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Conventional dry shampoos are expensive and can contain some pretty egregious ingredients. Keep your locks looking fresh between washes with this super frugal, all natural, and delicious smelling DIY Dry Shampoo for Redheads, Blondes, and Brunettes!
My hair is very fine and very straight and until recently I have been a slave to everyday hair washing. The slightest bit of oil just weighs down my whole mop into a sad mess. For the last few months, I have been futzing with my hair care routine. Washing, not washing, water only rinsing, apple cider vinegar rinsing…all with mixed results. But one thing that has become an indispensable part of my evolving routine is DIY dry shampoo!
I have read a lot about going “no-poo” (basically avoiding the use of traditional shampoo), but I had always been too afraid to really try it. Last winter, under the protective cover of a wool beanie, I started stretching the length of time between hair washes. First just a day. Then another. Long story short, pretty soon it had been two weeks and I somehow hadn’t noticed so much time had passed! How? DIY dry shampoo, of course!
What is Dry Shampoo?
Ok so dry shampoo isn’t really “shampoo” at all. All versions, commercial and homemade, generally contain some kind of starch or powder which absorbs oil and sebum and reduces greasiness. But it doesn’t actually clean hair. Using a dry shampoo helps you stretch the time between hair washings, and tends to give hair a bit of a volume boost as well!
But like many commercial cosmetics and hair products, dry shampoo often contains some seriously disturbing ingredients. Most store bought dry shampoos come in aerosol containers which spew out butane, propane, and isobutane (or Liquefied Petroleum Gas). Not only are these terrible for the ozone, they’re also bad for our lungs. Most versions also have talc, which can sometimes contain asbestos fibers, a known carcinogen. Even the non-asbestos versions of talc have now been possibly linked to ovarian cancer!
Dry shampoos generally contain the problematic ingredient “fragrance,” which is an undisclosed combination of some 4,000 chemicals. And according to research compiled by the environmental health non-profit, Women’s Voices for the Earth, about a third of them are potentially toxic to humans and the environment!
Why Not Wash Hair Everyday?
Shampooing with “conventional” shampoo, strips hair of its natural oils. The trouble is that too-frequent washing can strip hair of too much oil, which in turn creates a kind of feedback loop. The body produces even more sebum in response, making hair more oily, and making it feel more imperative to wash hair even more!
The whole idea of ditching shampoo, comes with a sort of adjustment period where this oil production cycle must even out. (Which means there will likely be a pretty greasy period for a bit.) That is definitely what happened to me. And ultimately I have decided that some kind of middle ground is best for me (for now.) After months of trial and error, I’ve landed on a cycle of washing about once a week or so and using my DIY dry shampoo a few days a week.
What is DIY Dry Shampoo
The basic ingredient is arrowroot powder. Sometimes called arrowroot flour or starch, it’s a grain-free/gluten-free starchy substance and it’s awesome at absorbing oil! (It’s also the star ingredient in my non-greasy body butter recipe.) You can usually find it in the flour/baking section of a natural or well stocked grocery store.
You can absolutely use arrowroot all by itself as a homemade dry shampoo, especially if your hair is very blonde, white, or gray. But if your hair is not light colored, you might be left with a bit of an 18th century powdery look. But never fear! You’ve got a super frugal color palate waiting on your baking shelf!
DIY Dry Shampoo for Redheads, Blondes, and Brunettes
Just add…
Cinnamon
Ground Ginger
Cocoa Powder
Simply use a combination of these delicious kitchen staples to customize the color of your arrowroot dry shampoo. It’s hard to give exact proportions, since it depends on the color of your hair. But for my reddish hair, I like to use something like this…
DIY Dry Shampoo for Redheads
1 tsp arrowroot (or cornstarch)
3/4 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp ground ginger
DIY Dry Shampoo for Blondes
Arrowroot powder (or cornstarch)
Optional: ginger powder
DIY Dry Shampoo for Brunettes
1 part arrowroot (or cornstarch)
1 part cocoa
Your homemade dry shampoo doesn’t need to be an exact color match, just somewhere in the ballpark will blend well. Play around with the ratios!
How to Use DIY Dry Shampoo
There are a few ways to apply this magic hair powder. Personally, I like to use a large makeup brush and apply it directly to my crown, part, hairline, and any oily spots. You could also put the mixture in an upcycled spice shaker and sprinkle as needed. Or just grab a little pinch with your fingers and massage it into your scalp.
Work the powder into your hair to evenly distribute and style as you wish!
Other Tips for Using DIY Dry Shampoo
It can be a little messy. I like to apply my dry shampoo while I’m still wearing my night shirt or drape a towel over my shoulders so that it doesn’t get on my shirt.
Make a lot, use a lid. Since this is a dry powder, it has a super long shelf life, yay! But also since it’s a dry powder, it will make a big mess if it’s knocked over, boo! So do yourself a favor and make a big batch, but put it in a container with a tight lid.
Don’t use it every single day. Regardless of whether you “poo” or “no poo”, you will want to wash this out from time to time so it doesn’t build up and irritate your scalp. I find I am able to use it two or three times throughout the week before I wash my hair.
Add essential oils. Your hair will smell like a bakery! I’m a big fan of gourmand fragrances, but if you want you could change it up a bit by adding a few drops of essential oil. Lavender, peppermint, and orange might be good choices. As always, just make sure any essential oils you use are safe for you (especially if you are pregnant/nursing.)
I absolutely love the way this makes my hair look and feel. My DIY dry shampoo days are my BEST hair days. Please let me know what you think and share your perfect color blend!
DIY Dry Shampoo for Redheads, Blondes, and Brunettes
Conventional dry shampoos are expensive and can contain some pretty egregious ingredients. Keep your locks looking fresh between washes with this super frugal, all natural, and delicious smelling DIY Dry Shampoo for Redheads, Blondes, and Brunettes!
Materials
- arrowroot powder (or cornstarch)
- cinnamon
- ground ginger
- cocoa powder
Tools
- small container
Instructions
Simply use a combination of these delicious kitchen staples to customize the color of your arrowroot powder to match your hair tone. Your homemade dry shampoo doesn’t need to be an exact color match, just somewhere in the ballpark. Play around a little with the ratios!
- Measure arrowroot powder into a sealable container.
- Use a combination of cinnamon (for red tones), ginger (for blonde tones), and cocoa powder (for brunettes) to match your hair color. Start with equal parts arrowroot and color agent and tweak from there!
TO USE:
- Use a large makeup brush and apply it directly to my crown, part, and any oily spots.
OR
- Put the mixture in an upcycled spice shaker and sprinkle as needed.
- Work the powder into your scalp to distribute the product.
- Style as usual.
Notes
If you want to change it up a bit, try adding a few drops of essential oil. Lavender, peppermint, and orange might be good choices. As always, just make sure any essential oils you use are safe for you (especially if you are pregnant/nursing.)
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