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Do you struggle with greasy hair? Or are you trying to make the switch to natural hair products and the hair is simply not cooperating? By using a DIY dry shampoo made with only 2 ingredients, your dream of having a natural hair care routine can now become a reality!
As a busy mom, I don’t have the time to wash my hair daily. And honestly, I don’t want to.
In fact, daily washes can actually be bad for your hair! Overwashing strips the hair of its natural oils and leads to a dry, itchy scalp, and damaged strands.
That doesn’t mean I want to walk around with greasy-looking hair. Fortunately, I don’t have to because of this homemade dry shampoo!
Dry shampoo is made with ingredients that absorb excess oils, leaving hair looking and feeling clean without a thorough washing. This homemade recipe is simple, effective, and easy to use!
After making this product, head over to my online resource library for your free printable label. Labels are a must in order to keep track of all your homemade products.
Why You’ll Love DIY Dry Shampoo
- Dry shampoo works amazingly in my hair to absorb oils and refresh it between washings. If you are trying to cut back on the frequency of your hair washings or simply don’t have time to wash it on a busy day, this dry shampoo can help you keep your hair looking clean.
- This recipe is as simple as it gets! With only 3 ingredients and a couple minutes of time, you’ll have a natural dry shampoo that is perfectly matched to your hair shade.
- Making your own dry shampoo allows you to completely customize it. Change the color to match your hair and add your favorite essential oils to make it your own.
- Dry shampoo saves so much time. By using it between washes, I am able to limit my hair washing to twice a week. Compared to the daily washes I was doing, I am saving a lot of time throughout my week!
- Making your own bath and beauty products is almost always cheaper, and this dry shampoo is no exception. The ingredients in it are affordable and easy to find online or in health food and grocery stores.
What Goes Into This Recipe
- Arrowroot powder: The base of the dry shampoo, arrowroot powder absorbs the oils in the hair, reducing the greasy look. It can also be substituted with cornstarch to make a homemade cornstarch dry shampoo.
- Cocoa powder: This will darken the arrowroot powder and help the dry shampoo blend into your hair better. The amount needed will depend on your hair color. You can also add cinnamon to give the shampoo a reddish tint.
- Essential oils: Oils are optional, but many of them will provide additional benefits to the hair and scalp. Keep reading for my suggestions.
- A glass jar for storage
- A makeup brush for application
Optional Essential Oils
When choosing essential oils for your dry shampoo, you can do a combination of several oils or just pick one. Each of these oils is great for the hair and scalp (I use all of them in my homemade hair growth spray!).
I personally like to do a combo of oils, but I go heavy on the lavender because I love the smell. So get creative and switch it up!
- Lavender– Studies have shown that lavender helps produce more hair follicles to thicken and strengthen hair. Lavender has a beautiful floral smell that can promote calmness and reduce stress.
- Rosemary– Rosemary essential oil is the top oil for hair growth and thickness. It helps to treat dry hair as well as overly oily hair and can help prevent split ends.
- Tea tree– Tea tree promotes a healthy, clean-looking scalp. It’s also great for preventing buildup and is often used in chelating shampoos.
- Cedarwood– This woodsy oil is excellent when making products for men because it has a very masculine scent. In fact, I use cedarwood in all the DIY products I make for my husband and he approves. 😉 It stimulates hair follicles and increases circulation to the scalp making it a top oil for hair loss.
- Peppermint– Peppermint oil is known for the cooling effect it has on the skin when used topically and for its refreshing minty scent. Peppermint is also great for the hair as it promotes hair growth and thickness.
How to Make Dry Shampoo
Step 1. Gather your ingredients. You will need arrowroot powder, cocoa powder, and essential oil. Plus, a jar for storage and a makeup brush for applying the shampoo.
Step 2. Add arrowroot powder to a small mixing bowl, then add cocoa powder. Start by adding a tablespoon at a time for dark hair or a teaspoon at a time for light hair. If your hair has a reddish tint, add a pinch of cinnamon.
Step 3. Stir to combine, then add more cocoa powder as needed to match your hair color. Add the optional essential oils and stir again.
Step 4. Transfer to a jar for storage.
How to Use
Dip your makeup brush into the jar of dry shampoo, then give it a little tap on the side of the container to remove excess powder.
Divide your hair into sections and start brushing the powder into the greasy sections of the hair. You only need to use the shampoo on the greasy areas.
Once the powder has been applied to the roots, let it sit for 1-2 minutes. Then, starting at the roots, use your hands to work the powder into the scalp and down to the tips of the hair.
Finally, brush any excess powder from the hair and style as normal.
Expert Tips
- Start with just a little bit of cocoa powder or cinnamon and add more in small increments.
- Keep in mind that dry shampoo is not a substitute for washing hair. It absorbs excess oils to keep your hair looking clean between washings, but it doesn’t remove dirt, grime, and sweat.
- Limit dry shampoo to occasional use and continue with regular hair washings using one of my homemade shampoos and a nourishing homemade conditioner.
- Dry shampoo can be very helpful if you want to wash your hair less often. I effectively “trained” my hair to produce less oil by washing it less often. Daily washing stripped my natural oils, so my scalp produced more to compensate. For about a month, I stuck to a schedule of washing less often and now I can wash my hair twice a week without it getting greasy! Dry shampoo is what got me through those long days while my hair was being trained, and now I rarely need it!
Recipe FAQs
Dry shampoo is overall safe and effective. However, if you notice buildup, flakey skin, or hair breakage, discontinue use.
Dry shampoo absorbs the extra oils in your hair, making your hair look fresh and clean without shampooing. It can be found in both a spray dry shampoo and a powder form.
Anyone can benefit from this product, including men, women, and children. It’s suitable for all hair types – thick, thin, oily, normal, and even dry hair.
Homemade dry shampoo is made with simple, natural ingredients and is very affordable. Storebought dry shampoo may come with some health risks and unwanted ingredients. Homemade dry shampoo may also be better for your hair. When I need to restock my dry shampoo, I always opt for this simple homemade version!
Related Content
- Homemade Dandruff Shampoo
- DIY Natural Hair Spray
- How Weekly Hair Oiling Transformed My Hair
- Hydrating Castor Oil Hair Mask
- DIY Hair Pomade
If you tried this DIY Dry Shampoo Tutorial or any other tutorial on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
DIY Dry Shampoo for Light and Dark Hair
Equipment
- Airtight storage container
- Mixing bowl
Ingredients
Dry shampoo for dark hair
- 3 tablespoons arrowroot powder
- 2-3 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 5 drops of essential oil of choice
Dry shampoo for light hair
- ¼ cup arrowroot powder
- 1-2 teaspoon cocoa powder, you can omit this if you have very light or white hair
- 5 drops of essential oil of choice
Instructions
- Add arrowroot powder to a small mixing bowl.
- Using a measuring spoon, start by adding a tbsp at a time (for dark hair) or a tsp at a time (for light hair) of cocoa powder. Then, stir it in, adding more if needed depending on your hair color.
- If your hair has a reddish tint, add a pinch of cinnamon with the cocoa powder. Start with less and add more until you reach the desired color.
- Transfer to an airtight container for storage.
How to Use
- To use, divide hair into sections.
- Dab powder onto the roots of the hair and let sit for 1-2 minutes.
- Starting at the roots, use your hands to work the powder into the scalp and down to the tips of the hair.
- Brush any extra powder out before styling like normal.
Video
Notes
- Store out of direct sunlight for up to one year.
- Keep in mind that dry shampoo is not a substitute for washing hair. It absorbs excess oils to keep your hair looking clean between washings, but it doesn’t remove dirt, grime, and sweat.
- Limit dry shampoo to occasional use and continue with regular hair washings using one of my homemade shampoos and a nourishing homemade conditioner.
What do you use to apply this???
A makeup brush works well.
This dry shampoo is so easy to make and I absolutely love how it freshens my hair back up making it feel light and fluffy again when I want to stretch my washing day out a little. Thank you for sharing this recipe, Laura!
I am so happy to hear you have been using and loving this dry shampoo!