Best Dry Shampoo: Our Top 4 Picks

Person washing hair with shampoo

Shampooing your hair should not be a hassle. It also should not strip your hair of vital nutrients and oils needed to stay healthy. We chose the 4 best dry shampoos to eliminate over washing. They are also an easy, quick way to get up and go on those days when you don’t seem to have enough time for a shampoo, rinse, and repeat. Luckily for us, there are shampoos for dry hair, oily hair, color treated hair and more. Sometimes it takes bottles and bottles to find the right one, and then after only a few months of using your favorite shampoo, it simply doesn’t work anymore. Reviewing the 4 best dry shampoos will make choosing one easy, so you may always have a happy hair day.

Style Edit Invisible Dry Shampoo

If you want an instant fresh look, Style Edit is one of the best dry shampoos to use. It adds body and bounce. After a long day at the office or good hard work-out at the gym, your hair can become limp and dull. We want to lift and shine, but we know over washing our hair will strip it of its natural oils and sheen. Style Edit Invisible Dry Shampoo is one of the best dry shampoos to regain the just-washed softness. It gets to the roots to soak up dirt and sweat that can cause a weighed down look. With Style Edit, your hair will perk up with volume. Are you worried about unwanted odors? Not with Style Edit. You can feel confident that your hair not only looks gorgeous but smells fantastic too.

Product Specs

What makes Style Edit one of the best dry shampoos is that it does not have a powder base. Often, other dry shampoos use rice powder or even aluminum powder to absorb oils. Style Edit does not. Therefore, there is no white residue often seen with other dry shampoos. This makes it especially great for those with dark hair tones.

Pricing

You can purchase Style Edit Invisible Dry Shampoo for around $ for 3.6 ounces

Style Edit

Style Edit MEDIUM BLONDE Root Concealer Touch Up Spray | Instantly...

Style Edit MEDIUM BLONDE Root Concealer Touch Up Spray | Instantly…

  • GREAT FOR IN BETWEEN BEAUTY SALON VISITS – This salon quality root cover up is ideal for…
  • EFFORTLESS IMMACULATE ROOTS – Stop wasting time and money at salon centers, get this Hair…
  • NO STICKINESS OR HARSH INGREDIENTS – The BLONDE hair dye dries fast and will never flake,…

Price

Averaging about $  an ounce, it is an excellent price.

Fragrance

This product has a mild and clean fragrance. You’ll enjoy a pleasant experience while washing your hair.  

Cleaning Efficiency

Style Edit is perfect for normal to dry hair. However, you may want to bypass this product if the hair is extra oily.

Ease Of Detangling

Users say that after using Style edit, they were able to easily detangle the hair. 

PROS

  • No Powder shampoo
  • Simple to use
  • Minimal tangling

CONS

  • Not good for oily hair
  • Lacks organic ingredients
  • Fragrance may vary

How it works

The amount of dry shampoo you will use depends on the length of your hair.  Starting with small amounts lightly spray the shampoo.  Lifting and separating the hair will help get the dry shampoo closer to the roots where the oil gets trapped.  After spraying the whole head, use your fingers and gently massage shampoo into the scalp. Simply fluff out the hair and go.

How It Compares

Woman sitting while someone washing her hair with best dry shampoo

We picked  3 similar products available on the market to see how they compare. With many hair types, we understand not every shampoo will work for you. Reviewing the top sellers helps consumers decide which is the best dry shampoo is for their unique style and texture.

  • Pantene Original Fresh Dry Shampoo
  • Unwash Dry Cleanser
  • Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo

Pantene

Pantene Pro-V Original Fresh Dry Shampoo, 4.9 FL OZ (Pack of 3

Pantene Pro-V Original Fresh Dry Shampoo, 4.9 FL OZ (Pack of 3

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What do you do when you are out and about, running errands, picking up groceries and you pass by a mirror only to see droopy locks? No time to wash before that important meeting or dinner gate? Pantene Original Fresh is the best dry shampoo to perk up and renew flat, lifeless hair. The formula is so lightweight you won’t even remember you used it. All you will know is that you look fresh and fabulous. This is an amazing on the go hair product.

Product Specs

The tapioca powder makes this one of the best dry shampoos to use. Tapioca is a starch derived from the cassava root, which grows abundantly in Brazil and much of South America. It is often used in cooking to create a fluffy texture. Tapioca will work the same way for your hair, giving it height and bounce.

The Panthanol used in this product is a B vitamin, adding nutrients to brighten up the sheen. No greasy glow here, only a fresh, clean gloss.

Price

You can purchase Pantene Fresh Dry Shampoo for around $ for 4.9 ounces Pantene has been in business for a long time. High volume sales mean they can give their popular products to you at a very competitive price.

Fragrance

Pantene is known to have a soft and gentle perfume fragrance. It is not overpowering but definitely noticeable.     

Cleaning Efficiency

This product is excellent for oily hair and hot days. 

Ease Of Detangling

With its moisturizing panthenol, users state that tangles are not an issue.

PROS

  • Vitamin E
  • Detoxing properties
  • Versatility 

CONS

  • Shampoo Texture
  • Occasional Residue

Maple Holistics

Natural Sulfate Free Shampoo for Women and Men - Keratin Silk18 Gentle...

Natural Sulfate Free Shampoo for Women and Men – Keratin Silk18 Gentle…

  • 【Ultra Smoothing Shampoo】This is a hydrating shampoo for dry hair and scalp that makes…
  • 【Cleanse and Condition】Sulfate free shampoo washes away oily hair dirt dandruff and…
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Maple Holistics Cleanser made our list of best dry shampoos because of its versatility. Whether you have straight, curly, wavy, thick or fine hair, Maple Holistics will work for you. Instructions vary based on your hair type, and we like that. Most shampoos have a one size fits all instruction panel. For those with fine, oily or minimally damaged hair Maple Holistics Dry Cleanser recommends using several times a week. For curly, coarse or damaged hair, they recommend once a week.

Product Specs

We put this on our best dry shampoo review because we love the volcanic ash. While other dry shampoos use powders or starches, Maple Holistics Dry Cleanser uses high mineral ash from volcanos also called Zeolite. The ash is known for its incredible cleaning and detoxing properties. If you want to remove grime and environmental toxins that pollute your hair, give this one a try. Maple Holistics Dry Cleanser is one of the best dry shampoos because of its genius formula. The nourishing Vitamin E neutralizes free radicals and repairs hair follicles. You won’t just get clean hair you will get healthy hair. You will notice a reduction in breakage and an increase in smoother ends.

Price

You can purchase Maple Holistics Dry Cleanser for about $  for 1 ounce or  $$ for 3.3 ounces This is a higher-priced item.  We suggest the 1-ounce bottle to try first to test out on the hair.

Fragrance

The aloe and fruit extracts give this dry shampoo a sense of being in nature. Love it.

Cleaning Efficiency

You’ll get overall cleanliness with this product. Unfortunately, there may be a slight residue left behind.  

Ease Of Detangling

Users say that sometimes the hair is difficult to detangle after using this product

PROS

  • No harsh chemicals
  • Added Fruit Botanicals
  • Sulfate and paraben free

CONS

  • Not good for lighter hair tones
  • Volcanic ash can leave a hint of brown

Living Proof

Brand New Living Proof 4.0 oz Restore Instant Repair

Brand New Living Proof 4.0 oz Restore Instant Repair

  • An instant transformer that corrects and treats hair before, during and after styling….
  • prevent 93% of new split ends
  • make hair 15x stronger after just 1 use

We found Living Proof to be one of the best dry shampoos because of its cleaning technology. It doesn’t just soak up oils and sweats but leaves you with a deep clean sensation. Living Proof is the perfect name because it works and the results are noticeable. They understand that its consumers don’t just want a shampoo that will absorb odors and oil, but one that will give their locks shine. Living Proof is formulated for all hair types, making it an easy choice. 

Product Specs

Rice starch is the key ingredient in lifting excess moisture. The hydrated silica in this shampoo will add shine and softness. There are no silicones used making it perfectly safe for color treated hair. 

Price

You can purchase Living Proof for around  $$ for 4 ounces
The Zeolite in this formula makes it a little higher than the others on our best dry shampoo list but worth it.

Fragrance

This shampoo has a citrus scent that lasts all day. As the hair moves, the aromas will lift you. Nothing smells clean like citrus. 

Cleaning Efficiency

The product is excellent for removing dirt, grime, and odors caused by pollution. This gives the hair a more volume and shine.

Ease Of Detangling

Users say that Living Proof Shampoo is overall tangle free. 

PROS

  • Uses Zeolite
  • Nourishes hair shafts and scalp
  • Adds volume

CONS

  • Longer application time
  • Not good for curly or coarse hair

Conclusion For The Best Dry Shampoo

woman in the hair spa

The first choice in our best dry shampoo review was Style Edit Invisible Dry Shampoo. This was the only shampoo on our list that does not have any powders or starches. This is a unique formula that most people like because often these ingredients will leave a dusty feeling on the scalp and head. Also, powders are not always easily absorbed, especially for those with dry or damaged hair. The excess dust is fairly noticeable and more so with darker hair shades. The only way to combat this is to either brush it out or use a blow dryer to remove which can take some additional time.

With the extra time involved, the purpose of dry shampoo is defeated. People use dry shampoos primarily for 2 reasons. The first reason is they do not want to strip their hair of its natural oils by over washing. Reason number two is that they are in a rush and lack the time to traditionally wash the hair. This gives Style Edit the name Invisible Dry shampoo because it is exactly that, You can not see the dry shampoo after applying. This can save time especially for those with longer hair strands.

Style Edit Invisible Shampoo also has a light, clean scent. Often sprays can have a chemical odor, so the scent is important. Companies will add strong fragrances to override the butane used for aerosols. Also, dirty hair can carry a slightly musty scent. This is one of the best dry shampoos to add the perfect amount of clean to eliminate dirty hair odors.

Unwash Cleanser and Living Proof Dry Shampoo do have qualities we prefer over Style Edit. The vitamins and volcanic ash they put in their products are features you won’t find in common brands like Pantene. When we skip a day or two of regular shampooing, we still want our hair to look and feel healthy. Nourishing the follicles, shafts, and the scalp will enhance the hairs strength and sheen. This makes Unwash Cleanser and Living Proof more than a shampoo but a conditioning agent too.

All the shampoos are easy-to-use sprays. There is no difference in this feature. They are also all effective in reducing tangles overall. The pricing of these products vary due to the ingredients used. Style Edit Invisible Dry Shampoo is a great price. Unwash Cleanser and Living Proof Dry Shampoo range from about $5.00 an ounce to $9.00 an ounce. Style Edit Invisible Dry Shampoo averages around $4. 50 an ounce, making it one of the best dry shampoos on our list for savings.

Keep in mind, you get what you pay for, and Style Edit is not one of the best dry shampoos for providing hair strengthening nutrients and bodybuilding botanicals. However, not only will it do what you need it to do, for the time being, it will make your hair look renewed and alive. It does a great job for reducing limp locks and adding softness without the residue. Overall, Style Edit definitely deserves a big thumbs up. Taking all the facts into consideration, and user reviews, we give it a 4-star rating.