I have thin hair, so I sometimes feel like I'm waging an eternal war against greasy roots. Let's say I wash and style my hair on Sunday. There's a 90% chance my hair will need to be washed and styled again by Tuesday (if not sooner). If I'm sweating in the summer heat or at the gym, my hair doesn't stand a chance. I have some tricks for disguising grease—namely hats, headbands, and frequent brushing with a boar-bristle brush to distribute oil down to my dry ends, but of course, I'm no stranger to dry shampoo.
Actually, that's an understatement. Dry shampoo is so pivotal to my hair routine that I experience a genuine sense of unease whenever I'm low on it. Not only does it refresh and volumize my flat hair, but it also extends the life of my hairstyles so that I can go longer between shampooing. That's important to me. After all, washing and styling my hair takes up a lot of time. That's not to mention the whole hair health and heat damage components. If I can cut down on exposure to hair dryers, curling irons, and straighteners (and save on split-end treatments), I will.
That's not to say that choosing a dry shampoo is simple. Actually, it's deceptively difficult. Some dry shampoos weigh down my flat roots. Some feel thick and chalky. Some sop up only a little bit of oil, leaving an oil-slick shine behind. Others still irritate my scalp and cause my hair to feel even drier than normal.
It took me a lot of trial and error, but I can confidently say I know a thing or two about choosing the right dry shampoo. In fact, I might even call myself a dry shampoo expert because lately, my hair has been looking fresh for days after washing. Ahead, check out 15 dry shampoos that have earned my seal of approval.
The 15 Best Dry Shampoos
This buzzy product went viral on Instagram and TikTok with some influencers and experts praising its efficacy. The non-aerosol dry shampoo lasts up to three days using a patented "odor bind" technology that sops up sweat and oil without leaving buildup, a white cast, or heavy fragrances behind. Just be warned: This isn't a traditional powder formula. It's more of a liquid mist, which some people say takes some getting used to. Personally, I love it. It makes my roots look fresh and full without chalky residue.
When I feel like my hair and scalp have been thrown off balance or they need a little extra TLC, I reach for this dry shampoo. It contains ingredients like sarcosine (an amino acid), wheat bran extract (for smoothness and shine), and microalgae (to reduce breakage). I can tell it's gentle on my hair and scalp without sacrificing efficacy.
I like Living Proof's original Perfect Hair Day (PhD) Dry Shampoo ($43), but I prefer this one. I find that it absorbs oil even quicker and more effectively. It also contains conditioning agents for added softness and shine, which prevents the rough, straw-like feeling that I get from other dry shampoos.
This iconic product can boast that it's the number one prestige dry shampoo in the U.S. Cool, right? Customers (myself included) love that it has a vegan, talc-free formula that gives hair a freshly washed look even if it's anything but.
My favorite French dry shampoo, this lightweight formula leaves my hair feeling light and bouncy. The secret is in the ingredient list. The star ingredient is nettle extract, which absorbs oil and prevents new oil from being produced by the scalp. Corn and rice starch add even more cleansing action.
The hero ingredients in this dry shampoo are microfine rice powders and golden root extract. The former absorbs oil and odor transparently for no white cast. It also expands as it absorbs, providing a nice lift to flat roots. The latter boosts moisture to prevent dryness and breakage.
Leave it to Oribe to create a luxe dry shampoo. Sure, it refreshes the hair and extends the life of a style, but it also offers UV and environmental protection. Translation? It defends the hair from oxidative stress, photoaging, and the deterioration of natural keratin. So if you look at it that way, it's really a hair treatment–dry shampoo hybrid.
Another innovative dry shampoo, this one has a lotion-like formula. I know that might sound strange, but it's more environmentally friendly than a traditional aerosol spray. Simply apply a dime-size amount to your hands, rub your palms together to emulsify it, and apply it to the roots of your hair. After waiting a couple of minutes, brush through and style as normal.
This dry shampoo uses the detoxifying superpower that is charcoal to deeply cleanse the hair and scalp. In fact, it contains 7% cleansing powder, which is a significant amount compared to other dry shampoo formulas. The addition of white tea powder helps soothe the scalp and prevent irritation.
This salon-quality dry shampoo is talc-, silicone-, and sulfate-free. It promises to extend the life of a hairstyle up to four days. (Yeah, I want in on that fourth-day hair.) The unique quality of this one is that it provides a cooling effect, which is helpful for sensitive-scalp girlies like me.
I know people have strong opinions about this one—both good and bad. I veer on the good side. In fact, it's one of my all-time favorite dry shampoos because it's so heavy duty. No matter how oily my roots are, I spray this powder-packed formula onto my scalp, and my hair looks fresh in an instant. Sure, it leaves a white cast behind, but that's nothing a brush or a hair dryer can't fix. Once it's dried down and absorbed the excess oil, it adds some pretty stellar volume too. Like I said, it's my favorite.
I'm constantly repurchasing this dry shampoo when my stock is low. Why? Because the formula effectively soaks up excess oil without breaking the bank. (I love a budget-friendly beauty product.) While some people might prefer a fragrance-free dry shampoo, I love its refreshing citrus scent.
Don't sleep on Andrew Fitzsimons products. I think the celebrity hairstylist's styling products are some of the best in the game because they're effective and affordable. Take this dry shampoo for instance. It soaks up excess oil in a snap. Plus, it smells incredible—think summery, Mediterranean vibes.
Another budget-friendly pick—I was introduced to this dry shampoo by Who What Wear's beauty director, Erin Jahns, years ago. Even though it costs about the same amount of money as a morning latte, it gets the job done—even nourishing the scalp with vitamin E. As for the scent, it's a lovely combination of bergamot and rose.
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