The 15 Best Dry Shampoos

Living Proof's Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo claimed the top spot in our dry shampoo test.

"There’s a lot of hype around Living Proof’s dry shampoo, but it’s justified," said our tester Ashley Phillips. "I’ve tried many dry shampoos and nothing works better on my hair than this one."

We dug a little deeper into the science behind this dry shampoo's formulation to figure out how exactly this magic-in-a-bottle works. The true star of the formula (and what sets Living's Proof's dry shampoo apart from the rest of the pack), is the brand's patented OFPMA molecule.

This innovative ingredient actually cleans the hair and repels dirt and oil, instead of only masking dirty strands with powders and perfumes. Thanks to the inclusion of this "healthy hair" molecule, Living Proof's dry shampoo effectively absorbs and eliminates oil, sweat, and odor to take it a step beyond refreshing the hair.

It excels in the oomph department as well, expertly imparting the perfect balance of volume and texture, making thin hair behave like thick hair. It'll have all hair types looking new and feeling improved, adding shine and a fresh, clean scent, too.

Come for the fabulously festive bottle, stay for the results! Amika's dry shampoo is by far the most fashionable on our list. Beyond its epic packaging that makes it worthy of a spot on your vanity, it truly lives up to its name, perfectly perking up hair that needs a little oomph.

This shampoo in a shaker effectively cleans excess oil for a freshened feel. It also pumps volume into your strands and leaves behind the sweetest scent of fruity berries and warm vanilla, so you feel like you just left the salon all day.

First of all, this OGX dry shampoo smells refreshing, with essence of tea tree oil and peppermint. Most importantly, it does a great job absorbing oil so that your strands look revitalized, but that doesn't mean it dries out your hair. This formula texturizes while it works.

If you're looking for a budget-friendly option that works like you paid top dollar for it, look no further. Our tester Zarah Kavarana totes this one as her all-time favorite for its fast-acting, lightweight formula.

"This stuff is amazing," she says. "It sprays on light, but instantly absorbs oil, blending seamlessly into darker hair. I love its salon-fresh floral scent because isn’t overpowering, but it makes me feel like I just washed my hair."

We live for all things IGK. All editors who tested the brand's First Class Charcoal Detox Dry Shampoo had a positive experience — and cleaner-feeling strands.

"My hair definitely felt cleaner and more flexible — not stiff at all," said tester Melanie Yates. "Some dry shampoos add a gritty texture to hair, whereas this one felt almost like a mini-wash."

Tester Danielle St. Pierre agreed. "The cleansing charcoal aspect of this dry shampoo definitely lived up to the hype," she said. "Especially when I left this product in my hair overnight and woke up the next morning, I found that it did a really good job at absorbing the oil at my roots."

Our only caution is that this one is extremely fragrant. It smells amazing (like a blend of cocoa and sandalwood), but if you're sensitive to strong scents, this may not be the dry shampoo for you.

Bed Head's matte dry shampoo is a super-fine powder spray that keeps your hair light and flowing by absorbing the excess oils that accumulate throughout the day. The result is a natural-looking matte finish and a light hold.

This ultra-gentle, vegan formula is powered by organic oat milk which absorbs oil and dirt while soothing your scalp. The fine powder blends completely, leaves no chalky residue, and creates a volume and texture in your hair.

Once we heard that a bottle of this magic sells every 4 minutes, we had to include it in our dry shampoo test. R+Co makes one of our favorite traditional shampoos, so it’s no surprise that we love the brand’s answer to dry shampoo, too. We like this one because it effectively absorbs oil, leaving our hair soft, flexible, and shiny — without any white residue or cast that dulls our strands.

“I was blown away by how this dry shampoo left absolutely zero residue on my hair or clothes,” said our editor Zarah Kavarana. “I have very dark hair, and it’s hard to find a dry shampoo that keeps my hair looking like my hair.”

Also, all testers agree that this one smells amazing. The scent gives us elevated Coconut Lime Verbena vibes. "I absolutely love the scent of this dry shampoo," tester Dana Baardsen said. "It has a light, sexy, fresh scent that is super subtle. It’s a little woodsy, floral, and sweet citrus."

R+Co also makes another dry shampoo worth mentioning in paste form. Many of our long-haired editors preferred a traditional spray, but we love the paste for absorbing oil and adding texture to shorter hair.

Men’s Health senior style editor Adam Mansuroglu also tried this one out and can attest that this form is perfect for men who might prefer more of a wax texture. "The paste was nice for me because it worked well when I already had a bit of light pomade in my hair," he said.

Batiste's original dry shampoo was the go-to dry shampoo brand for many of our testers, and now the brand has a foaming formula.

While all of the dry shampoos on our list are fit for your gym bag, this one from Batiste gives your hair the truly cleansed and refreshed feel that you want after an intense workout session.

Tester Jennifer Hussein lathered this cleansing foam in her hair after going for a jog, and it instantly dried down without making her hair frizzy, greasy, or wet. Plus, its coconut milk-filled formula made her post-workout strands not only smell good but feel good too.

Acure's dry shampoo comes in a standard powder shaker, which makes it easy to know exactly how much dry shampoo you're using. It absorbs oil and grime easily, and its light rosemary-peppermint scent leaves you feeling fresh. They also make a formula for dark shades of hair, but this one is a good choice for all hair types.

Even if Oribe's Dry Texturizing Spray isn't technically a dry shampoo, our testers say that it works just like one — and an incredible one at that!

One spritz instantly provides insane volume and texture, and it also absorbs oil just like a traditional dry shampoo.

If you're sensitive to scents, you might want to grab a bottle of the Bumble and bumble dry shampoo. Aside from its soft scent, we love that this dry shampoo is formulated with pink clay to absorb oils in your hair. It also features UV filters to help protect your strands from the sun, making it a great option to take on your next vacation.

Moroccanoil offers different formulas for light and dark hair. Made from ultra fine rice starch, each spray is color-specific to match your roots. This helps you avoid that harsh cast that typically makes dark tones look like it was dusted with powder. Our raven-haired tester Danielle St. Pierre considers the dark variation a favorite!

Similarly, those with light-toned hair can rest assured knowing that their dry shampoo will blend in effortlessly with their shade.

The Virtue Refresh Dry Shampoo actually came at the recommendation of celebrity colorist Rachel Bodt, so editor Jennifer Hussein took it for a test drive. She loved the fresh, citrusy scent and found it to absorb oil quickly and easily. This dry shampoo leaves hair feeling soft without any stiffness, and it offers a subtle boost of volume. While it's not tinted like some others on our list, it's specifically formulated to be safe for use on colored and highlighted hair.

The blowout professionals from Drybar designed this Detox Dry Shampoo to add body while reducing oil. This tried-and-true dry shampoo also provides the perfect amount of allover texture if you need a little more grit to hold your style throughout the day. It's great to use when heat-styling hair, especially if using a curling iron — it adds a little extra hold to curls that normally go flat.