Whether you’re in the thick of the summer season or gearing up for the chilly temps of fall and winter, you always need to take supreme care of your hair. There are so many products on the market that promise to give you supermodel-worthy locks with little effort, but perhaps the most popular of these low-maintenance products is the oh-so-handy invention known as dry shampoo. Designed to soak up the excess oil and dirt in your hair by cleansing and deodorizing without water, dry shampoo gets you more mileage from a blowout, breathes new life into a third-day style and is perfect for days when you just don’t feel like washing your hair (there, we said it!). From drugstore buys to non-aerosol versions, we’ve tried a whole slew of product to bring you the absolute best dry shampoos — and the worst.
[ Next: The RIGHT Way to Use Dry Shampoo ]
Before You Buy: We Rank the Best (and Worst!) Dry Shampoos
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Best Dry Shampoo: Amika
Who knew a dry shampoo could be so beneficial to your hair and smell absolutely amazing at the same time? That’s what you get with this standout product, which moisturizes and strengthens tresses, repairs split ends, enhances shine and is safe for color-treated hair.
Perk Up Dry Shampoo, $22 at Birchbox
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Best Dry Shampoo: Drybar
Some women stay away from dry shampoo because they assume that it’s not inclusive of all hair types, but Drybar puts any hesitation to rest with its gold-standard product. Featuring micro-fine rice powders that naturally blend with hair colors and golden root extract that increases moisture to prevent dryness and breakage, it also adds a nice amount of lift to your roots for volume.
Detox Dry Shampoo, $23 at Sephora
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Worst Dry Shampoo: Herbal Essences
Though it promises to add volume and body while effortlessly refreshing your hair and absorbing excess oil, unfortunately, this one from Herbal Essences just felt like an old-school aerosol hairspray. It also left behind a sticky residue that seemed to make hair feel dirty instead of clean.
Bio Renew Volume White Grapefruit & Mosa Mint Dry Shampoo, $5.99 at Target
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Best Dry Shampoo: Ouai
Yes, this is one of the best dry shampoos on the market and the fabulous results it yields are all you really need to know. Its true selling point, however, is that it was created by in-demand celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin, who is responsible for keeping the Kardashian sisters' hair selfie-ready.
Dry Shampoo, $24 at Sephora
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Best Dry Shampoo: John Frieda
John Frieda is one of the biggest names in the hair industry, so it’s no surprise that his dry shampoo ranks as one of the best. Not only does it not leave behind an unsightly white residue, it also features a light, refreshing scent and a formula for added volume.
Luxurious Volume Volume Refresh Dry Shampoo, $6.99 at Ulta
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Worst Dry Shampoo: Sexy Hair
The one thing that no one wants when using a dry shampoo is for their hair to feel hard, dry and brittle, but that is the unfortunate outcome with this one. The volume was there, but it wasn’t enough to rank this as one of the best.
Big Sexy Hair Dry Shampoo, $17.95 at Ulta
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Best Dry Shampoo: Klorane
When a product consistently ranks at the top for the best dry shampoo on the market, you really can’t deny its effectiveness. Klorane created a fabulous dry shampoo that is best for all hair types, but also contains oat milk to soothe and protect your hair and scalp, while corn and rice starches provide cleansing action to deliver natural absorbents that eliminate dirt and oil.
Dry Shampoo With Oat Milk, $20 at Sephora
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Best Dry Shampoo: Blowpro
Worried about using dry shampoo because you’re unsure if it’s eco-friendly? Well, look no further because this product from Blowpro leaves your hair looking and feeling amazing while protecting the environment at the same time. It’s sulfate-, paraben- and sodium chloride-free and safe for color-treated hair.
Faux Dry Dry Shampoo, $20 at Nordstrom
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Worst Dry Shampoo: TRESemmé
This is another dry shampoo that failed at the crucial element of being residue-free due to the white, chalky film that it left behind after it was applied. On the upside, it does have a nice citrus scent.
Fresh Start Volumizing Dry Shampoo, $5.99 at Ulta
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Best Dry Shampoo: Keratin Complex
Not all dry shampoos are created equal, as evidenced by this one from Keratin Complex that nixes the spray dry shampoo formula and opts for a powder form instead. The result is a product that doesn’t feel sticky or leave behind any residue, but instead quickly and easily absorbs excess oil and provides a nice amount of volume at the roots.
Volumizing Dry Shampoo Lift Powder, $35 at Keratin Complex
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Best Dry Shampoo: Batiste
What do you get when you combine affordability, an intoxicating scent and the ability to instantly make your hair look like you just stepped out of the salon? This standout dry shampoo from Batiste, of course. There is also a variety of scents to choose from to keep your hair routine fresh and exciting.
Dry Shampoo, $5.99 at Walgreens
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Best Dry Shampoo: Alterna Haircare
Volume and cleanliness are the top reasons to give dry shampoo a try, but the bonus is beautiful hair that is so bouncy it looks like it belongs in a hair commercial. That’s exactly what this one does, in addition to three flattering scents to choose from.
Cleanse Extend Translucent Dry Shampoo, $22 at Sephora
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Best Dry Shampoo: Dove
When it comes to beauty products created specifically for your skin and hair, you can never go wrong with Dove. Stepping into the dry shampoo arena, Dove’s spray removes oil from roots without leaving visible residue, so hair is completely cleansed and purified.
Refresh + Care Detox & Purify Dry Shampoo, $4.49 at Target
