ve been burned too many times. From product spraying on white, leaving me frantically massaging my roots to disperse the residue since brushing makes my hair frizzy, to tangled knots of hair multiplying thanks to formulas promising lots of texture and volume, I’ve been through the ringer. When I sprayed Moroccanoil’s dry shampoo for dark tones, I was instantly pleased. The product was dispersed in a fine translucent mist. No texture or notable volume was added as a result. No white blotches on my roots, no tangles forming anywhere. For these reasons, and plenty more, we are excited to name this the best dry shampoo for curly hair.

Dry shampoo has a tendency to leave hair a bit crunchy. If dry hair is already a struggle for you, Saltair Santal Bloom Dry Shampoo’s formula may be just the ticket; it leaves hair soft and less dry-feeling. “I think this product could be good for someone who can regularly go a few days between washes and just needs a dry shampoo to refresh their hair in between, or give it a little texture and volume before styling,” said writer Sarah Bradley. “Or, if you have hair that tends to be dry, you might appreciate that this one doesn't dry out your hair a lot as it removes oil.”

The secret is the shea butter-coated rice starch, which absorbs oil while adding moisture back into the hair and scalp. Bradley did mention the scent is quite strong at first, but it weakens quickly. “I personally liked the scent; it was very lightly floral and beachy,” she added. During testing, she found the dry shampoo kept her hair looking clean for several hours, but mentioned that reapplication will likely be necessary if you’re planning to skip a wash day, or if your hair tends to be on the oily side. 

Traveling doesn’t always go smoothly. Even if you don’t have to deal with delays, schedule changes, or lost luggage, you may not be able to (or want to) stick to your regular hair washing schedule. Dry shampoo is a vacation and business trip life-saver, but you likely won’t want to pack a large aerosol bottle. The Rootist Clarify Dry Shampoo Powder comes in a bottle small enough to slip into your carry-on or toiletries bag. The 0.17 oz bottle will hardly take up any space at all.

“You apply The Rootist Dry Shampoo with a brush, which lets you more precisely target areas that need extra attention (like your part, your bangs),” said writer and editor Katie Tuttle. “The dry shampoo blends in well, even with dark hair, and it has a faint pepperminty smell that's quite pleasant but still very subtle.”

This is a powder formula with a pouf applicator, and it goes on translucent, so it’s suitable for all hair colors. “I found that it went on pretty lightly, almost transparently, in my hair (which is blonde) and blended in pretty well without leaving any noticeable powder or residue,” said Bradley. She said that the fresh, mildly floral scent is very light, and it’s not noticeable once the product is applied. She could see the product absorbing oil, but the effects didn’t last long, so it may not stretch your time between washes. She also mentioned that she found the application a bit difficult, as the powder doesn’t make it through the pouf easily. 

What if you could team up with a lab to create a unique formula specifically tailored to your hair needs, and get a dry shampoo that addresses your hair the way you need? Prose is a company that creates custom-formulated products for your hair, face, and body. We especially love this for those who have unique needs, like folks struggling with psoriasis or dermatitis. There’s nothing else like the Prose Custom Dry Shampoo.

Getting started with Prose is a different experience from the beginning. Rather than heading over to your favorite online retailer and purchasing your dry shampoo of choice, you’ll fill out a questionnaire. This questionnaire is designed to analyze over 80 factors, including your diet, location, and hair type, to create the best dry shampoo for you. If they don’t quite knock it out of the park on the first try, you can get a refund. “My hair did feel light and soft and not greasy. I liked how it made my hair look and feel,” explained Andrew Swanson, who tested this product. This was his first experience with dry shampoo, and he was generally pleased. He did find there was a learning curve with the pump applicator and did have to apply twice on extra-long days.

The viral Amika Perk Up Talc-Free Dry Shampoo has been making its rounds on the internet for a good reason: It simply works. It can be rare to find a truly invisible formula. But Amika’s dry shampoo was so translucent that Bonaccorso ended up using more than needed because she was expecting to see a white residue left behind. Instead, it mopped up oil, left a lustrous sheen, and was easy to use. “This [product] doesn’t leave any residue at all. It comes out pretty much translucent,” she said.

Amika uses natural rice starch, and in some of their dry shampoo products, arrowroot starch, tapioca starch, and bamboo stem extract. Be forewarned, the scent is very strong, and Bonaccorso said it resembled perfume.

Whether you’re in a pinch or just want something simple and affordable, a good drugstore buy is always a win. We think of a drugstore buy as affordable and easily accessible at pharmacies and big box stores alike. Monday Haircare Original Dry Shampoo may seem like an upscale buy, thanks to its chic packaging and luxe gardenia scent, but it is an inexpensive purchase for under $10. We love its price point, accessibility, and quality.

The first thing Swanson noticed was that this product is clear. “I did a test on my hand to see what it looks like without hair… It goes on clear,” she said. She also loved the shampoo’s gardenia scent. “The smell of gardenia is very pleasant, and I truly enjoyed it,” Swanson explained. The scent is gentle, though. “It lasted about an hour in my hair after I used it, but then it went away,” she said. “I kind of wish it lasted longer.” There was no need to reapply, and she was more than satisfied with the product and even more pleased at its price point. She did notice that this product doesn’t add a lot of volume, but that may be a benefit for those who already have voluminous locks.