If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.
You can only skip a shower so much before things start to get well… gross. But if you’re out at a campsite, or maybe staying on-site at a music festival sans showers, you’ll have to make do with some alternatives.
While there are a number of effective body wipes you can use to clean and deodorize your body, it’s a little trickier when it comes to washing your hair. That’s where a good dry shampoo comes in — these waterless formulas help to remove oil and grease, giving you a fresh clean feeling when you can’t get to a full shower into your haircare routine, or whenever you need a quick refresh.
The best dry shampoos not only help to keep your hair clean when you don’t have access to a shower, they also help extend the life of your hair between washes. For those with fine or color-treated hair, a dry shampoo is a good alternative to over-washing your hair, which can cause breakage or dry out your strands. It’s also a great way to refresh your hair, say, before a date, or after a particularly sweaty workout or run. In addition to removing sweat and smells, a dry shampoo adds back volume and texture too.
We’ve rounded up some of our favorite dry shampoos that deserve a place in your overnight bag or toiletry kit, including picks we’ve tried ourselves and 4.0+ star-rated products from well-trusted brands. Here are our top choices below.
In This Article
What Are the Best Dry Shampoos?
How Does Dry Shampoo Work?
Buying Guide: What We Look For In A Dry Shampoo
What Are the Best Dry Shampoos?
We chose the best dry shampoos based on factors such as hair types, length, and purpose for using dry shampoo, so you can stay prepared and feel fresh in-between wash days.
BEST OVERALL: Klorane Dry Shampoo With Oat Milk
BEST FOR VOLUME: Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo
BEST LIGHTWEIGHT: Kérastase Fresh Affair Dry Shampoo
BEST FOR OILY HAIR: Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo
BEST FOR DRY HAIR: Fekkai Clean Stylers Sheer Dry Shampoo
1. Klorane Dry Shampoo With Oat Milk
Of all the dry shampoos we reviewed, none impressed us more than Klorane did — with just a single spritz, this spray absorbs oil incredibly well, adds a ton of body, and looks near invisible after you brush it through the hair. This do-it-all dry shampoo is like the secret key to luscious locks between wash day for any hair type, with an ultra-gentle, plant-based formula that eliminates oil, dirt and odors. But the star here is that organically-harvested oat milk infusion, which soothes the scalp while while extending the life of your blowout.
Promising Customer Feedback: “Klorane Dry Shampoo has been an absolute game-changer in my daily hair care routine. Its effectiveness in refreshing my hair between washes is truly impressive. Not only does it absorb excess oil and add volume, but it also leaves my hair feeling clean and revitalized without any residue. It has become my go-to solution for maintaining fresh, bouncy hair between washes, and I couldn’t be happier with its performance. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a reliable and efficient dry shampoo!” —Lex
2. Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo
There’s no dry shampoo that gives body-ody-ody like Amika’s Perk Up does, and for good reason. It’s not only effective at absorbing oil (which can weigh your hair down), but the talc-free, natural rice starch formula delivers an extra-bounce style that gives hair the body of a volumizing hairspray. We also love that it’s got a clear, invisible finish so you can get that oomph of a fresh blowout regardless of hair color. Not to mention the vitamin C, vitamin A, and fatty acids actually nourish your hair in between washes instead of simply just soaking up dirt and oils.
Promising Customer Review: “I’ve never been happy with any dry shampoo — my roots felt…thick?…still oily?…grubby? I don’t know the right word but regardless, by the end of the day I knew I’d be washing my hair in the morning. With this product? I went two days with dry shampoo, and I would have gone a third. My scalp feels just washed after working it in each morning and the effect lasts all day! Hands down, this is the best dry shampoo I have ever used and I am a convert!” —Heather Jahr
3. Kérastase Fresh Affair Dry Shampoo
The last thing you want out of your dry shampoo is it to spray on dense and oily when your hair already feels that way — so when you need a lighter touch, Kératase has got you covered. Their ultrafine formula is a lightweight spray infused with moisturizing vitamin E that’ll help reduce breakage and rice starch to freshen up your hair and leave you feeling clean without excess oil bogging you down. The fresh, luxurious scent is just the cherry on top.
Promising Customer Feedback: “I have used many different dry shampoos over the years, and have long, fine hair which is greasy by day two. This is my most favorite day shampoo yet, my hair doesn’t feel like straw or look dry after using it. It goes on lightly, brushes through not off onto my brush, and lets my hair shine – and the scent is wonderful.” —GKNY172
4. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo
Living Proof’s advanced formula of their cult-beloved dry shampoo is the only spray we’ve tried that had our hair looking we had actually just stepped out of the shower. Go ahead, leave your hair as-is an extra day — unlike the crunchy, textured feel from traditional dry shampoo, it’ll leave your tresses feeling soft and silky smooth, thanks in part to LP’s fast-absorbing powders that sprays out of the nozzle with reduced friction. This keeps any white residue from sticking to your locks, so even the oiliest hair will look blowout-ready. It also just leaves your hair feeling truly clean, since it balances your scalp’s sebum levels, basically acting like a shampoo and conditioner all in one.
Promising Customer Feedback: “This is by far the best dry shampoo I have ever tried. I have a very oily scalp and dry ends. and every time without fail the dry shampoo I used would be super drying and oily all at the same time. This one is super lightweight and never makes my ends dry. It does not have any residue so your hair will never look chalky like with other options.” —Di Zafurova
5. Fekkai Clean Stylers Sheer Dry Shampoo
If you’ve got thinning hair, or have dryer strands from color treating (guilty as charged), then Fekkai’s Clean Stylers Sheer Dry Shampoo is like a tall glass of water for your locks. Along with absorbing excess oil without clogging your scalp, it’ll keep your hair extra-hydrated with a rich blend of Vitamin E and Glycerin to fight frizz and breakage. The formula also includes Apple Extract, which is high in magnesium, potassium and calcium to help lower your risk of hair loss and shedding by keeping your follicles well-nourished.
Promising Customer Feedback: “Great dry shampoo! Doesn’t give a white cast on my darker brown hair, smells clean but not overpowering, and leaves hair feeling refreshed! My hair is fine and really like that this doesn’t make my hair feel heavy or weighed down like a few others I’ve tried. Definitely recommend!!” —MichaelaRM
6. OGX Coconut Miracle Oil Dry Shampoo
This dry shampoo uses natural, botanical ingredients help to clean and revive your strands. The formula blends coconut, tiare essence and vanilla bean extract to help absorb oil, eliminate odors and restore texture to your locks. OGX says the product will add volume, softness and shine to your hair — all without needing water (we’ve found that it works great as a leave-in conditioner, too). This dry shampoo works especially well for delivering quenching moisture to thick or curly hair, and it’s gentle enough to be used on color-treated hair as well.
Promising Customer Feedback: “I have big, long, thick, 45-yr old Italian hair and washing/conditioning/styling it is a chore. This little can of hair-joy is AWESOME. I smells wonderful, it aerosol-sprays a strong, well-controlled, superfine dose (use short blasts!) that smooths and shines my hair perfectly, right where i need it to. Lifetime supply to this girl please, A+!” —Strange Fish
7. Olaplex No.4D Clean Volume Detox Dry Shampoo
Olaplex makes some of our favorite haircare products of all time, and their light-as-air take on dry shampoo is another winner for sure. We’ve tried it ourselves, and the formula didn’t leave that typical powdery finish on our hair. Ultra-fire micro starches help absorb oil and give your ‘do an airy lift without causing buildup that can clog pores an inhibit hair growth. Olaplex also uses Rambutan Seed Extract here to hydrate and counteract the dryness often found in dry shampoos, so if you’ve got finer hair, it won’t weigh you down.
Promising Customer Feedback: “This is the best dry shampoo I have tried. I have struggled with dandruff in the past, and most dry shampoos I have tried either end up leaving visible white powder, or weigh my hair down. The Olaplex Dry Shampoo is the best — lightweight, nice scent, no white powder and no itching. I pair it with the Olaplex Bonding Oil and it has changed my hair routine.” —Shelbie B.
8. DevaCurl Dry No-Poo Moisturizing Dry Shampoo
DevaCurl has basically been my go-to since college to maintain my wavy hair, and their newest dry shampoo now pulls double duty when it comes to moisturizing and de-frizzing your locks. To refresh your roots, just twist the nozzle to #1 for a narrow spray that absorbs oils and volumizes all at once. Their #2 setting is gold though, really enhancing the texture and shape of your curls and giving you body. The sunflower seed oil extract and jojoba oil lock in moisture, but won’t make your hair greasy — a true win-win.
Promising Customer Feedback: “This was perfect to use between washings. It made my hair shiny and my curls very bouncy. It also helped with my fly-away hairs and made my hair feel so soft and manageable.” —katgar45
9. Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray
For salon-level looks in-between washes, Oribe’s Dry Texturizing Spray is worth all the hype. This best-selling dry-shampoo alternative uses patented polymers to absorb oil and dirt instead of rice starch or other traditional ingredients. This means the formula will help you get bigger, better, effortlessly-styled hair without leaving a white residue or causing build-up at the roots. You’ll get the volume and hold of a hairspray with the freshness of a dry shampoo, all in one luxe package.
Promising Customer Review: “I have been using it for a long time and I love this product. It gives volume, softness, and shine to my hair. It was a little expensive but it was worth it. Makes your hair look so natural and beautiful. I am very particular with hair products and I found this product to be a so useful for dry and unmanageable hair.” —Anonymous
10. Batiste Dry Shampoo
This classic unisex dry shampoo instantly refreshes your hair with subtle notes of lavender and musk, while the waterless formula sucks up dirt and grease — all without sucking your wallet dry. Unlike some drug store dry shampoos, which simply mask dirty hair with fragrance, the Batiste shampoo works from the roots up to remove excess oil that weighs down your locks. The result: lighter, shinier, cleaner-looking hair with added body and texture, for less.
Promising Customer Review: “I love this dry shampoo! For background I have super long, medium density hair that I wash every other day and I have bangs, which get oily rather quickly compared to the rest of my hair. Batiste makes my hair look clean and soft, not greasy! I have used it on 4 day unwashed hair before, and while it may not look like I just shampooed that day, it does help A LOT!” —Marissa
11. Verb Dry Shampoo for Dark Hair
Even if a dry shampoo promises that it won’t leave a white coating behind, those of us with dark brown and black hair know different — but Verb’s Dry Shampoo for Dark Hair really delivers. Formulated especially for darker hair tones, this spray shampoo powder’s non-whitening formula instantly absorbs oil and re-energizes your look while blending right down to the root. Powered by bilberry extract, pomegranate extract and rice starch, it’ll cleanse your hair and give you a nice body boost, all while disappearing in seconds.
Promising Customer Feedback: “Best dry shampoo I have ver used! I have dark hair and this leaves no trace of dry shampoo! It doesn’t make it look like I have dandruff and it smells great and leaves my hair soft and refreshed. Cannot say enough great things about this product!” —AnjIA
12. Moroccanoil Light Tones Dry Shampoo
Got blonde, platinum, or gray hair? Like a purple toning shampoo, Moroccanoil Light Tones‘ formula sprays violet out of the can to cancel out any brassiness. Along with the usual ultra-fine rice starch for soaking up grease and excess product buildup, we love that their signature argan oil nourishes the scalp and adds a shine to hair for healthier-looking strands. This helps you avoid any excess dryness, but will enhance your lighter tones (and protect against UV damage).
Promising Customer Review: “The scent on this dry shampoo is light and refreshing. It is very similar to other Moraccan products I have used. It refreshes blonde hair as it is starting to get oily and extends time between shampoos. It does not leave noticeable residue on the hair. I’ve used less expensive products like Batiste and I find this one is worth the added cost.” —Sarah
13. Briogeo Scalp Revival Dry Shampoo Powder
This is the only dry shampoo I use when I travel, as I was swimming so much that the chlorine had started to effect my scalp. Briogeo has a unique, scalp-healthy formula that infuses Binchotan charcoal to draw impurities from the scalp and detoxify down to the root. A nutrient-rich blend of coconut oil, panthenol, and tea tree oil was able to moisturize and soothe my scalp even at it’s driest and flakiest. Bonus: we love their aerosol-free squeeze bottle and the non-irritating powder made from clay, tapioca, and rice starches.
Promising Customer Review: “OMG, I have tried so many dry shampoos out there, and decided it was time to use one without all the harmful ingredients (butane) and bad ingredients for your scalp (alcohol denat) but was so afraid of compromising quality. Went out on a limb for this one and it’s amazing! My favorite dry shampoo. Doesn’t give your hair that ‘product build-up’ feeling at all, just fresh hair. Put it in at night before you go to bed and voila.” —B
14. No-Rinse Shampoo
Used by everyone from models and stylists to NASA astronauts (no really!), this no-rinse shampoo is a safe, fast and efficient way to “wash” your hair, without needing water. Unlike a spray, you use it like a regular shampoo and work a small amount between the palm of your hands and massage into your hair. Apply until hair is completely wet, then towel dry thoroughly.
Your hair will feel clean and be free from excess oils, dirt and odors. Because the solution is alcohol-free, the shampoo won’t dry out your hair. And we like that it’s pH balanced to be mild and non-irritating, making it great for people with sensitive scalps.
Promising Customer Feedback: “I was originally looking for a dry shampoo to use on my red hair. Washing my hair in the shower makes my color run really bad, and so a dry shampoo was my main option for longer lasting color. The first time I used it, I was amazed! I tried it on hair that had not been washed or dry shampooed or anything in four days. After my hair dried, it looked like freshly washed hair! I was shocked. Also, my hair typically bleeds anytime it gets wet, but there was no color leakage using this! It works wonders on dirty hair. It doesn’t leave behind any weird textures or products. It just…cleans.” —AnnaSayy
15. Billie Floof Dry Shampoo
If you prefer a powder over a spray, then Billie’s Floof dry shampoo has got you covered. Just shake it right out onto your scalp and then massage into your hair until powder disappears. It gently soaks up all the oils and impurities with with baking soda and rice starch, while added biotin helps to plump and strengthen your strands. We were surprised by how fast the superfine powder dissolved and left our hair feeling clean and refreshed (plus the shape of the bottle doesn’t just look cute — it minimizes mess while pouring).
Promising Customer Feedback: “So far, this dry shampoo is amazing. I’ve been looking for a non aerosol dry shampoo that uses rice starch for forever, most other non-aerosol dry shampoos use tapioca starch or other starches and they just do absolutely nothing for my hair. I’m now on day three with just one little touch up to the crown of my head (oiliest part for me) and my hair is soft with no stringy pieces and looks freshly washed. There’s no tacky/sticky/hairspray feeling, I didn’t have to brush it out, and no buildup of product on my scalp.” —kendal
How Does Dry Shampoo Work?
The best dry shampoos go on like a hairspray or leave-in conditioner. Rather than masking dirty hair, dry shampoos actually help to refresh your hair with oil-absorbing ingredients at the roots, removing impurities and leaving your hair feeling lighter and more manageable (although it won’t clean it entirely).
To use, simply spray the product into your hair or squeeze a small amount into the palms of your hands. Use your fingers to work the dry shampoo into your strands, massaging lightly if needed to spread the product out evenly. For those with long hair, you’ll want to section off your locks and spray from about 12 inches away, creating an even mist that you can then massage into the roots with your fingertips. After your dry shampoo is applied, towel dry if necessary, then brush or style normally.
Buying Guide: What We Look For In A Dry Shampoo
When looking for the best dry shampoos for various texture types and specific needs, this is what we considered. All of these top dry shampoos are also highly-rated by thousands of users online who back up our opinions with their own hands-on reviews.
Ingredients: Dry shampoos work by using starches based from rice, clay, tapioca, or charcoal and other ingredients to absorb oil, dirt and odors from your hair. Most of our picks are rice starch (the most popular) but there’s a variety of options if you want something less powdery.
Moisturizing vs. Drying: The latest dry shampoos also contain additional ingredients to help moisturize and condition your strands (think coconut oil and vanilla bean extract), but we made sure those formulas still absorbed excess oils without drying out your hair.
Color and Finish: To avoid a chalky residue, we picked formulas that would work for most hair colors and types, but those with blonde or very dark hair might opt for a tinted formula instead.
1. Batiste Dry Shampoo
This unisex dry shampoo instantly refreshes your hair with subtle notes of lavender and musk, while the waterless formula sucks up dirt and grease.
Unlike some dry shampoos, which simply mask dirty hair with fragrance, the Batiste shampoo works from the roots up to remove excess oil that weighs down your locks. The result: lighter, shinier, cleaner-looking hair with added body and texture.
This set comes with three bottles.
PROS: Vegan-friendly ingredients and not tested on animals.
CONS: Take caution when using the bottle to make sure it’s misting rather than spraying; you don’t want to end up with white residue all over your hair.
Buy Batiste Dry Shampoo $16.64
2. No-Rinse Shampoo Cap
Your eyes aren’t deceiving you: this is a shower cap that contains dry shampoo inside. Sounds strange, but it’s actually a convenient way to keep your hair clean if you’re camping, backpacking or at a festival where you might not have easy access to a shower or water. This shampoo cap is also great for those with limited-mobility, eliminating the need to reach for shampoo or conditioner in the shower.
How it works: put on the cap and massage your hair through the cap for 15-20 seconds, working up a good lather. Once hair is wet, remove the cap and towel dry. The waterless shampoo cap is great for getting rid of odors and oils, while leaving a light, clean scent.
PROS: The shampoo cap is latex-free and safe to use on all skin types. Made in the USA.
CONS: Those with longer hair may need 2-3 minutes to work the product in.
Buy No-Rinse Shampoo Cap $21.98
3. No-Rinse Shampoo
Used by everyone from models and stylists to NASA astronauts (no really!), this no-rinse shampoo is a safe, fast and efficient way to “wash” your hair, without needing water.
Use it like a regular shampoo and work a small amount between the palm of your hands and massage into your hair. Apply until hair is completely wet, then towel dry thoroughly.
Your hair will feel clean and be free from excess oils, dirt and odors. Because the solution is alcohol-free, the shampoo won’t dry out your hair. And we like that it’s pH balanced to be mild and non-irritating, making it great for people with sensitive scalps.
What you get: soft, silky, more manageable hair with no water or rinsing necessary.
PROS: Safe for color-treated hair as it won’t strip color.
CONS: Some found the product to be a little watery.
Buy No-Rinse Shampoo $9.99
4. OGX Coconut Miracle Oil Dry Shampoo
This dry shampoo uses natural ingredients like coconut, tiare essence and vanilla bean extract to help absorb oil, eliminate odors and restore texture to your locks.
Squeeze a quarter-sized amount into your hands and work the dry shampoo through your roots using your fingers. Comb and style as necessary. OGX says the product will add volume, softness and shine to your hair — all without needing water.
This dry shampoo even works for those with coarse or curly hair, and it’s gentle enough to be used on color-treated hair as well.
PROS: Works great as a leave-in conditioner too.
CONS: Best for thicker hair.
Buy OGX Coconut Miracle Oil Dry Shampoo $28.45