In the busy days before Christmas, you may not have a minute to rest, let alone to shampoo and style your hair. So if you’re looking for a secret weapon to extend wash days and make your strands look a little more presentable, we’ve got just the thing — and it’s on sale. Loved by shopping editor and mom of little ones Emily Ruane, R+Co’s Death Valley dry shampoo is the self-care holiday helper you’ve been waiting for. It’s a paraben-, petrolatum- and sulfate-free spray that Ruane says “absorbs oil and odor and leaves hair bouncy and fresh,” even when there’s no time for a full wash day. Usually $37, it’s currently 20% off, dropping its price to under $30!
According to reviewers, this stuff isn’t just good — it’s the best.
Skeptical about dry shampoos and/or wondering what makes this one any different? We’d love to tell you! Hordes of reviewers crown it the best dry shampoo they’ve ever used, celebrating it’s smell, effectiveness and lack of chalky, white residue.
“Kudos to this company for figuring out the formula,” one wrote, calling the shampoo an “incredible product.”
“I’ve tried them all… from $40 down to $10 and this is by far the best,” another wrote. ”.... This is a daily staple for me going on 3 months now.”
While other options may make your strands feel heavy, grimy or even dirtier than before, fans say this one soaks up grease and oil, allowing your hair to look fresh for days. Happy users say it lasts longer than other ones they’ve tried and has become a welcome part of their routine.
“I use a comb to part my hair in multiple places and spray the product in short bursts directly onto the scalp,” smevorg said of this “miracle product.” “It doesn’t go on powdery and doesn’t need to be brushed out before leaving the house. It lets me get at least three (and sometimes up to five) days out of a professional blow dry.”
It smells so good, dry-shampoo skeptics and haters have been converted.
Whereas other options can be overpowering to the senses, this option from R+CO smells “natural and fresh” and “like an expensive spa treatment.” In fact, the fragrance is so nice that some report using it when their hair doesn’t even need it, just to get the scent on them.
“My boyfriend HATES dry shampoo. He hates the smell and gives me so much grief about using dry shampoo all the time,” another wrote. “With R+CO he barely realizes I have put in and actually likes the smell.”
And, it’s not just for oil management.
In addition to sucking up oil and grime, the spray is loved for adding volume and texture to your strands. “I have fine, flat, super straight hair that never has any volume,” one wrote. “This stuff gives me the kind of volume I want, enough to give my hair some life.”
Many use the stuff before bed, for “perfect,” “volumptuous” hair the next morning that’s easy to manage and will actually hold a style and not just fall flat.
Users call R+Co’s Death Valley dry shampoo the only one that “actually works and doesn’t smell weird.” Grab one for yourself while it’ on sale.
“I’ve tried several brands of dry shampoo and this is by far the best. My cousin recommended it and i can see why. My hair is fine and can get oily from product easily. This brand doesn’t make me look like professor Snape. Definitely will keep buying this. Try it. You won’t regret it.” — Kathleen
“I was not a fan of dry shampoo and until I found R+Co Death Valley Dry Shampoo. However, in preparation for surgery which would make it difficult to was my hair regularly, I decided to try this dry shampoo and I was not disappointed. I simply style my hair with brushes and a hairdryer, then parted my hair in multiple places, sprayed the R+Co Death Valley Dry Shampoo, let it dry for a minute, then fluffed and lightly brushed my hair into place. It adds volume, has a nice scent, and gives me an extra day or two before having to wash my hair. I will definitely buy more of this wonderful dry shampoo.” — Lauren
“My favorite dry shampoo! It does a great job at soaking up oil and making second day (or even third) look great. I have almost black hair and it does spray on fairly light colored, but I spray it on before bed the night before and all residue is gone the next morning (and not on my dark colored pillowcases!)” —Lane Butler
Want more dry shampoo options for quick hair touchups on busy days? Check out this list of reviewer-beloved options by Senior Shopping Writer Lourdes Avila Uribe.
Crown Affair The Dry Shampoo
When I first tried out the Crown Affair dry shampoo, I was very intrigued by the brush applicator. It took a bit of practice, but it quickly became one of my favorite dry shampoos. It has a really elegant and silky, lightweight feel that sucks up oil and leaves hair fluffy and soft. It has a barely-there clean scent that doesn't interfere with perfume and blends well into my dark hair. It has earned a dedicated spot in my bathroom cabinet. Best of all, the container is refillable, so subsequent purchases are more affordable.
Promising reviews: "I really love this product, I have fine hair that’s wavy and frizzy so I require LOTS of hydrating products to tame the frizz but since it’s so fine I need oil control that is lightweight and this is it! I prefer a loose powder vs an aerosol bc it lasts much longer and is easier to travel with. It doesn’t leave build up, which is a huge thing most dry shampoos do. For the price I think it does a good job and lasts a long time so it’s def worth it." — mdugas
"Ok I hate dry shampoo. It makes sneeze it makes me itch and it usually smells funky. This It can not be dry shampoo. Nope. It’s magic. It restores the bounce, smells light, no white dusty, no sneeze no itch. I just love this." — CCHutto
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day dry shampoo
I'm a longtime fan of this dry shampoo; it's as close as you can get to freshly washed hair. It’s definitely on the higher end of the price spectrum for a product like this one, but it’s well worth it for the results. It doesn’t leave my scalp or hair feeling gritty with excess buildup, it's like starting over with a clean slate without the hassle of drying and styling your hair again. But what has amazed me the most over the years of use is that it so effectively soaks up oil and dirt without leaving behind an unappealing chalky residue. Despite the fact that I routinely spray on quite a bit of dry shampoo for multiple days in a row, it is never visible on my dark hair.
It is formulated with a mix of starch and mineral blend powders that are known to quickly absorb excess oil and sweat, while an odor neutralizer gives hair a surprisingly fresh scent that makes it smell freshly washed. But it isn’t just absorbing oil; it leaves hair looking and feeling fresh and clean while also adding volume and movement.
Promising reviews: “I have used LOTS of other dry shampoos but this one is by far the best. I can get 3-4 days of not washing my hair by using this product. I have very fine hair and I workout daily so my hair gets oily very quickly so this product is a life saver! I can usually only get about 2 days out of using cheaper dry shampoos. This one is worth the money!” — Sarah Venters
“Works like magic. I have very think oilllllyy hair. I have tried several dry shampoos and some have done absolutely nothing for me. There is one from kms that I love but expensive and can usually only get from my salon. So I saw this on here once on sale and decided to try it. No regrets! Works amazing!!! I love it. Worth every penny” – Haley
Briogeo Scalp Revival dry shampoo (30% off)
My sister is a longtime devotee of this Briogeo dry shampoo, and I love using it when I'm staying at her place. It is housed in a non-aerosol spray container and is formulated with scalp-friendly ingredients like biotin and charcoal to keep oil production in check, add volume and leave hair looking, feeling and smelling clean. Get it for 30% off.
Promising reviews: "On my fourth bottle. This is the best dry shampoo I have found. I prefer non-aerosol shampoo and this one works wonders on my highlighted hair. It doesn't have a strong smell, which can be a positive or negative depending on what you like. You can't beat the price either." — ChristieK.
"The best dry shampoo I have ever used in my life. Cleansing and volumizing. Smells amazing and isn't full of toxins." — AMC
Kristin Ess Style Reviving dry shampoo (30% off)
Multiple reviewers sing the praises of this dry shampoo's floral scent, making it a great option for anyone who loves fragrance but doesn't want to be overpowered with a powdery smell. If you've never tried it, the Style Reviving dry shampoo is set to be your new gym bag must-have. It has the impressive ability to nix odors and oil for insanely refreshed hair, yet doesn't dry out strands, lead to an itchy scalp or make strands feel gritty in the process. Get it for 30% off.
Bumble & Bumble Pret-a-Powder dry shampoo
Designed for straight and wavy hair, this classic formula from Bumble & Bumble has a unique non-aerosol dispenser and a clementine- and sandalwood-fueled scent. Silica, corn and tapioca are the main oil-absorbing ingredients in this “worth the money” product. You can get this in a .5-ounce travel size or a 2-ounce bottle – either way, reviewers say a little goes a long way.
Promising review: “Was skeptical about switching to powder from spray dry shampoo so I ordered the mini and was pleasantly surprised. I use this almost every day and it has lasted me almost 2 months. Fresh non aggressive scent and doesn’t leave a cast.” — Katherine Nader
The Real Deal: We use deal trackers and commerce experience to sift through “fake” hike-and-drop deals and other deceptive sales tactics. Products will usually be rated at least 4 stars with a minimum 15% discount. (And when there’s an exception, we’ll tell you why.)