DIY Dry ​​Shampoo Recipes for Light and Dark Hair

Dry shampoos have become increasingly popular over the years, and we can see why. Hair care products that give you a clean look even if you haven’t washed it in a while are very helpful! We were lucky enough to have the bathroom to ourselves during a long day with young children. A lot less showering every day…

If you use a product (almost) every day, it’s important that it contains ingredients that a) work and b) are safe! But if you look at the labels of most store-bought dry shampoos, you’ll find ingredients like isobutane, aluminum, and propane… no!

You can easily make natural dry shampoo from scratch using just a few simple ingredients you probably already have on hand. Homemade dry shampoo is about 95% cheaper, so not only will you save money, but you’ll also avoid putting toxic chemicals on your hair!

How to Make Your Own Dry Shampoo at Home

The basic idea of ​​dry shampoo powder (or wet “dry” shampoo, see variations below) is to apply an oil-absorbing substance, such as baby powder, baking soda, arrowroot, or cornstarch, to oily hair. It absorbs excess oil, keeps it clean and adds volume to fine hair.

Until the cancer lawsuits began, baby powder was made from talcum powder (which is full of asbestos). Now baby powder is usually made with GMO corn starch. Neither of these are great options in my book.

Since I’m blonde, I only use arrowroot powder and a few drops of essential oil. If you have light hair, just using these two natural ingredients can work wonders. People with dark hair, such as brunette or dark brown hair, can achieve a darker color by mixing in cocoa powder. You can also use cocoa powder in your homemade eye shadow.

People with very dark and dark hair are advised to darken the mixture by adding activated charcoal. The exact amount to use depends on your hair color.

Bonus: Dry shampoo is also very useful when you need to style and hold your hair. Dirty hair holds better than clean hair, but it doesn’t have to look dirty! In fact, at my upcoming wedding, I’ll be sporting natural hair that hasn’t been washed in three days. (Thank you for that visual!)

Essential oils that provide more benefits to hair

Essential oils add more than just a delicious scent! They also have powerful health benefits. Add rosemary and cedarwood essential oils to support hair growth. For dandruff, try tea tree and peppermint.

Here’s the official “recipe” that you can customize to suit your hair type.

Prefer the spray version? Instead of aerosol dry shampoo, add a little water and alcohol to the recipe above. Here’s how:

Wet “Dry” Shampoo Options

Wet-dry shampoos use the same concept, but place oil-absorbing substances in a rapidly evaporating liquid, such as vodka or rubbing alcohol.

What to do: Place all ingredients in a small spray bottle and shake well. Shake before use and spray on the roots or oily parts of the hair. Dry and style as usual.

Bonus Tips

• You can use arrowroot powder or cornstarch as a finishing powder for homemade makeup or as a powder to absorb oil into the skin. I keep a mason jar filled with arrowroot on the counter and use it as dry shampoo on my hair and to set my makeup.
• If you have dark hair and don’t want to use cocoa powder, use regular arrowroot and apply it the night before or at least 2 hours before going to bed. If it takes a while to absorb, you won’t get that fake gray wig look!

Do you use dry shampoo? What’s your best secret to washing your hair without washing it these days? Please share below!