8 Best Dry Shampoos to Make Your Hair Feel Fresh and Clean

If you’re going to invest in just one dry shampoo and you need it to cover several functions at once, let this bestselling Not Your Mother’s Beach Babe pick be the aerosol bottle you reach for. It sops up excess oils, adds texture and boasts a cruelty-free and vegan formula that works with almost every hair type.

The feather-light formula can easily be used by those with darker hair and curly textures as well, because with just a few tousles it virtually disappears at the root. The best part? Thousands of five-star Amazon reviews say it’s one of the best cheap shampoo picks on the market.

Pros

• Ideal for most hair types
• Inexpensive
• Subtle toasted coconut scent
• Won’t damage or irritate the scalp
• Safe for color-treated hair

Cons

• This formula is lighter than others on the market, which may require you to use slightly more than other brands if your hair is extra oily or dirty

You don’t have to fear dry shampoo if you’re a raven-haired beauty, because Batiste dry shampoo offers a tinted formula specifically for dark and deep brown shades that is among the most popular of all their existing formulas. This Batiste product is also ideal for those with deeper-hued tresses looking to add volume and texture between washes.

It’s sulfate-free, safe for color-treated hair, and goes to work instantly neutralizing oily strands without leaving clumpy white messes behind. And by the way, not using a color-safe dry shampoo is one of the hair color mistakes you definitely want to avoid making.

Pros

• Won’t leave messy white clumps or a powdery pale film behind
• 3,000+ five-star Amazon reviews
• Added tint refreshes color
• SLS-free formula won’t damage or dull color-treated hair

Cons

• Some reviewers note disliking the “stronger than average” scent

This nettle-boosted Klorane dry shampoo for oily hair is a go-to for hairstylists and hair experts fighting to add volume and lift to otherwise limp locks (much like these shampoos for thinning hair). The fast-absorbing formula soaks up excess oils, refreshes hair and keeps odors at bay to buy you extra time between washes. Make sure you’re also using one of the best hair conditioners for oily hair on wash day, though.

“My hair is fine and thin, so after one day it generates a lot of oil,” writes one enthusiastic five-star Amazon reviewer, Brittany. “I’ve tried at least five different dry shampoos so I can try to be one of those people that doesn’t wash their hair every day—this is the ONLY dry shampoo that has worked for me. The others would work for a few hours, but this one sucks up all the oil I generate.”

Pros

• Sops up extra oils and odors thanks to added nettle leaf extracts
• Rice starch formula won’t leave messy white residue behind
• Plant-based, vegan and made with recyclable packaging
• Mildly astringent for extra oily scalps

Cons

• Unlike other dry shampoos, this one requires being held about 10-inches away from roots, so spray evenly
• Moderately expensive

Living an organic lifestyle doesn’t mean giving up dry shampoo, and this Hair Dance volume powder is the cruelty-free, vegan and all-natural formula that proves it. It comes in a non-aerosol twist cap bottle that boasts no talc, parabens or baking soda and lets you self-regulate the amount you want to dispense. It’s a simple natural beauty swap you won’t regret making, especially when you realize how easily this little bottle travels.

“I’ve been using this product for almost a year now,” shares one five-star Amazon reviewer. “The first bottle lasted 10 months using it two to three times per week. I have thin, fine hair that gets weighed down easily. I do not use the tip to put this in my hair (that creates patches of white that are hard to distribute). Rather I sprinkle a little powder in my hands, turn my head upside down and work it into the roots. I’ve been able to go from washing my hair every day to washing it every fourth day because of this product. It smells wonderful and gives my hair extra body and fullness.”

Pros

• Cruelty-free, organic and vegan
• Talc and baking soda-free
• Affordable price point
• More than 6,000 five-star Amazon reviews

Cons

• The twist cap is a bit cumbersome and takes some getting used to
• Some reviewers report having trouble dispensing just the right amount

If you’re low on time to wash and even lower on budget, Dove dry shampoo doesn’t disappoint. It’s one of the best dry shampoo options for those with flat roots and dull, oily buildup that gets in the way of serious style. The best part? It’s easy to use this generously-sized aerosol can as a next-day revival product for salon blowouts. Adding a spritz or two to your limp second-day roots before a shot of cold air from your dryer is one of the secret hairstylist tips salons won’t tell you for free.

Pros

• Inexpensive drugstore price means a generously-sized bottle is under $10
• Restores hair volume and fullness
• Sops up excess oils and smells
• Adds volume and texture to fresh hairstyles, too

Cons

• Potential for powdery buildup

If you’re a serious fitness fanatic and can’t go a day without hitting the gym, a bottle of Igk’s First Class Charcoal Detox dry shampoo will be your new best friend. This vegan and cruelty-free formula includes naturally detoxifying charcoal powder that lifts dirt and buildup from oil and sweat. Added white tea powder soothes the scalp and nourishes follicles rather than clogging them and is safe for chemically-treated hair. If you’re looking to extend the life of your color, try using these shampoos for color-treated hair when you really need to suds up.

Pros

• Top-notch odor absorption ideal for post workouts
• Can be applied before bed as an overnight treatment that revives limp locks as you sleep
• Vegan and cruelty-free
• Natural charcoal and rice starch top the list of active ingredients

Cons

• Expensive price point

In between using your favorite shampoo for curly hair you’ll love using a little bit of this Living Proof dry shampoo and then running your fingers through the scalp to break it up without ruining curl integrity. The silicone-free formula won’t dry tresses out, and helps keep curls intact without damaging them. This is especially important for thick, textured hair because curly hair is more prone to dryness than other types.

“I have very thick, wavy, long hair and this works wonders at keeping my style, blow out, etc. in peak looking-and-feeling condition!” shares Carolyn, a five-star Amazon reviewer. “It has a nice even spray, no overwhelming smell, and it gives my hair that va-va-voom touch.”

Pros

• Safe for curls and waves
• Silicone-free formula
• Won’t dry hair out
• Subtle, clean scent

Cons

• Expensive price point, but brand loyalists don’t seem to mind

This easy-to-spray bottle of Amika Perk Up is the best dry shampoo to try if you’re searching for a talc-free formula. It’s made with rice starch and sea buckthorn to soak up excess scalp oils without damaging strands. Sea buckthorn is rich in Omega-7 fatty acids that protect and nourish follicles, so you can use this formula slightly more often than other potentially more damaging dry shampoos. That means you can add this bottle to your regular rotation in between using your best shampoos for oily hair.

Pros

• Talc-free formula
• Added ingredients to nourish follicles
• Suitable for fine, medium and thick hair types; and ideal for all textures
• Creates volume

Cons

• Most users report the best results after letting it sit on the scalp for at least 30 seconds before brushing it through or tousling with fingers. This can add a little bit of time to your morning routine, but is typically worth the effort.