How to make dry shampoo at home?
What to use instead of dry shampoo? Wanna make my own dry shampoo at home.
You will easily DIY dry shampoo at home with our thorough guide, as we have gathered the best recipes for all hair colors and textures. Check out and share your own ways to solve the problem of the so-called ‘second-day’ greasy hair in the comments below!
Benefits of Using Homemade Natural Dry Shampoo
There are days when we wish we could sacrifice our morning shower for a few more minutes of basking in bed. The good news is that there is an easy way to go out with an amazing head of hair without washing and styling every day. You can do this if you simply use a good dry shampoo. So, the number one benefit of any dry shampoo is your easier morning hair routine! The product will absorb oil and grease from the hair while making it fuller.
Another good news is that you can also apply homemade dry shampoo that is as good as the commercial ones. The recipes of DIY dry shampoo include components that are readily available around the house. On the days when you cannot just get enough energy to do anything, there are some dry shampoo alternatives that you can apply to help you get the locks of your dream. Almost all store-bought dry shampoos include fragrances and alcohol, so they may cause itching, or leave scalp buildup. So, the main benefits of using homemade dry shampoos are their simplicity, organic ingredients that are non-harmful for your scalp and hair, their low price, and your cleaner- and fuller-looking hair.
Main Ingredients of Homemade Dry Shampoos
First of all, your natural at-home dry shampoo has to include an absorbent to mask the excess oil and grease. It can be charcoal powder for darker hair colors, cornstarch, or arrow powder for lighter hair shades. Secondly, a natural coloring powder is also important. It will help you match your dry shampoo with your hair color. It can be cinnamon for redheads and those who have strawberry hair, bentonite clay for ashy hair colors, gray and silver hair, and cocoa powder for brunettes. To prevent carrying your hair around with a strange smell of some ingredients, oils (e.g., lavender oil) are usually added to all the shampoos made at home. There are more details below.
I’ve been making my own dry shampoo for about a year, and love that you can customize it according to your hair color, preferences, etc. There are so many recipes out there, but some of the ingredients you can use include: arrowroot, rice flour, tapioca flour, corn starch, oatmeal powder, rhassoul clay powder, bentonite clay powder, cornmeal, ground beetroot, ground hibiscus, cinnamon, orris powder, cocoa powder, espresso, baking soda, essential oils, activated charcoal, and many more. I currently start with a base of either cornstarch or arrowroot, add enough cocoa to make it a light brown, and then sprinkle in a good amount of cinnamon. I’m definitely going to try adding some rhassoul or bentonite powder into the mix and see how that works. To apply, just part hair, use a big fluffy makeup brush to dust the dry shampoo into the scalp, repeat until the head is covered, massage into the scalp with fingertips, and brush it out. @glowgoalgirl
Step-By-Step Instructions How to Make Dry Shampoo at Home
So, you can easily whip up your own DIY dry shampoo by using simple natural ingredients that have additional health benefits. Believe us, it is a better way than buying organic over-the-counter brand names! Just try and find your own ideal mixture.
If you want to know how to make dry shampoo for your hair color, then continue reading.
1. DIY Dry Shampoo for Very Dark Hair.
For those who have very dark brown or black hair, adding activated charcoal to cocoa powder can help to get a mixture that is very close to the shade of your hair. Activated charcoal has the ability to absorb oils from the roots of your hair and also helps to remove dandruff as well as detoxify the scalp.
To make your own homemade dry shampoo for black hair, you will need the following:
-activated charcoal powder (≈1 tablespoon)
-raw cacao powder (≈1/4 cup)
-arrowroot powder or cornstarch (≈1/2 cup)
-bentonite or kaolin clay (≈2 tablespoons)
–baking soda (≈1 tablespoon)
-lavender oil (≈30 drops)
-measuring cup
Mix all the ingredients in a measuring cup with a whisk. Put the mixture into an empty container. Apply generously to your scalp and rub in properly.
2. At-Home Dry Shampoo for Red Hair.
A DIY dry shampoo for red hair does not always have to be red in color. Cinnamon serves as a neutral dry shampoo ingredient because it covers the color of other ingredients so that they can all blend into one’s red hair properly. Cinnamon is also said to help increase the blood flow to the scalp and promote hair growth.
The ingredients that need to be mixed and applied are the following:
-cinnamon powder (≈¼ cup)
-arrowroot powder or cornstarch (≈1/2 cup)
-bentonite or kaolin clay (≈2 tablespoons)
-baking soda (≈1 tablespoon)
-lavender oil (≈30 drops)
Instructions: Mix all the ingredients in a measuring cup with a whisk. Put the mixture into an empty container. Apply generously to your scalp and rub in properly.
3. Arrowroot Dry Shampoo for Light Hair.
Arrow root or cornstarch is usually used for lighter colored hair such as blonde hair because it is almost unnoticeable. Both arrowroot and cornstarch are absorbents and they help to increase the rate of hair growth. Baking soda is also added to the mixture with either arrowroot or cornstarch as it removes bad smell and makes the hair feel fresher. This DIY dry shampoo may be used for silver and white hair too.
The ingredients are:
-arrowroot powder or cornstarch (≈1/2 cup)
-bentonite or kaolin clay (≈2 tablespoons)
-baking soda (≈1 tablespoon)
-lavender oil (≈30 drops)
Instructions are the same as for the previous ones: just mix everything and apply.
4. Cocoa Powder Dry Shampoo for Brown Hair.
While it might not be easy to find the exact shade of your brunette hair, using cocoa powder will work on any brown-colored hair and make it natural-looking. Cocoa also contains protein and iron that make the follicles of the hair healthier which in turn makes for stronger hair.
To make a dry shampoo for brown hair, you will need:
-raw cocoa powder (≈¼ cup)
-arrowroot powder or cornstarch (≈1/2 cup)
-bentonite or kaolin clay (≈2 tablespoons)
– baking soda (≈1 tablespoon)
-lavender oil (≈30 drops)
Instructions are the same as above.
How to Apply Your Homemade Dry Shampoo?
There are several ways. You may use your old make-up brush, an empty baby powder container, or a spice bottle. The next question is how to brush off the excess dry shampoo from your hair. You can use a blow dryer.
First, apply the dry mixture around your hairline, not too close to your face. Be sure to separate hair into sections, and lift them to expose the roots. You may also flip your hair upside down, massage the scalp a bit, then brush hair or use a blow-dryer.
Other Dry Shampoo Alternatives
How to get rid of greasy hair without using dry shampoo, even the one you can make at home? Greasy hair may look unkempt, and it also feels uncomfortable, and sometimes even itchy. There are certain ways to clean hair without water, and these include using materials that you most likely have in your home. With these items, you can easily make your greasy oily hair look better. And you don’t need to make any complex mixtures. Simply take:
1. Blotting papers: To start from the easiest item to apply, blotting papers almost seem magical when applied to greasy hair. They are a simple non-toxic way of taking care of greasy hair on the go. You can use them by simply running the blotting paper through the roots touching the scalp and the paper would absorb as much oil as possible.
2. Baby powder: A lot of our readers are sending the same question “can you use baby powder as dry shampoo?” Baby powder has been generally used for taking care of greasy hair, long before dry shampoos were invented! Baby powder in hair works well if you are going out for a long period of time and it is cheaper than other items on the list. To apply baby powder as dry shampoo, just rub it on the scalp and style your hair as desired.
3. Cornstarch: If you don’t have any other dry shampoo alternatives, then you can use cornstarch for hair as well. It works the same way as baby powder but enough time should be given after applying it so that your roots and scalp interact with the starch before you brush it off. Cornstarch dry shampoo can be mixed with cocoa powder for those with darker hair so that the color can blend well with the roots of the hair.
4. Cheesecloth: Wrap it around your brush and brush your hair as you usually do. Try it and you will see the difference. Another option is paper towels.
5. Translucent powder: It’s facial transparent powder often used in the make-up industry. Why not use it for your hair if it works for it too?
6. Flour as a dry shampoo: Another great substitute for a dry shampoo. Yes, it may ‘clump’ a bit and be visible on darker hair shades, but you can always customize it, and experiment with different kinds of flour.
7. Oatmeal as dry shampoo: Women swear by this ingredient! You can add it to any DIY dry shampoo for an additional root lift. So, depending on your hair color, mix cornstarch and oatmeal powder (for blonde hair), add cinnamon/cocoa powder/activated charcoal powder, and your dry shampoo is ready! A mix of baking soda and ground oatmeal (1:1) works great too.
8. Dry clay: Dry clay is available in different shades (green, red, gray, black, etc.), which is promising for women with colorful hair. A good recipe of dry shampoo is to mix clay with milk powder.
9. Salt as dry shampoo: Sounds odd, but the mixture of salt and cornmeal is a well-known solution for greasy hair. Mix these two ingredients, sprinkle on your hair and brush out the excess dirt.
10. Apple cider vinegar: Mix apple cider vinegar with water in a bottle, and spray on your roots. Let it dry.
Some women on hair forums also advise using hand sanitizers or perfumes as a quick substitute for dry shampoo. Better avoid applying products with alcohol and artificial fragrances to your scalp. Allergic reactions, scalp burns, redness, and itching are only several side effects of such ‘life-changing tips and tricks’. The same goes for the dryer sheets which contain potentially harmful components. Talc in dry shampoos is also not so safe, as it is believed to cause cancer. What are the alternatives? Rice or bamboo powders are much more natural.
How Often Homemade Dry Shampoo Can Be Used?
Though it is fully natural, don’t overuse your DIY dry shampoo. Use it only when in a hurry and when you need a really quick solution. One-two times a week will be OK for your hair.
Side Effects of Homemade Dry Shampoos
If overused, DIY dry shampoo may clog the follicles and thus trigger itching, scalp issues, and hair thinning. Your hair may lack shine and volume.
So, why not just go and buy (or order in 2-3 clicks) any random dry shampoo? They may include harmful ingredients! You can be sure that your own homemade dry shampoo is made from the ingredients that are safe for your hair, and, if needed, you can also go for equally healthy dry shampoo alternatives like blotting papers, baby powder, cheesecloth on your brush, and other things listed above. What else do you need to avoid bad hair days now? Share your concerns in the comments below and we will try to help you in our next articles!
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