The 13 Best Drugstore Dry Shampoos of 2024

If you like to skip traditional daily washes, dry shampoo will definitely be your best friend. This instant degreaser is also crucial for anyone who wants to freshen up after a workout or a long day without getting hair wet. But which dry shampoo is right for you? That depends on your hair type, hair color, how oily your roots get between washes, and, of course, your personal preference.

According to Dr. Kari Williams, a board-certified trichologist and licensed cosmetologist, dry shampoos do not actually cleanse the hair. "Dry shampoos are typically used to make the hair less oily, absorb sweat, and disguise odor," she explains. Additionally, she says that "long-term use of dry shampoo can cause a dry, itchy scalp," so use them in moderation.

In any case, if you use dry shampoo somewhat regularly, you might end up going through a can or bottle relatively quickly. That's why it's good to have some budget-friendly options at the ready. We conducted hours of research to find the best drugstore dry shampoos on the market, evaluating each option based on their ingredients and value. After considering dozens of options, we landed on these top-rated picks.

Best Overall

• Feels drying to some

Batiste has been in the dry shampoo game for over 30 years—way before many of us even knew it was a thing. And after all these years, the brand remains a standby amongst beauty fanatics and beginners alike. The powdery, waterless formula absorbs grease and dirt, leaving you with a revitalized, volumized mane. When you comb it through, the powder dissolves and all but disappears. The original formula features a subtle, musky lavender scent that smells pretty amazing too.

Active Ingredients: Butane, isobutane | Hair Type: All | Free of: Parabens, alcohol, sulfates | Size: 4.2 or 8.4 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No

Best Budget

• Lightweight

• Absorbs instantly

• Straight-forward formula

• Leaves residue

If you're looking for an impressive product with a low price tag, you can't go wrong with this dry shampoo. The lightweight, straightforward formula has become a fan-favorite over the last few years, and it's easy to see why. Just a few spritzes are enough to absorb oil and leave your tresses feeling clean and refreshed, even after several days without a regular shampoo.

Active Ingredients: Propane, isobutane | Hair Type: Oily | Free of: Parabens, sulfates | Size: 5.0 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No

Best for Oily Hair

The main concept behind dry shampoo is to address oily hair between washes, but if yours is oilier than average, this dry shampoo has your name on it. The silicon-free formula is ideal for greasier locks, as it soaks up oil and removes dirt without weighing it down. Just shake the can and spray it through your hair, holding it about 8 inches from your head. Then comb it through, and voilà! You've got non-greasy, voluminous, clean-looking hair.

Active Ingredients: Propane, butane | Hair Type: All | Free of: Parabens, silicones, sulfates | Size: 3.4 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Fine Hair

• Makes hair feel fresh

• Residue-free

• Unscented

• Looks dull to some

If you're working with fine hair, reach for Nexxus Dry Shampoo Refreshing Mist. Thin hair tends to appear oily faster than thicker hair. But this absorbent formula is just the thing to relieve your locks from a greasy, sweaty, weighed-down look between washes. It adds volume and perks up even the finest hair without leaving behind any powder or visible residue.

Active Ingredients: Isobutane, propane | Hair Type: All | Free of: Parabens, silicones, sulfates | Size: 5.0 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No

Best for Thick Hair

• Smells bad to some

This award-winning product has a plant-based formula that includes organically harvested oat milk, as well as rice and corn starches. Although it's notably lightweight, Klorane gets right to work on even the thickest heads of hair. The ultra-fine powdery mist makes your hair look, feel, and smell clean without any chalky residue. It's also ideal for anyone looking to extend the life of their blowout.

Active Ingredients: Butane, propane | Hair Type: All | Free of: Parabens, preservatives, silicones, sulfates | Size: 3.2 or 5.4 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No

Best for Curly Hair

• Leaves a bit of residue

Curly-haired folks can benefit from using this super-nourishing formula that contains coconut oil and glycerin, in addition to starches that soak up oil. It's the perfect balance of absorbent, protecting, and hydrating. Your curls will be bouncy, shiny, and fresh without any grease or frizz.

Active Ingredients: Isobutane, propane | Hair Type: All | Free of: Parabens, silicones, sulfates | Size: 5.0 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No

Best for Natural Hair

This extra-fine formula is ideal for natural hair and is lightweight enough to use often so you can go longer between washes. Containing naturally absorbent tapioca powder and filled with vitamins and citrus extracts, this dry shampoo helps to revitalize thick, curly, and textured hair. Bonus: a couple of sprays go a long way.

Active Ingredients: Tapioca starch | Hair Type: Oily | Free of: Parabens | Size: 5.0 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Hair Growth

Key Ingredients

Vitamin C is an essential nutrient required for the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of the body, including the skin, but we cannot produce it on our own. For the skin, it helps to boost collagen, lighten discoloration, and fight free radicals.

To give your hair-growth journey a boost, use this dry shampoo between traditional washes. Infused with strengthening Vitamin C and oil-absorbing rice starch, this product refreshes second-day hair and nourishes split ends while protecting strands from environmental stresses. It's also totally translucent, so the only person who'll know you skipped a wash is you.

Active Ingredients: Butane, propane | Hair Type: All | Free of: Parabens, phthalates, silicones, sulfates | Size: 4.0 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Dark Hair

• Cleans thoroughly

• Adds volume

• Gentle

Although the best dry shampoos don't leave any visible residue, the formulas are usually powdery by nature, which can be a little more noticeable on dark locks. That's why this blend is ideal for those with deep brown or black hair. The tinted formula blends seamlessly with darker hair colors, and there's also a lighter version available for medium brown tones. Like the original formula, this dry shampoo instantly absorbs oil, refreshes dull strands, and adds the perfect amount of volume.

Active Ingredients: Butane, propane | Hair Type: All | Free of: Parabens, phthalates, silicones, sulfates | Size: 4.2 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No

Runner-Up, Best for Dark Hair

• Lightweight feel

• Absorbs oil and odor

• Pleasant fragrance

• Not very pigmented

Another great (and more affordable pick) for darker tones is this option from L'Oréal Paris's EverPure collection. It's made with rice starch to effectively absorb oil and grease from the hair, as well as dark pigments so that it blends easily without leaving a residue. With an amazing scent of almond blossom and musk, it'll also mask any odor for fresh, clean-smelling hair.

Active Ingredients: Butane, rice starch | Hair Type: All | Free of: Sulfates, parabens, dye | Size: 4 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No

Best for Light Hair

• Fresh, linen scent

• Vegan-friendly

• Adds volume

• May feel greasy

If your hair is blond, gray, silver, white, or otherwise light, check out this Byrdie-editor favorite. The appeal of this product is clear—literally. It quickly absorbs oil and leaves locks feeling clean without any visible residue, and the matte finish complements light-colored hair. Just spray it throughout your hair, focusing on the roots. Then wait about a minute, run a comb through your hair, and style as you normally do.

Active Ingredients: Aluminum starch octenylsuccinate, propane | Hair Type: All | Free of: Parabens, phthalates, silicones, sulfates, gluten | Size: 4.2 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Runner-Up, Best for Light Hair

• Nozzle could work better

This dry shampoo is well-loved for not only its ability to absorb oil and product buildup from the scalp, but it also works to neutralize brassiness in blond and lighter hair shades with violet undertones. It also contains the brand's signature Argan oil, so it's able to hydrate and protect the hair from UV damage. We love that it doesn't leave a residue behind, and blends in seamlessly.

Active Ingredients: Butane, rice starch | Hair Type: All | Free of: Sulfates, parabens, phthalates | Size: 5.4 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Volumizing

• Extends blowout

• Reviving

• Prolongs color life

• Sprayer may leak a bit

This dry shampoo is another classic that's been around since the '70s. It's formulated specifically to deliver volume and fullness to unwashed, lifeless hair. The weightless product contains rice starch, chia seeds, and cloudberry. A few sprays are enough to refresh limp strands, eliminate greasiness, and give your hair an overall boost.

Active Ingredients: Butane, propane | Hair Type: Dry | Free of: Sulfates | Size: 5.3 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Unknown

Final Verdict

The best drugstore dry shampoo on the market is the classic Batiste Dry Shampoo. It's one of the best-selling dry shampoos for a reason—it's able to effectively absorb oil and add volume without leaving a residue or powdery finish. We also love the more affordable Dove Volume & Fullness Dry Shampoo—for less than $10, you'll get bouncy, clean-looking hair.

What To Look For in a Dry Shampoo

Hydrating Ingredients

Dry shampoos get a bad rap for drying out super-parched strands. If your hair is on the drier side, you'll want to look for formulas that contain conditioning ingredients like panthenol, coconut oil, or glycerin, to name a few, to keep strands hydrated, not crispy. Many formulas contain oil-absorbing ingredients balanced with nourishing hydrators to keep hair soft. An example is the OGX Extra Strength Refresh + Restore Coconut Miracle Oil Dry Shampoo, which contains coconut oil, glycerin, and vanilla extract to keep the hair soft and hydrated.

Value

Many of us use dry shampoo on the reg, whether it's on rushed mornings before commutes or going from the gym to a date. So it's important to consider price per ounce since you'll probably go through a can fairly quickly. Fortunately, there are plenty of drugstore options for under $10, like the Tresemmé Between Washes Fresh & Clean Dry Shampoo and the Not Your Mother's Clean Freak Dry Shampoo, on this list.

Scent

Dry shampoos work well to disguise second-day hair odor, so you'll want to pick one with a fresh scent that you love. Whether you prefer fruity, floral, or clean fragrances, find one with a scent you love to keep hair smelling fresh between washes.

Tinted or Clear

Given that dry shampoos usually have a powdery texture, they can sometimes leave a residue on the roots. This is usually more noticeable on brunette and black shades. If it bothers you, look for a tinted option made for your color, like the Batiste with a Hint of Color Divine Dark. Or, go for a translucent dry shampoo that won't leave any tell-tale residue.

FAQ

• Yes, they can, particularly on deep brown or black hair—but there are clear and tinted formulas on the market that are made to blend in.

• It shouldn't if you use it sparingly. Many formulas are enriched with moisturizing ingredients that can help counteract the drying effects of the active ingredients (typically alcohol and starch). However, you may experience dryness and itching if you use it regularly, according to Williams.

• No. According to Williams, dry shampoo can help absorb oil and sweat but it does not clean the hair. It's meant to simply extend the length of time between washes but is not a substitute for a traditional shampoo.

Why Trust Byrdie

Theresa Holland is a freelance writer covering beauty and wellness for Byrdie, focusing on budget-friendly options and drugstore products. She has a BS in Business from Portland State University.