Table of Contents
The concept of using powders to absorb excess oil and refresh the hair can be traced back to ancient civilizations. In ancient Egypt, individuals used a combination of clay, sand, and fragrant oils to cleanse and scent the hair.
But modern dry shampoo as we know it began to emerge in the 1940s. During World War II, water shortages and rationing led to the development of dry shampoo in spray form.
Today, dry shampoo continues to be a popular solution for those who want to extend the time between hair washes. They are perfect for busy schedules, traveling, or emergencies when we don’t have time to wash and style our hair.
Because there are many different options available, today we present a list of the best dry shampoos to leave your hair fresh and clean!
What are the best dry shampoos to leave your hair fresh and clean?
Batiste Dry Shampoo Original
It’s impossible to talk about dry shampoo without mentioning Batiste Original, a classic and affordable option that has been a favorite for many years.
It has a quick and convenient formula that cleanses and refreshes the hair in seconds, leaving it looking and feeling clean and voluminous. The formula contains keratin, to strengthen the hair fiber.
This formula is also vegan and paraben, phthalate, and sulfate-free, having won Allure Readers’ Choice Award in 2020, among other awards.
It has a fresh and clean fragrance with notes of bergamot, lily, and rose, but it is also available in many different scents, sizes, and versions.
Kérastase Fresh Affair Dry Shampoo
This is a game-changer for those who struggle with oily hair and want to extend the life of their hairstyle. It Instantly absorbs excess oil on the scalp and hair, providing a 24-hour long-lasting Neroli Oil scented fragrance.
This formula contains vitamin E, which acts as a deep moisturizer, reducing hair breakage and fighting against oxidative aggressors.
Rice scratch is frequently used in dry shampoos due to its ability to add volume and absorb excess oil.
It also contains Neroli oil, produced from the blossom of the bitter orange tree, which provides a sweet and honeyed scent.
Overall, this Kérastase product is silicon-free, and its revitalizing formula is great for refreshing the hair or applying it on clean hair to extend the blow dry.
TIP: Read our blog to learn how to properly moisturize your hair.
Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo
With gorgeous packaging, this dry shampoo has won countless awards since 2015, including the Elle Canada Beauty Awards, Beauty Launchpad Readers’ Choice Awards, and many others.
Its main benefits include a vegan, cruelty-free formula that leaves no white residue, absorbs oil, reduces odor, and also restores volume.
It contains natural rice starch to absorb sebum and sea buckthorn, one of the few known plant sources of omega 7, loaded with 15 times more vitamin C than an orange and 3 times more vitamin A than a carrot, making it the ultimate holy grail ingredient for healthier hair and scalp.
After using this product, 100% of the users claimed their hair and scalp were instantly refreshed and that it extended time between washes.
Last, but not least, it’s free from silicone, mineral oils, phthalates, sulfates, and talc and suitable for colored and chemically treated hair.
TIP: If you are looking for a hydrating product for chemically treated hair, read our post about the best moisturizers for relaxed hair.
Skyline Dry Shampoo Powder
This is one of the best dry shampoos you can use because it is a unique and versatile option that can be used anytime.
It has a light and airy texture that absorbs excess oil and impurities while providing a natural matte finish.
It also has a subtle and clean scent that will leave your hair smelling fresh and fragrant, with notes of bergamot, lotus flower, and cedarwood.
The Skyline Dry Shampoo powder is formulated with:
- Diatomaceous earth: a mineral compound that absorbs impurities and gives hair subtle texture and grip;
- Jojoba Seed Oil: rich in vitamins and minerals, weightlessly condition hair and adds shine
- Burdock Root Extract: an effective antioxidant that helps to maintain a healthy scalp by removing loose dandruff flakes.
This dry shampoo is suitable for all hair types and colors and is vegan, cruelty-free, and has no parabens.
To use, shake gently, spray on roots at an angle, and blend with fingers or a brush, encouraging texture.
Spés Dry Shampoo Grapefruit Spray
If you’re a fan of K-beauty, you’ve probably seen this mysterious spray that is breaking the internet.
It is available in three fragrances, but the grapefruit one is especially well known, with notes of grapefruit, orange, mint, and amber.
Besides leaving the hair smelling great, it adds volume and eliminates the excess oil in seconds.
Free from parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and silicone, it’s the greatest K-beauty dry shampoo that’s suitable for all hair types and colors.
TIP: Read our post and find out the best hair moisturizers to keep it nourished.
Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo Dark Tones
This is the best dry shampoo for dark hair! So, if you have dark hair, then Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo is perfect for you!
It is specifically formulated with ultra-fine rice starch that blends seamlessly into your hair color, leaving no white residue or chalkiness.
This dry shampoo also contains argan oil, a natural oil that is extracted from the kernels of the argan tree, which is native to Morocco. It is rich in antioxidants, vitamin E, and fatty acids, which all work together to nourish and protect the hair from damage.
And the signature Moroccanoil scent will leave your hair smelling fresh and fragrant.
This UV-protecting, parabens, sulfate, and phthalate-free formula is suitable for all hair types. The shampoo of Moroccanoil won the Editor’s Pick Award, TotalBeauty.com, Beauty Awards, in 2016.
René Furterer Naturia Invisible Dry Shampoo
A best seller from René Furterer, this dry shampoo has a plant-based formula with ultra-fine rice powders that instantly absorb excess oil, cleaning the hair and boosting volume in minutes.
It is formulated with lavender floral water, which cleanses and soothes the hair and scalp, and castor oil, which leaves the hair soft, hydrated, and shiny.
It also has a delicate aroma of essential oils that will leave your hair smelling fresh and clean and natural pigments that provide an invisible finish with no white residue.
According to the tests conducted by the brand, 100% of the users agreed that the hair felt clean and fresh with a natural finish without powdery residue. And 97% thought the hair had more volume after using the product once.
Free from silicone, silica, and aluminum, the René Furterer Naturia Invisible Dry Shampoo is suitable for all hair types.
Klorane Ultra-Gentle Dry Shampoo Oat Milk
With a gentle and soothing formula, this dry shampoo is perfect for all hair types, including sensitive scalps.
It has a soft and powdery texture that absorbs excess oil and impurities while nourishing and hydrating the hair.
The oats in its formula are selected for their remarkable richness in carbohydrates, lipids, and vitamins, with hydrating, softening, and protective properties. It also contains an exclusive blend of naturally derived absorbent powders.
Its delicate and subtle fragrance with notes of oat, lily, and iris will leave your hair clean and fresh.
Free from sulfates, parabens, sodium chloride, and hypoallergenic, it is safe for sensitive scalps, and dry, damaged, or color-treated hair, from the age of 12.
Phyto Softness Dry Shampoo
With a unique formula, this dry shampoo is perfect for those with sensitive skin or scalp. It contains a prebiotic that rebalances and protects the scalp and rice powder, which absorbs sebum excess and helps to space out shampoos.
Besides cleaning and refreshing the hair, it also adds texture and volume. Its lightweight formula means that it won’t weigh hair down or leave any residue, which is perfect for those who have fine hair that tends to get greasy easily.
One of the best things about this dry shampoo is that it’s cruelty-free. Phyto is committed to using natural ingredients and avoiding harmful chemicals. This formula is free from parabens, sulfates, and phthalates and can be used by the whole family, from the age of 3.
DryBar Detox Dry Shampoo
Not only does this dry shampoo save you time, but it also helps to extend the life of your blowout. By absorbing excess oil and sweat, your hair will look and feel cleaner for longer.
The micro-fine rice powders in this dry shampoo absorb oil and sweat but also add volume to the hair.
The Golden Root Extract increases moisture to prevent dryness and breakage.
This vegan and cruelty-free formula is also free from parabens, sulfates, and phthalates, making it suitable for all hair types and sensitive scalps.
This product was the winner of the Allure Best of Beauty Award for Hair Styling Product and is available in multiple sizes and scents.
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo
This dry shampoo is a cult favorite for a reason. It has a patented formula that uses Triple-Action Cleaning Technology to absorb oil, sweat, and odor without weighing down the hair or leaving residue.
It also has a time-released fragrance that will keep your hair smelling fresh for up to 48 hours.
Finally, it contains a patented Healthy Hair Molecule (OFPMA) that repels dirt and oil, making the hair cleaner for longer.
This cruelty-free formula does not contain any parabens, phthalates, sulfates, or talc, making it suitable for all hair types, including colored and chemically treated hair.
Olaplex Nº 4D Clean Volume Detox Dry Shampoo
This Olaplex product is a new and innovative dry shampoo that not only cleanses your hair but also detoxifies it from pollution and product buildup.
It has a unique powdery mist formula that absorbs oil and impurities while adding volume to the whole hair.
It contains a patented bond-building technology that strengthens and protects hair bonds, making your hair stronger and healthier over time. And an antioxidant-rich Rambutan Seed Extract, that soothes the scalp and detoxifies to neutralize and repel odor-causing pollutants.
Tests have shown that 100% of users saw no white residue after using this product and 97% felt their hair looked clean and saw an oil reduction.
Plus, this formula is vegan, cruelty-free, pH balanced, and free from parabens, phthalates, phosphates, and sulfates.
Lululemon’s No-Show Dry Shampoo
Especially designed to remove the sweat after workouts, this new product by Lululemon is super efficient at absorbing dirt and impurities.
This transparent and weightless dry shampoo cleanses and refreshes your hair without leaving any residue or buildup.
It has a unique formula that uses activated charcoal to absorb oil and impurities while adding volume and definition to the hair. It also contains nourishing ingredients like kaolin clay and biotin that strengthen and nourish hair follicles, promoting healthy hair growth.
And its fresh and clean scent will leave your hair smelling amazing.
This is one of the best dry shampoos suitable for all hair types and colors since it is vegan, cruelty-free, and free from sulfates, parabens, and phthalates.
OGX Bodifying Bamboo Fiber Full Shampoo
It would be impossible to list the top dry shampoos without naming an OGX product. This plant-based option is ideal for anyone who wants to switch to a more natural hair care routine.
The natural bamboo fibers and soy proteins in this shampoo work to thicken and volumize hair, leaving you with bouncy, full locks.
It also has a refreshing scent that will leave you feeling energized and rice starch to absorb excess oil.
Because it’s free from harmful chemicals like parabens, sulfates, and phthalates, this dry shampoo foam is suitable for all hair types, whether you have curly, straight, thin, or thick hair.
TIP: Read our guide and learn how to use curl cream on wavy hair.
Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo
If you are looking for a high-quality or luxury product, this dry shampoo is the way to go.
Its formula is super complete and contains:
- Oribe’s Signature Complex
- Translucent Starch Blend
- Celery Seed Extract
- Myrrh Extract
- Bamboo & Rice Silk
- Lavender
- Chamomile
- Fragrance-Retention Technology
The brand’s signature complex contains watermelon, lychee, and edelweiss flowers and protects the hair from oxidative stress, photoaging, and the deterioration of natural keratin.
The starch blend and celery extract instantly absorbs dirt, oil, and impurities, leaving the hair feeling “just washed” and the other ingredients work together to fortify, moisturize and smooth the hair.
Free from parabens, sulfates, and sodium chloride, it is a great option for those with sensitive skin or allergies.
Conclusion
Dry shampoo can be a lifesaver, especially if you have fine hair or roots that tend to get oily easily. They can also save us a lot of time, which is perfect for anyone with a busy schedule.
But sometimes they don’t seem to work for our hair, leaving white residue behind or failing to absorb oiliness.
If you’ve tried a few different dry shampoos, but weren’t impressed, try one or more of these to find the perfect solution for your hair.
Whether you have oily, dry, colored hair, or a sensitive scalp, there is a dry shampoo that will work for you.
Just remember to follow the instructions properly and use it in moderation, since frequent use can lead to product buildup and scalp irritation.