We all know how life changing dry shampoo can be, especially for those busy days when you don’t have time to wash your hair. Although drugstore dry shampoo does solve your hair problems, the aerosol is not the healthiest solution and it leaves an unpleasant chemical smell.
What’s the solution you might ask? DIY Dry Shampoo!
Why Should You Use Dry Shampoo?
Everybody wants their hair to look fresh and smell wonderful all the time. But washing it every day can strip the natural and essential oils it needs to stay healthy. So instead of jumping in the shower every day and using shampoo, you can use a DIY dry shampoo solution to remove dirt, grease, and build up without leaving your hair dry or weak.
How Does It Work?
All dry shampoos, whether bought in a store or homemade, serve the same purpose. The ingredients within them are designed to soak up oil quickly and effectively. In homemade solutions, the starch absorbs grease and any excess oils. Within store bought solutions, alcohol is used to soak up the excess oil. They also contain drying agents to cancel out the chemicals being sprayed into your hair.
Why Go With A Natural Solution?
While it's easier to just go out and purchase over the counter products, you have to understand that they come with a long list of harmful ingredients.
Some include butane, isobutane, propane, or other gases that some panels and studies have deemed safe. These are not ingredients you really want to be freely applying to your hair or scalp.
Pretty much all oil-absorbing products have “fragrance”, which in reality is a blanket term for hundreds of different ingredients. This can cause a problem because without knowing what is included, you are leaving yourself exposed to possible side effects while using these products.
Going natural is the safest and best solution because you’ll know exactly what's going on your body and you can control the ratios.
Here's a way you can achieve those beautiful loose everyday waves, without any heat!
5 All-Natural DIY Dry Shampoo Recipes
These additional colouring powders can be added to any of the following DIY all-natural dry shampoo recipes to make sure they match the color of your hair.
- Grey/silver hair: Mix with bentonite clay
- Light blonde hair: use only arrowroot powder
- Strawberry blonde hair: mix with cinnamon powder
- Medium brown hair: mix with cocoa powder
- Dark brown hair: mix with cocoa powder and activated charcoal
- Auburn hair: mix with cocoa powder, cinnamon and activated charcoal
- Red hair: mix with cinnamon powder
- Black hair: mix with activated charcoal
1. Arrowroot Powder + Additional Coloring Powder
- 2 tablespoons arrowroot powder
- 2 tablespoons additional coloring powders
Mix equal parts of arrowroot powder with the additional coloring powder of your choice to create a DIY dry shampoo to perfectly match the colour of your natural hair. Additionally you can also add a few drops of essential oil if you enjoy that extra scent in your hair.
2. Salt + Cornmeal (+ Additional Coloring Powder)
- 8 tablespoons Cornmeal
- 1 tablespoon of salt
Blend the cornmeal till you reach a fine, powder-like consistency. Add the 1 tablespoon salt and mix well. For an extra aromatic touch, you can also add dried rose or lavender petals.
3. Oatmeal + Baking Soda (+ Additional Coloring Powder)
- 2 tablespoons oatmeal
- 2 tablespoon of baking soda
Combine equal amounts of finely blended oatmeal and baking soda. Massage this onto your oily roots and brush off any excess from root to tip.
4. Bentonite Clay (+ Additional Coloring Powder)
Sprinkle a little bit of the clay on your hair brush and then brush through thoroughly. Alternatively you can also add the clay directly to your roots little by little and brush through to ensure all the powder has been absorbed.
5. Cornmeal & almonds (+ Additional Coloring Powder)
- 1 tablespoon cornmeal
- 1 tablespoon orris root
- 1 tablespoon finely ground almonds
Mix the cornmeal, orris root and finely ground almonds well. Brush your hair out well before applying the mixture to ensure the dry shampoo mixture doesn’t clump on to your hair. Apply the all-natural dry shampoo and brush/dust off any excess.
How to Apply Dry Shampoo
Once you have created your homemade dry hair cleanser, applying the hair powder is easy. Here’s how:
- Make sure you mix your dry hair powder thoroughly.
- Either use a clean makeup brush or your fingertips to apply. Try to focus on getting the mixture on the roots and areas of your hair where grease tends to accumulate.
- Using your fingertips or makeup brush, gently spread the powder throughout your hair. Massage your roots to ensure full absorption.
- Gently use a brush to get the excess powder out if necessary.
- Style to the desired look.
This can be repeated on daily bases. If your hair is excessively greasy, you can even keep your DIY dry hair cleanser in an easy-to-carry container for quick touch-ups while on the go.
How Often Should I Use Homemade Dry Shampoo?
You only need to use the homemade dry shampoo when you feel like your hair is getting a little greasy. For example, if it takes 3 or 4 days after the last wash before your hair starts to look greasy then that's when you start applying it.
It is important to remember that the dry shampoo powder will absorb oil, so if your hair isn’t oily, you could be removing the natural oil that your hair needs to remain moisturized and healthy.
When applying your DIY dry shampoo, remember that a little bit goes a long way. Whether you use your dry shampoo daily, several times a day, or once a week, please do not overdo the application. Keep a careful eye on the situation to make sure you are not at risk of over usage.
If you do find that your hair is starting to dry out or look unhealthy, think about using other treatments like coconut oil to bring your hair back to a healthier state.
Can Using DIY Dry Shampoo Be Bad for Your Hair?
If you use it to replace shampooing altogether or use it way too much, then yes, DIY dry shampoo can cause damage to your hair. Even though it absorbs excess grease, it can remove too much of the good and healthy oil your hair needs too.
Also if used excessively, you are in danger of clogging hair follicles because it sits right on your scalp. It’s been well documented that clogged hair follicles can lead to thinner hair and an overall reduction in shine, volume, and health. In this case, a good scalp scrub will get rid of any buildup as well as rebalance the scalp's pH.
If you’re already a fan of over the counter oil absorbing products or have been curious about the DIY solutions, we urge you to try the DIY dry shampoos above. They're a great substitute for the ingredients found in mainstream products, yet still soaks up oil and helps extend the time between washes. When used properly, homemade dry shampoo can improve the appearance and health of your hair while saving you time and money.
Give it a go – you’ll love shampooing without water!
