When I discovered dry shampoo aerosols as a teenager, my whole life changed. I had the disadvantage of thick, bouffy, fluffy hair where the ends needing washing maybe once a week, but the roots every three days. The fact I used to have dyed, black hair and that I straighten it after every wash probably didn’t help the situation much either. Using a dry shampoo equaled less washing each week and markedly improved my hair health overall in result.
Using a dry shampoo was something that posed a problem once I started living a cleaner life though. There’s lots of ‘-ane’ ingredients in commercial dry shampoo (propane, butane and isobutane usually) as well as synthetic ‘fragrances’. It’s the latter that I most actively avoid in beauty products and I don’t quite understand why the product has to smell nice anyway. Regardless, you’re hair is going to smell faintly like chocolate when you use this homemade dry shampoo, so enjoy that bit of sensory gratification everytime you use it between washes!
When To Use D.I.Y. Dry Shampoo:
As I’ve mentioned above, I tend to get oily roots between washes and can’t wash my hair too often or it’s gets very dry. This dry shampoo is the ultimate remedy for fresh looking, in-between-washes hair. It’s also useful for a post-workout spruce-up when you’re feeling a little grubby or on day-old washed hair when you’re attempting a new cute up-do. What it doesn’t do is replace normal hair-washing however and won’t remove built up grime or product from your hair, so don’t use it too many times in a row before giving your hair a normal wash.
What You Need:
- Starch – I personally like to use maize cornflour; arrowroot (tapioca starch) is also a great choice. The starch absorbs excess oil in your hair and also provides a bit of ‘grip’ when you’re planning on sporting braids, buns or plaits for the day.
- Cocoa or raw cacao powder – This is the colouring agent and how much you use will depend on your hair colour. For blondes, try using no cocoa at all or a ratio of 3:1 up to 2:1 of starch to cocoa. For mid-brown hair or auburn like myself, try 1:1 (as pictured above). For darker hair colours start with 1:2 starch to cocoa and make sure to buff and brush the powder in well to prevent tell-tale light patches.
- Essential Oils (optional) – If you have extremely oily roots, try using tea tree essential oil or citrus oils like lemon for their oil reducing properties. You could also add rosemary, lavender or clary sage essential oil for it’s healthy scalp promoting actions. Sometimes I use essential oils, other times it’s just the starch and cocoa, and either way it’s always fabulous.
How to Apply:
I prefer to use a makeup powder brush to apply dry shampoo powder – dip the brush into your jar, tap it against the inside rim of the jar to remove excess powder and then buff into your roots. The brush I use is this one (and their mineral makeup is fabulous too). You hair must be dry when you do this. Don’t apply to wet hair unless you want an ugly, clumpy paste that you’ll need to wash out.
An alternative is to store your dry shampoo in a clean spice shaker container and shake over your roots between washes. Then use your fingers to rub the powder into your hair. I’m not great with my hand-eye coordination when using the mirror as a guide, so this isn’t my preferred method of application (i.e. I get it everywhere).
Don’t panic if you hair looks lighter first on application, this will fade as the powder soaks up excess oil. After either method of application, brush or comb your hair after five minutes to further distribute the powder and avoid any powdery patches. And that’s it! Natural, easy and inexpensive D.I.Y. dry shampoo.
- Corn starch
- Cocoa/Cacao Powder
- 100g screw top, glass jar
- 6 drops essential oils of choice, in total (optional)
- Combine corn starch and cocoa in the following rations where each part is 1 tbsp:
- Blonde/light brown hair - 3:1 - 2:1
- Mid-brown - 1:1
- Dark brown/black: 1:2 - 1:3
- Add powder to oily roots and rub in well. Allow to sit for 5 minutes to absorb oils and then brush oil powder to roots with a bristle brush. Style hair as desired.
Use a total of 6 drops of essential oils per 4 tbsp of mixed dry shampoo powder (2 drops per tbsp of powder).
You can use a mix of essential oils, or just one but no more than 6 drops total per 4 tbsp powder.
Comments 31
Thanks for this tip! I am hooked on aerosol dry shampoo and am keen to give this alternative a go.
Author
I hope you love the dry shampoo Cindy! It’s one of my favourite homemade cosmetics 🙂
I have oily hair. 1 day after washing. It is horrible. I have tried dried shampoo once or twice, but don’t like the build up it leaves. I may try this once again, with your application technique. I have read that Epson salts are great for drying up the oil too.
Amazing!! Love this. I was going to buy some dry shampoo from the store today, but will make instead. Thanks!
Author
It’s my pleasure Marni! I hope you like the dry shampoo, let me know how you go 😀
Thanks for the great recipe. I haven’t tried dry shampoo, but I have wanted to! I am pinning this recipe!
Author
My pleasure Karen, hope you love the dry shampoo!
I have reddy orange hair, would it be better for me to use the blonde 2:1 ratio or the 1:1 ratio for auburn?
Author
Hi Kaspar, I would probably try the 1:1 first, as you can always add more of the starch as needed and remix. Much of the colour buffs out, so the addition of the cocoa is really to stop the ‘ghosting’ effect you might get from using straight corn starch.
Hi Alison,
I remember my auntie cleaning my hair with dry shampoo as a child when I was too ill to tolerate a water washing, so this really takes me back a few years. I love the idea of smelling like chocolate and essential oils. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe for dry shampoo on the Healthy, Happy, Green & Natural blog hop!
Author
I remember something similar with my Mum doing the same Deborah, and even now if I’m ill it’s a handy way to help you feel fresher when you’re not well enough for much else.
Thanks for hosting the blog-hop and thanks for the comment 😀
I am excited to try this recipe. However, I am curious about the essential oils. If you put oils into powder, won’t it clump up?
Author
Hi Jessica, great question! I’ve never had any problems with clumping but I would suggest to add the essential oils at a couple of drops at a time and stir them in with a fork to prevent clumping. If there is any clumping then let the mixture sit for a while to dry and stir again with a fork to distribute further. Thanks for the comment 😀
I know this might be a silly question, but what happens when you sweat and you have the dry shampoo in? It doesn’t come streaking down your face does it?
Author
To truly answer your question, I used the dry shampoo on the hottest of hot days lately (a 42C scorcher!). No streaking or oiliness at all I’m happy to report 🙂 Hair felt fresh and light!
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Talcum powder work well to, add the cocoa to that to darken if you need it or, if you’re blonde like me just use it straight 🙂
Author
Thanks for the comment Rachael. We’re discussing healthy and natural beauty products in this blog, which is why plant derived starch is recommended for this dry shampoo recipe – the use of talc isn’t suitable in this instance. I don’t like to push my views on others, but if you would like to read more about my stance here is an article about the possible dangers of using refined mineral talc.
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Thanks for this! Might have to try the Blonde straight-up starch!
Author
My pleasure Jennifer! Please let me know how it goes 😀
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This is amazing! Thank you so much for this recipe. I love how I actually know what I am putting in my hair and how easy this entire thing just is.
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Hi Alison Murray from the Uk Alison Murray!
I think your dry shampoo solution is great and will be trying it out asap. We can use Cornflour for the starch ingredient just in case Uk people were confused 🙂
Author
Hi UK Alison Murray 😀 Your middle name wouldn’t happen to be ‘Jane’ or similar would it? Thanks for the comment and the ingredient clarification for UK readers 😀
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