The 24 Best Dry Shampoos for Men Reviews 2020

What can the best dry shampoo for men do for you?

It solves problems.

Problems like not having time for a shower after a lunchtime workout.

Or bed head because you slept in.

Dry shampoo fixes sweaty, oily hair.

It makes hat hair look and smell freshly washed.

After you see this article, you’re going to want a can of it at home and a can for work, too.

What is dry shampoo?

There are two kinds of dry shampoo: aerosol and powder.

Aerosol is the easiest to use.

If you have short hair, spray the shampoo on your head and brush it until it disappears.

The whole process takes about thirty seconds (1).

The starch soaks up grease and sweat to “clean” your hair.

If you have fine or thinning hair, you’ll find that the spray makes it look and feel thicker.

Other ingredients offer additional benefits. They deodorize and condition, for example.

Dry shampoo isn’t a new invention.

Remember those white wigs the signers of the Declaration of Independence wore? They used powder to clean them and make them smell better (2).

Fortunately, today’s dry shampoo won’t turn your hair white. It becomes invisible after you brush it.

The pros and cons of dry shampoo

The main con of dry shampoo is that it can’t replace washing with water and regular shampoo (3).

It’s good for refreshing but not cleansing, your scalp and hair.

If you use it too many times in a row, it builds up residue that can clog your follicles.

On the plus side, dry shampoo let’s you skip a day or two between washes. That can extend the lifetime of a color treatment or save time getting ready.

To get the most out of dry shampoo, shake it a lot. Shake it before you spray it, and pause during application to shake it again.

Top Dry Shampoos for Men

HASK Dry Shampoo

This dry shampoo with a citrus scent contains charcoal to remove impurities and eliminate odor.

It’s based on ultra-fine rice starch, not aluminum. The starch soaks up sweat and oil to leave your hair clean and soft.

It also has biotin, chia, and coconut. Biotin stimulates hair growth, and chia adds volume. Coconut creates shine and conditions.

The propellant is a blend of butane and propane. These are less harmful to the environment than CFCs and leave very little residue behind (4). Just don’t smoke while you spray because they’re flammable.

Moreover, HASK doesn’t include sulfates, parabens, gluten, dyes, or phthalates in the shampoo.

R+Co Death Valley Dry Shampoo

Just like it sounds, the Death Valley dry shampoo is very absorbent.

The unisex fragrance won’t overwhelm your cologne as it fades after you apply the product.

The main ingredients are rice protein, vitamin E, pro-vitamin B5, and silica. The combination strengthens and thickens the hair.

The formula is vegan and free of sulfates and gluten.

R+Co Spiritualized Dry Shampoo Mist

No, it’s not religious. This “dry” shampoo is wetter than the competition.

It’s nice if you have a dry scalp. The glycerin and castor oil condition the skin and hair.

The base is micellar water with cleansing powder suspended in it.

After you brush it through your hair, briefly use a blow dryer to finish the process.

Duke Cannon News Anchor Dry Shampoo for Men

This shampoo uses a witty name and entertaining promotional material to promote a quick fix.

It contains activated charcoal, wheat protein, and vitamin B5 to revive your hair.

(It’s too bad that a “shower in a can” doesn’t exist yet.)

The shampoo is made in the USA. A part of the proceeds goes to support US veterans.

Batiste Dry Shampoo, Original Fragrance

Batiste manufactures several different flavors of dry shampoo. There are tinted ones for brunettes and different scents, too.

The original version smells like musk, lavender, and baby powder. Some people like it, others not so much.

The most common complaint I’ve heard about this inexpensive brand is that it leaves a residue. The trick is to shake and brush.

Shake the can a lot while you’re applying the shampoo. Don’t get it too close to your scalp when you spray – leave at least 6 inches.

Let it sit for a few seconds, then brush well until it disappears.

Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Refreshing Dry Shampoo

Here’s an unscented dry shampoo.

But just because it’s fragrance-free doesn’t mean it won’t make you smell better. It has an odor eliminator.

Of course, it also soaks up oil to make it look like you had time for a shower after all.

Old Spice Dry Shampoo for Men

Old Spice couldn’t resist creating dry shampoo. Yes, it smells just like the classic fragrance.

One interesting difference between this product and the competitors is that it uses tapioca, not rice starch.

Old Spice Dry Shampoo for Men, Fiji Scent

The Fiji scent of Old Spice shampoo has a coconut and tropical wood fragrance.

The company tries to be cute by saying it’s “for your hair, not your pits.” (Now I’m curious.)

If you’re not a fan of the original scent, try this one instead.

The Well Groomed Guy Dry Shampoo

You’ve been paying attention to the news, so the idea of spraying propane and butane bothers you.

Here is an eco-friendly option.

This dry shampoo is a powder. You’ll need about a teaspoon of it.

Pour it into your hand, then massage it into the scalp. Then brush or comb.

It contains rice powder, kaolin clay, horsetail, and eucalyptus. The latter gives it a woodsy scent.

Blind Barber Bryce Harper Dry Shampoo

It smells like coconut, and it’s free of sulfates and parabens.

What’s more, it defends against UV radiation.

The refined formula also prevents product buildup while it nourishes the hair and scalp.

Key components include rhodiola, bamboo, and vitamin B5.

TRESemmé Fresh Start Dry Shampoo

There’s more than one version of this drugstore dry shampoo.

I selected this one as it smells like citrus, not flowers. It eliminates bed head and sweat odors.

If you already have thick hair, it might be a little much as it’s very volumizing.

But it shouldn’t leave a residue even on the darkest of hair.

Sun Bum Revitalizing Dry Shampoo

Here’s a vegan dry shampoo that smells kind of like tropical sunscreen.

Like the one above, it protects against fading and damage caused by the sun.

It can help braids and buns stay put, too.

L’Oréal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Clay Dry Shampoo

L’Oreal’s dry shampoo is best for normal to oily hair. It contains three clays that absorb excess oil.

Be aware that it also includes aluminum starch.

This ingredient was tested on a variety of animals and found to be safe for use in cosmetics (5).

Even the Environmental Working Group rates it as a low hazard.

You may have heard that you should avoid it, but there’s currently no reason to fear it.

Users like this product because it has a fresh scent and doesn’t leave a chalky residue behind once you brush.

Here’s a tip: avoid white powder on your clothes by spraying with your shirt off.

Nexxus Clean & Pure Unscented Dry Shampoo

The Nexxus dry shampoo is safe for color treatments and recommended for curly or straight hair.

It becomes invisible, so it’s fine for blondes or brunettes.

This is a salon product that carries a higher price tag. But you’re bound to get better performance out of it than you would some of the cheaper brands.

See if your stylist has a bottle so you can try it out the next time you get a haircut.

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo

The biggest complaint about this shampoo is that it has a strong scent.

But it has unique technology.

Triple Action Cleaning was clinically proven to “wash” hair. It features a patented Healthy Hair Molecule that releases impurities and oil from the hair and scalp. You’ll literally brush away the dirt.

Plus, there are odor neutralizers.

Aveeno Fresh Greens Blend Volumizing Dry Shampoo

Aveeno’s dry shampoo blends rosemary, peppermint, cucumber, and oats. The rosemary and peppermint will give you a cool tingle.

It soothes the scalp and refreshes the hair.

It doesn’t have parabens, dyes, or sulfates so that it won’t fade color treatments.

Drybar Detox Clear Invisible Dry Shampoo

This dry shampoo smells like vanilla, coconut, and amber. It’s rather tasty.

It’s based on rice and potato starch, which builds texture and volume.

Moreover, it has natural extracts like aloe, kiwi, mango to leave your hair softer and glossier.

Drybar recommends applying a leave-in conditioner to the tips of your hair afterward.

Klorane Dry Shampoo with Nettle for Oily Hair and Scalp

Klorane makes more than one kind of dry shampoo. If you normally have oily hair, this one’s for you.

It uses nettle, which is rich in scopeletin. This molecule regulates sebum production in your scalp.

The idea is to let you go a day or two between washes. If you combine it with Klorane’s nettle shampoo when you wash, you’ll find that you’re a lot less greasy overall.

This concept is useful if you do a chemical or color treatment. You’ll look good even if you can’t wash your hair for a couple of days afterward.

The key absorbers are corn and rice starch. The vegan formula is free of silicone, parabens, and phenoxyethanol.

Klorane Shine Enhancing Shampoo with Magnolia for Dry, Dull Hair

Klorane also makes a solution for parched hair.

It’s the one dry shampoo that adds maximum shine with magnolia wax. The wax smooths the cuticle of the hair. It also adds a little moisture and protects against UV damage.

Yes, it smells like magnolia blossoms, but the scent fades.

ACURE Dry Shampoo

Here’s another natural powdered dry shampoo that you pour into your hands or your brush to work through your hair.

It’s free of parabens, sulfates, and formaldehyde.

Obviously, there are no propellants or chemicals to worry about.

Instead, it has corn starch, arrowroot powder, kaolin clay, baking soda, rosemary oil, and peppermint oil. As you can imagine, it smells minty fresh.

The one downside is that it could leave a visible residue on dark hair.

Pureology | Style + Protect Refresh & Go Dry Shampoo

Pureology’s dry shampoo protects color treatments from fading.

Their anti-fade complex offers defense against both UV rays and environmental pollution.

It has vitamins C and E plus sunflower seed extract for shine.

Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo Light Tones

Moroccanoil makes two kinds of dry shampoo: one for light-colored hair, and one for dark.

Both contain argan oil. It’s an ancient remedy for dry skin and hair. It moisturizes without dulling or adding weight or creating extra grease.

The scent might be a little much for some guys as it’s a blend of spicy amber and flowers.

But the shampoo protects your hair color from fading, and it gets rid of the odor.

amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo

The amika dry shampoo adds a lot of volume to fine, limp hair.

Some people prefer it for styling instead of using mousse or gel.

The formula has a massive dose of antioxidants from sea buckthorn berry. The antioxidants fix damage to the scalp and hair.

It’s also packed with Omega-7 that stimulates collagen production to fortify the strands.

Renpure Lavender Mint Dry Shampoo

Renpure remind you to shake the bottle a lot when you apply their dry shampoo.

The lavender and mint blend smells pleasant. It’s naturally free of sulfates, phthalates, dyes, gluten, and parabens.

It will make your hair shinier and thicker.

Conclusion

Dry shampoo is for anyone who wants to look and feel cleaner in a hurry.

It’s also handy for styling and making hair look like it has more volume.

If you found a dry shampoo that works well for you, tell us about it in the comments below.

Sources:

1. https://www.menshealth.com/style/a19516735/how-to-use-dry-shampoo/ by Patrick Huguenin, published May 19, 2017, accessed January 14, 2020

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_shampoo accessed January 10, 2020

3. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/does-dry-shampoo-actually-keep-your-hair-clean/ published April 8, 2015, accessed January 10, 2020

4. https://ec.europa.eu/food/sites/food/files/safety/docs/sci-com_scf_out26_en.pdf accessed January 15, 2020

5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12042058 by B. Nair, et al., published 2002, accessed January 15, 2020