10 Best Dry Shampoos for Days When Washing Your Hair Isn’t Happening
Dirty hair don’t care 💁
Mainly because I douse it with dry shampoo! It’s true – I don’t wash my hair every day (I probably go 3-4 days before I get my hair wet). That’s why dry shampoo is my true love!
If you’ve ever purchased your own, you probably know there are TONS of options – scented (and unscented), volume, extra hold, tinted, you name it. That’s why we asked all you Hip2Save readers for your best dry shampoos, and we’re here to share the results!
1. Batiste Dry Shampoo
Batiste is a classic option when it comes to dry shampoo, and TONS of Hip2Save readers love it! Plus, it’s available in so many scents!
“Batiste is my favorite. I’ve tried many others at different price points and this one is the best. I’ve seen it at Sam’s Club and Costco in bundles which makes it even cheaper! I have very oily hair, and this dry shampoo works great without making my hair feel icky.” – Lyd
“Just discovered Batiste. I love it! I can go 4 days between washes and I never could before!”– Allison
“Batiste Original! They sell it at Bed, Bath & Beyond, so you can use coupons for it!” – Dana
“I have Batiste and I love it!” – Erica at Hip2Save
2. Batiste Hint of Color Dry Shampoo
For those who have trouble with white dry shampoo residue, Batiste Hint of Color solves that problem whether you have blonde, brunette, or dark hair!
“Batiste for brunettes (if your hair is dark). My hair is jet black and I get no residue plus extra volume.” – Marie
“It’s my favorite dry shampoo because it’s CHEAP and gets the job done. I especially love that they have the ‘blonde’ version as then it’s even EASIER to apply. This stuff truly is a busy girl’s dream…even when my hubby makes fun of me for washing my hair two times a week!” – Amber
3. Eva NYC Freshen Up
Made with natural rice starch, Eva NYC Freshen Up is gentle on hair and won’t leave a white residue. Even better, the bottle says it’s enhanced with Vitamin C and fatty acids to repair, nourish, and boost shine!
“Eva NYC Freshen Up Dry Shampoo! I’ve tried so many others, it just really depends on your hair. Mine loves this one. I have thin, straight hair that’s dark brown/red. This was the only one that smelled amazing, didn’t dry out my hair, or leave a bad white residue, and it felt like I had just blow dried it. I found it at Ulta for $12. Tried Batiste, Wella, AG, Living Proof, and Dove before but all of them didn’t take well to my hair.” – Amber
“Eva NYC is the best!!!” – Heather
4. Dove Refresh + Care
Give your hair some lift with Dove Refresh + Care Dry Shampoo. Not only does it soak up oil, it gives your locks a bit of oomph!
“Dove is my new favorite. It doesn’t feel gritty in your hair like others.” – Kelli
“Dove is my go-to dry shampoo. I have thick, wavy hair and it works wonders.” – Cess
“DOVE brand dry SPRAY shampoo is GREAT! ❤ Watch for coupons!” – Janette
5. Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak
This is my personal favorite – Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak! If I’m really loading it on, I do tend to see some white marks in my hair (but after a good tousle, it soaks right in).
“‘Not your mother’s’ brand. I like the coconut one. It’s a texturizer and dry shampoo in one.” – Brooke
“I LOVE ‘Not Your Mother’s’ dry shampoo. It’s the only one I’ve found that doesn’t leave powder behind in my hair. And it’s priced around $5.00. Can’t beat that.” – Kerry
“Love Not Your Mother’s. And they have different ones for hair color, so it covers those pesky greys!” – Katie
6. Psssst! Dry Shampoo
This is the choice of the Kardashian’s (don’t ask me how I know that) and has been around for decades! For a no-nonsense dry shampoo, give Psssst! a try!
“Psssst works best for me.” – Reanna
“Psssst for sure! A little goes a long way, so sometimes I can even get away with travel versions!” – Emily
7. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day (phD) Dry Shampoo
PhD by Living proof uses patented technology to actually clean hair along with improving its look, feel, and smell! It’s a higher-end purchase but reviewers swear by it.
“If you want a splurge, Living Proof is great…” – Crissy
“Living Proof is my favorite!” – Retha
8. Drybar Dry Shampoo
This powerhouse dry shampoo extends your style, adds lift, and deodorizes without leaving behind residue thanks to its micro powder. Pick up Drybar Detox when your hair is in need of some TLC.
“I have wavy, thick hair and live in a humid area of the country, so frizz is an issue. The only one that has worked for me is Drybar brand at the roots. I run it through with my fingers, then style. You can purchase on QVC or Ulta beauty. It lasts a good while, too!” – Amy
“Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo. Cheap drugstore brands like Batiste smell horrible and don’t last long. I had to use a lot to make my hair not feel oily the whole day. Drybar only needs a little.” – Susan
9. Bumble and bumble. prêt-à-powder
“I want to know what kind Collin uses!” – Kimberly
Well, here it is, Kimberly! The prêt-à-powder dry shampoo by Bumble and bumble is her favorite! Not only does it give your hair an oil-banishing refresh, it actually protects your locks from UV rays! And if you have fine/thin hair like Collin, it adds volume and doesn’t seem to weight down hair like other dry shampoo products on the market. Collin can go days without washing hair with this dry shampoo powder!
10. DIY dry shampoo
Whether you want to save some pennies, prefer a brush on format, or are simply in a pinch, try out a DIY dry shampoo. Other readers say they get by with baby powder alone!
“Honestly I make my own! 2 parts cornstarch to 1 part cocoa powder (for brunettes) and I can put it on at night before bed with a powder brush, then touch up if necessary in the morning. Works amazing for me, with the added bonus that my hair smells like chocolate, especially when I sweat and wash it out haha!” – Aimee
“If you have dark hair, a simple cocoa powder and cornstarch mixture is so cheap, works great, and lasts for eons. I wash like every 5-6 days.” – Kimberly
“Baby powder.” – Jennifer
“Yep!! Baby Powder is the best…” – Gina
“Definitely baby powder!” – Janet
Want great dry shampoo application advice?
“Using them correctly gives the best results with any of the brands (I’ve tried tons of different brands). Use them before your hair starts looking oily. Examples: before your workout, before bed, before your outing, before putting on a shower cap …. (lightly touch up if needed). It eliminates the need to use as much and it keeps down the amount of buildup.” – MJ
These tips will help you simplify your beauty routine even more!
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Thanks! I’ve always wondered how well these work.
Thanks for reading, Donna! Hope you find one that works best for you!
Surprised Aveda dry shampoo isnt on here, that stuff is amazeballs!!
I’m one that uses just baby powder, have been for years. Like recommended, I find it works best if applied before bed.
You have to be careful when using dry shampoo. Even though they may “work” doesn’t mean they are good for your hair. Most have talc or stone dust which will damage the cuticle of your hair. Many also have drying alcohol which dries the hair out. I switched to using Monat (I am not a distributor, just a believer;) it uses rice starch and is ozone safe:)
I love, love, LOVE this list and I can’t wait to try all of these!!! Thanks so much for posting!
So glad you enjoyed it, Kate! Let us know which dry shampoo becomes your favorite!
Me too!! I’ve been waiting for this list!! Can we hear about the brands to avoid too? I’ve got some non-favorites to add!
Batiste hint of color is my favorite. I have dark brown hair and I works great.
Yes my favorite and the tint of brown help cover my growing in greys 😂
Where can you find Batiste and dies the color bleed at all (pillow,towel,etc)
Does
I have not experienced it bleeding…
Batiste brown ugh Is the worst. I used it a few times and returned to Ulta. I was peeeeeeved beyond belief at the staining all over my clothes and face. It ruined my shirt beyond washing and stain removal. And I pride myself on my stain removing abilities. While the brown wiped off my face I had to just take a shower an hour after using it. Not so good for time saving. Plus the over spray of it left brown dust on my white floor and got on my bare feet. It was like spraying colored Halloween hair spray all over! I never use Batiste anymore because no matter the type it made my hair fall out. This list is meh, I’ve used all of these but the Bumble and I can only say the Living Proof is decent from this list. There are many more kinds that are better for your hair and work well.
My personal homemade dry shampoo is 2 parts cornstarch, 1 part cocoa, and 1 part cinnamon. I smell like Christmas. 😉
Lol
How do you do the DIY? You put the mixture in your hair? Its powder so wondering how will it stick?
Hi Jenn! You just shake some onto your roots (kind of how Collin is doing in the top picture) rub it in to absorb the oils, then I like to give my roots a quick blow dry to get rid of any excess powder. Hope that helps!
I use a kabuki brush to apply my homemade mixture. I lift at the parts, tap out excess, and rub it in. Works great!
Does the Bumble and Bumble one have a scent to it? I have been wanting to try a dry shampoo but I’m picky and want one that’s not scented and not a spray? I am super sensitive to fragrance. Thanks?
The Bumble & Bumble isn’t scented. It’s a little pricey but a little goes a long way and, for me at least, one bottle lasts for months!
Any runners on here like myself that successfully used dry shampoo? I just can’t imagine it getting the sweat smell out after I run 10 miles.
While I am no longer a runner, I do work out several times a week and dry bar works wonders for me. I know it might be more expensive than some of the others but I figure I am saving in shampoo since I am washing my hair only about once a week now. Hope this helps!
Yes, I’ve used after a short run (3 miles or less), but anything more and a full shower and shampoo is needed for me! Batiste, Dove, and Not Your Mother’s are my top 3 for fine, light brown hair.
What is dry shampoo? How does it clean your hair?
I have used Dove but the smell is too strong for me.
I love L’ange dry shampoo, it is super fantastic! Never leaves a white residue and doesn’t dry or kill your hair. I have super fine and thin hair and it has been helping me to grow my hair and makes it healthier by not washing it as much.
Thanks for the tip, LK! I’ll have to check that one out!
I haven’t tried it but another option for natural dry shampoo is Drop Dead Gorgeous Dry Shampoo. You can get it on Amazon.
Awesome! That’s great to know for those looking for more natural products in their beauty routine!
My favorite is Pantene dry shampoo. It’s the only one I can handle the smell of. Pantene smells nice and fresh. Batiste smell is way too strong for me. I also tried the homemade version with cornstarch and cocoa powder but it made my head itch like crazy!
Love this post
Is it safe to be using and possibly inhaling all this powder? Johnson & Johnson just got sued by several people claiming daily powder use caused them cancer,
I’m wondering too! I see the dusty film it leaves all over my bathroom surfaces, and I shudder to think what it’s doing to my lungs. I use it every day… hope it’s not killing me!!
Yes! Batiste, Not Your Mother’s and Dove are my top 3 👍🏼💁🏻♀️
I like Dove & Herbal Essences BioRenew best. I dried Got2B and thought it left my hair feeling tacky. I got a sample of Not Your Mother’s, but haven’t tried that one yet.
Thank you for all the tips!!
Philosophy makes a wonderful one!!
Yes, batiste really dries the crap outta my hair! I need to find an alternative…
I’ve been using Monat’s Dry Shampoo for over a year… best evah!!!
Dry bar dry shampoo is hands down my holy grail hair item! It smells fabulous and gives my hair volume. I can go a week without washing my hair and you would never know. I also recommend their triple sec product.
Batiste is my go to. It does dry your hair out more than others but because of that I think a little goes a long way. Also, I suffer from psoriasis and this is the only brand that doesn’t bother my scalp too much. Finally, they are cruelty free!
Drybar Detox! The best! I have course, colored auburn hair and it has been my “one and only” for a couple of years now. I’m in love………with almost everything Drybar!
I have 2 that I received in beauty boxes and never actually tried them.
The worst dry shampoo I’ve tried is Suave Professionals… It smells amazing but makes my hair feel like hay. Don’t know what it has in it that makes me not like it as much as others, but the texture it causes and leaves, is a no go! My favorite is the dry Batiste dark brown, it blends with my hair and doesn’t leave a weird texture. I don’t use dry shampoo every day, the first few days after I wash my hair it’s super clean, so only the third or fourth day i use it.
Ive also tried a Redken pillow proof dry shampoo that I liked. 🙂
Same! I wait a few days after I wash to use it. So I maybe use it twice a week and only wash twice a week. Not sure if my hair has gotten used to less shampooing or what but it stays clean looking for days! I use not your mothers- in the purple can! Dry shampoo has saved so much time with styling!
Suave Professionals is my favorite (and I’ve tried all of them). I have super oily hair and it’s the only one that keeps the oil away all day. Not Your Mothers is my least favorite.
I also have super oily hair. I use the Sauve Professionals as well. It used be a yellow bottle, now it’s purple. After spraying it on my roots only, I rub it in very well. Since I have fine, soft hair, it doesn’t come off too drying for me.
Klorane is the BEST I have found i have tried everything above except the dry bar- the Bumble and Bumble Spray Dry Shampoo is also nice (haven’t tried the powder think it is new) . No odor or buildup and it works great! It is available from Costco on line 2 4.6 oz cans for $29 and shipping is free.
This is what I use too, ever since I got a sample can in an ipsy bag. 🙂
I love the Batiste Tinted dry shampoo! I use the dark divine? Been using it for almost 2 years. It smells good too!
Any suggestions for a low/no scent option? I have tried several Suave and Dove options, but they all smell like cheap perfume and aggravate my asthma.
The Not Your Mother’s dry shampoo has an unscented version that I adore. I use their sugar scented one normally and switch to unscented in the summer so the mosquitoes don’t bother me!
I have tried many dry shampoos and so many of them I feel like I can smell all day… but not in a good way! I really liked the UNITE brand ‘7 Second Refresher’. It was unscented/ low scented and works great! It’s a little hard to find, so you may want to do a search from their website of salons in your area that carry it. (I think Amazon is overpriced).
I can’t be L’Oréal didn’t make the one in the teal bottle OMG!!! Smells so clean refreshing just pure bliss…gives your hair that shine it needs😍I’ve never ever had oily hair in my life have no clue if it works as great as the smell but I spray it on every time I leave I used the 2$ off paid 97 cents and even found one on clearance with a dent got that free 🤭💁🏼♀️
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND MONAT, THE CHAMP DRY SHAMPOO. SMELLS AMAZING AND WORKS GREAT!
Wish there was a beauty box with a bunch of trial sized versions of these!
I love kenra platinum dry shampoo. It’s amazing. It leaves my hair feeling clean, even after an intense sweaty workout. It also has a yummy pineapple smell.
Yes….. I can’t wait to try your #1 because I’ve been told mine smells like industrial waste❣️❣️❣️
I use the Not Your Mother’s brand as my normal dry shampoo. Baptiste is so drying for your hair and it smells awful. My best dry shampoo, however, is by Amika. It’s made with rice powder and has no alcohol, and a lovely mild scent that helps everything smell right. It’s too expensive for everyday.
I didn’t like the Dove or the Suave because they have the classic problem of leaving white powder marks on the hair. It’s annoying to get them out.
I haven’t had any luck with dry shampoos from stores. Herbal Essences worked at some points, but then they must have changed it, because it wasn’t helping anymore. I have been using homemade dry shampoo for over a year now and I love it. I mix arrowroot starch with cocoa powder until I get the right shade. It is 100% natural and healthy. I would not put baby powder anywhere on my body (or on a baby for that matter), since it is pretty bad for you and inhaling it is even worse. I actually use a dust mask every time I apply my dry shampoo. Might not work for everyone, but I prefer natural stuff and it works great. Oh and it might be worth getting a baby powder product just to reuse the container. I refill it with my dry shampoo and then apply with a big blush brush. I even take it with me when I travel.
I agree! I’ve been using Acure’s dry shampoo but maybe I’ll give making my own a try!
I have three brands of baby powder around the house that I use for dry shampoo, removing sand from skin, and playing billiards, and all are made of cornstarch. Honestly, I’ve never looked at the ingredients, just bought the cheapest, so I’m thinking that baby powder doesn’t have talc in them anymore?
Oribe is my favorite followed by Big Sexy Hair dry shampoo (adds volume). I do hair on set editorial/commercial and models often come with dirty hair. These are life savers!!!
I have to say.. baby powder just doesn’t work like the dry shampoos. I use to use baby powder like 8 years ago when dry shampoo wasn’t even really a thing. It worked, but it would leave weird flake like things in my hair. And it really didn’t work great, especially compared to dry shampoo. Dry shampoo gives a little lift while getting rid of the greasiness. And no weird flakes!! I use batiste and it works amazing! I’ve found it at tjmaxx in large bottles cheaper than Walmart!
As a busy Mom with really long hair that is a pain and process to wash, detangle and dry regularly, I love dry shampoo and Batiste has been a good dry shampoo so far. I have the tropical scent and it reminds me of Summer. I would love to try the Batiste for different hair colors as it sometimes makes my hair appear whiter if it’s sprayed on too close.
I love the Garnier Fructis Pure Clean spray. Calista Day Off is good too. Also like Philosphy’s Amazing Grace dry shampoo – it’s the perfume I wear every day, so it’s nice that the dry shampoo isn’t another competing scent on my body!
I can never find dry shampoo in stores. Where does everyone find these?
I find the dry shampoo’s are around the other hair styling products like mousse, hairspray, texture gels.
Great read Emily! My fave so far has been Redken Pillow Proof but it’s too pricey for frequent use. I am using Batiste but still have white stuff occasionally. Pssst! led to an embarrassing day at work (white flake city!) and was donated to the work ladies room. Gonna try Not Your Mother’s, DIY version, and maybe Bumble if they have a good promo. Thank ya!!
Glad you enjoyed it, Melanie! I personally use Not Your Mother’s and really like it. In my experience, I’ll see some white residue right away if I really load it on but it disappears when I rub it in a bit and doesn’t flake up after that — super important to me since I’m a brunette!
What a great post! Thank you!
Glad it was helpful, thanks for reading!
Mermaid Dry shampoo is a healthier alternative. It uses arrowroot & clay powder. Works well too.
I can’t believe Aussie and garnier aren’t on here! Those are my 2 favorite drug store ones. Whatever you do, stay away from tresemee theirs is awful!
most of them are aluminum base, that can cause cancer. So be aware, and chose starch-base that is safer.
Desperate here.. I would love some advice I’m reading all these comments and looked at all the choices above. There are so many choices now I don’t know which one to even try. I have very fine hair I don’t know if you’d say my hair is thinning it’s more fine and starting to get thin.
My hair is dark brown and there is some grain it but it’s more of a mousy gray color than white. Any of the dry shampoos I’ve used felt icky and I can see the residue on my hair. My hair gets oily like at the end of the day after I wash it and I really just can’t be washing my hair as often.
My hair is dark brown and it’s longush.
I would love suggestions from someone with similar situation. There are just so many choices mentioned above and in the comments that I’m not sure where to even start and my budget is sort of low but I’m willing to pay for a good product
I use baby powder applied with my fingertips because I hate the hairspray-like residue I feel on my hair after I use a spray. Is it the propellants that is causing that? I would love to use a spray instead because my method is on the messy side, but I just want my hair to feel dry and clean.