The Best Dry Shampoos For When You Don’t Feel Like Washing Your Hair

Dry shampoo is something that everyone should have in their bathrooms. There is always a day when you don’t feel like washing your hair (usually following that late at night) or there are those days when your roots are looking a bit greasy but you don’t think your manes need the full shampoo and condition. Enter dry shampoo. The right dry shampoo soaks up grease without leaving a trail of white stripes and a scent of lemon cleaner. The perfect one even gives your hair that effortless bedhead texture that no curling iron can ever recreate as much as you try. How’s that for a reason to skip washing your hair.

(Related: Hair Tutorial: How To Properly Use Dry Shampoo And Stop Looking Like A Grease Monster)

These are the best dry shampoos, according to you:

1. Original Scent Dry Shampoo ($6.29, Batiste)

It shouldn’t be too surprising that several people picked Batiste as their favorite. Reader Tessa was one of them:

“Batiste for me. It works fantastic and I feel like it covers my (darker) roots. It’s like hair make-up that cleans your hair!”

There is a reason why it has earned cult classic status. Plain and simple, it works.

2. Gentle Formula Dry Shampoo With Oat Milk ($9, Klorane)

The key to the perfect dry shampoo is finding one that soaks up all the grease but doesn’t leave telltale white marks. If it smells great, even better. Candace Lee Womack found one that ticks all three boxes:

“I really like Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo. Smells light and doesn’t leave white stuff in my very dark hair.”

This dry shampoo is suitable for all hair types and adds the perfect amount of texture for an undone Kristen Stewart look.

3. Rockin’ It 4Ever Stylestay Encore Fresh Dry Shampoo ($5.99, got2b)

It is possible to find an effective dry shampoo that doesn’t smell like household cleansers. Vanessa loves the fragrance of this one:

“Got2b Rockin’ It Encore Fresh Dry Shampoo! I stock up when it goes on sale to 3.99. Regular 7.99. Has a great fresh scent…I would love to find a perfume that smells similar. From growing out black hair I never had a problem with white powder showing up on dark hair. Always has my hair feeling silky after using it… and sometimes if the summer humidity isn’t horrible I can go 2-3 days without washing my hair.”

If you can extend your blow-out by one day, you have a good product. If you get two or three days extra, you should be stocking up on it.

4. Natural Unsweetened Cocoa Powder ($6.99, Scharffen Berger)

There are lots of DIY shampoos. A lot of them rival bottled formulas. Commenter Jade-Yue-Ryu has a great one if you have dark hair:

“I have yet to find an HG dry shampoo. To be fair DC in July is unnaturally humid so most things fall to its powers including any form of foundation. :/ So far I’ve just found the dark cocoa powder to work best for me.”

Just think about how good you’ll smell. However, you should make sure you keep a chocolate bar handy because this will definitely intensify your chocolate cravings.

5. XXL Volume Dry Shampoo ($7, Batiste)

Reader nic is another Batiste lover. In addition to the original, she also loves this volumizing formula:

“I love Batiste Original! I have tried so many, but this one has always proven to be it for me…I also have the XXL version which is supposed to give you some extra volume, and it actually delivers!”

If you love big 1960′s hair, go for this product and you’ll get serious volume.

6. STYLE+Care Volume Dry Shampoo ($6.11, Dove)

This was my pick. This dry shampoo is so light that you may not think that there is any product in your hair. After you work it in with your fingers and brush it out, you will realize that it may be lightweight but it does a great job of sucking up excess grease.

7. Instant Refresh Dry Shampoo ($17.99, Joico)

You want a dry shampoo that leaves your hair feeling and smelling fresh, not chemically. Facebook commenter Cassie Badger gave this one her seal of approval:

“Joico, it smells the best!”

 Not only does it smell great but it doesn’t leave that obvious white residue.

8. Fresh Start Volumizing Dry Shampoo ($6.09, TRESemme)

Our Sara Steinfeld has discovered a dry shampoo that stops you from looking like a grease monster and gives your hair major body:

“I’m super into Tresemme Fresh Start Volumizing Shampoo.”

Spray it on at the roots, given it a quick rub and you’ll wonder why you ever needed curlers.

9. Dry Shampoo ($24.98, label.m)

This was Sara Steinfeld‘s other pick. If you’re particular about how your dry shampoo smells, you should be pleased with this one:

“label.m Dry Shampoo, but the latter is mostly because it smells amazing.”

It also takes greasy hair back to a freshly washed look, without leaving any residue.

10. Clean Freak Refreshing Dry Shampoo ($5.99, Not Your Mother’s)

Commenter Anne Marie ranks this dry shampoo higher than Batiste:

“I prefer Not Your Mother’s to Batiste. The idea of pigmented dry shampoo is great, but I always get it all over everything – at least the NYM goes clear after a little frantic patting. Plus I just like the smell better, and I feel like it gives me better grip for braiding.”

If there’s one thing you want your shampoo to be described as it is a “clean freak.”