The Best Dry Shampoo for Healthy Hair

Whether you’re in between washes or want to get that fresh-from-the-hairdresser look without the heat, dry shampoo can be your new best friend. GH editors share the safe and clean options they love to keep their hair looking and feeling healthy and beautiful.

Designed for all hair types, this invisible spray uses natural and safe ingredients (like rice starch, arrowroot powder, and baking soda) to absorb oil and eliminate odor. It’s also free of sulfates and parabens.

It Cleanses and Detoxifies

As the name suggests, dry shampoo cleanses your scalp and helps prevent a buildup of oil or grime. “Unlike traditional powders, natural dry shampoos are formulated without the chemicals that can irritate the skin and block the pores, which may result in dandruff, itching, and flaking,” Iudina says. “The best dry shampoos are made without talc, dust, and petroleum.”

Our top pick does just that with a mix of plant-based ingredients. It uses binchotan charcoal to draw out impurities, while a blend of tapioca starch and rice powder absorbs excess oils and helps freshen the hair. It also features fulvic acid, which nourishes the scalp and promotes healthy growth. Plus, it’s free of talc, phosphate, perfume, and parabens and certified vegan and cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny and PETA.

The Strategist team loves this powder formula for its clean scent and ability to lift strands while providing volume. Its formula doesn’t clump up like some of the other options in our lineup, which makes it easier to control where you place it. We suggest shaking the can before applying, then focusing the spray around your roots to instantly refresh your strands and extend the time between washes.

Another of our favorite options is this spray, which combines powder and clay in a micellar formula to soak up oils without over-saturating your strands. It’s gentle and safe to use on all hair colors, plus its fresh scent is a bonus.

It Boosts Volume and Texture

A dry shampoo can do more than just help you extend your time between washes—it can also give your hair a volumizing boost and a natural-looking, styled texture. One of the best picks we found is this spray from Redken, which uses a blend of starches in lightweight, buildup-resistant layers to lift your roots and create instant undone texture with no residue. It’s ideal for second- or third-day straight and wavy hair, and can also be used as a primer before heat styling (paired with one of our favorite heat protectors, of course).

Another great option is this spray from Kristin Ess, which has garnered more than 14,000 five-star best dry shampoo reviews. The invisible formula absorbs oil and odor without leaving white marks, and it’s loaded with good-for-your-hair ingredients, like apple extract to reduce shedding and kaolin clay to soothe the scalp. Plus, it’s free of sulfates, parabens, and phthalates, and it smells just as good as it works.

A foam might seem a little odd for a dry shampoo, but several options in this roundup, including this pick from Strategist favorite Verb and the cult-favorite brand dae, use a similar formulation that’s easy to work with on dark roots. The foamy texture makes it easier to control where the product goes, especially if you have thin or fine hair.

It Prevents Oily Scalp

The natural oil produced by your scalp helps to keep hair healthy and shiny, but excess sebum can cause greasy roots and a suffocated scalp. A good dry shampoo prevents this by absorbing excess oil, leaving your hair fresher and longer between washes.

Unlike traditional aerosol dry shampoo sprays, this non-aerosol product comes in a convenient, squeezable bottle that dispenses a fine powder that you massage into your hair with your fingers. The formula is enriched with a blend of starches and is translucent so that it doesn’t leave behind white residue on darker locks. It also contains yucca to help absorb oils, niacinamide to improve the appearance of blemishes on the skin, and bisabolol to soothe and calm.

This dry shampoo is a great option for curly or wavy hair, as it has been formulated with the texture in mind. The powder formula is ultra-fine and formulated to be color safe, while the combination of starches, silica, yucca, and oat milk combines to remove oils and odors without drying out your scalp or leaving a chalky feel on your roots. When using, it is recommended that you section your hair to get even coverage and ensure a full application of the product.

While the best dry shampoo can extend the length of time between washes, it should never replace a regular water wash. Washing your hair with a high-quality, clean, organic shampoo and conditioner is essential moroccan oil hair mask for a healthy scalp and strong strands.

It Boosts Hair Growth

As it turns out, a good dry shampoo isn’t just about camouflaging dirty hair—it can actually make your hair grow faster. That’s because the best dry shampoos, like our lab-tested pick from Crown Affair, are formulated with super finely milled starch to instantly soak up oil at the roots, leaving behind no white residue and no sticky mess (and also smelling amazing). Plus, a dose of persimmon—which works as a natural deodorizer and contains anti-inflammatory properties—helps keep your scalp in optimal health.

Another cult-favorite, this uber lightweight option is a favorite amongst many of our beauty editors, including Good Housekeeping’s Beauty Director April Franzino. It’s formulated with a mix of rice starch to zap oily roots without a white cast and sea buckthorn extract, which nourishes the scalp for healthy-looking locks. Plus, it’s free of any major nasties, such as talc and alcohol, which can cause scalp irritation and dryness.

A few of our testers noted that this product didn’t work as a dry shampoo as well as others, but it still received high marks for its light, subtle scent and non-sticky finish. It also boasts a blend of arrowroot, mongongo, and rosehip oils that help prevent clumping and offer a boost in moisture. And since washing your hair too often can cause color to fade, this dry shampoo is a great option for those who are trying to extend their between-washes period.