Dry Shampoo Recipes from Ingredients in Your Kitchen

For a few years I began seeing articles on dry shampoo using various powders.  If you’re like me at all, you may notice things you find interesting, but never quite have the time to read more about them.  A while back, I finally started checking out what the deal was with this “dry shampoo” idea.  Well, now I love it!

I was very skeptical at first, but was pleasantly surprised by how much I actually liked it once I tried it. Now I’ll use it occasionally on those days when I want a pick me up.

I will warn you.  The recipe for dark or red hair will leave you wishing for chocolate.  It’s a faint scent.  My husband couldn’t smell it until I had him put his nose in my hair,  but it was enough for me to deal around wishing for a mocha.  Adding essential oils will alter your hair fragrance too.  A wonderful, fun plus!

What is Dry Shampoo?

Usually a powder, sometimes with essential oils and/or herbs.

Why Use Dry Shampoo?

“Dry Shampooing” is for all hair types and many different situations – like how I narrowed that down :-).  It’s not washing in the sense that we normally think of shampoo, but it does care for your hair in a variety of ways.

Dry shampoo can be used when:

1. you are trying to adjust to using homemade hair washes and your hair is still over producing oils.
2. your hair is oily or you’ve been a bit hot or sweaty and you don’t have time to wash it (coming from the gym, been on a long trip)
3. you want to add volume.
4. you want your hair to look clean and have an extra fresh scent.
5. you are trying to avoid the damaging effects of washing and drying constantly, but still want the fresh hair look.

Dry Shampooing actually helps to pull the excess oils that can weigh your hair down out of your hair as you apply the powder and then brush it out.

I actually try to only wash my hair twice a week at the most.  Yes, I do it on purpose!  Now that I use Homemade Shampoo Soap bars and no longer straighten or blow dry my hair, my hair is more healthy, I have more “good hair days”, it lays and curls better, and I’m not overproducing oils any more. No more frizz, no more constant washing.  I still like using dry shampoos occasionally though because it seems to give my hair new life and a fresh scent.

How to Use It

No matter the recipe you choose to use, there are a few easy steps you can take to apply the dry shampoo:

1. Brush out your hair so you’re ready to apply it.
2. Apply by sprinkling it on the top of your head, paying close attention to your most oils areas (mine is that underlying patch above my ears). I avoid my part, because it can discolor it.  Though, all you need to do it give your part a little rub with your finger tips if that’s where you need to put it.
3. Wait 5-10 minutes for the powder to absorb the excess oils (I usually have enough patience to wait 30 seconds before I start running my hands through my hair and giving it a shake.  I cannot brush my curly hair at this stage or it would be poofy).
4. Turn Your head over and brush the excess powder out of your hair (or just give it a shake and run your fingers through it a little).

You can also do it at night, sleep with it, and brush it out in the morning, but you’ll leave the powder on your pillow which can be an issue if you use cocoa and cinnamon.  But this does give it more time to absorb oils.

Tips

• These recipes offer a lot of options.  If you cannot use arrowroot powder or baking soda, organic corn starch, rice powder, or oat powder are options.
• I lean over the bath tub when I sprinkle it on.  That way I can just rinse what falls down the drain.

6 Homemade Dry Shampoo Recipes

1) Recipe for Light Hair

Ingredients:

•  1/2 cup of arrow root powder
• 5-10 drops essential oil
  • Arrowroot has no smell, so you can go for whatever oils you like.  You may want to try geranium, lavender, patchouli (more woodsy smell), or ylang ylang.

Directions:

1. Measure arrowroot powder or baking soda and place in a jar.
2. Add essential oils (optional).
3. To apply, see directions above.

2) Recipe for Dark Hair

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup of Arrow Root Powder or Baking Soda
• 2 Tbsp Cocoa Powder
• 5-10 drops Essential Oil
  • Some great essential oils to go with cocoa are peppermint, orange, grapefruit, and ylang ylang

Directions:

1. Combine arrowroot powder and cocoa powder in a jar.
2. Add essential oils (optional).
3. To apply, see directions above.

3) Recipe for Red Hair

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup of Arrow Root Powder or Baking Soda
• 1 Tbsp Cocoa Powder
• 1 Tbsp Cinnamon powder
• 2 Tbsp beet root powder
• 5-10 drops Essential Oil
  • Some great essential oils to go with chocolate/cinnamon are orange, lemon, lemon grass, cedar

Directions:

1. Measure arrowroot powder, cinnamon, and beet root powder (optional) and place in a jar.
2. Add essential oils (optional).
3. To apply, see directions above.

4) Clay Recipe for Light Hair

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup white Kaolin clay
• 1/4 cup Arrow Root Powder or Baking Soda
• 5-10 drops Essential Oil 

Directions:

1. Measure clay and  arrowroot powder and place in a jar.
2. Add essential oils (optional).
3. To apply, see directions above.

5) Clay Recipe for Dark Hair

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Rasoul Clay
• 1/4 cup Arrow Root Powder or Baking Soda
• 1/4 cup Cocoa Powder
• 5-10 drops Essential Oil

Directions:

1. Measure clay, cocoa powder, and  arrowroot powder and place in a jar.
2. Add essential oils (optional).
3. To apply, see directions above.

6) Clay Recipe for Red Hair

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Rose Kaolin clay or Moroccan clay
• 1/4 cup Arrow Root Powder or Baking Soda
• 5-10 drops Essential Oil

Directions:

1. Measure clay and  arrowroot powder and place in a jar.
2. Add essential oils (optional).
3. To apply, see directions above.Save