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Dry shampoos have been all the rage, and I can understand why… A beauty product that makes your hair look clean when it hasn’t been washed in the past three days that day is a tremendous help! During long days with little ones we are lucky if we get to use the bathroom alone, much less shower every day…
If you use a product (almost) every day, it’s important for it to a) work and b) have safe ingredients! But look at the label on most commercial dry shampoos and you’ll find ingredients like isobutane, butane, and propane… no thanks!
I found out it’s easy to make your own natural dry shampoo from scratch with just a few simple ingredients you might already have on hand. You’ll not only save money since homemade dry shampoo versions are about 95% cheaper, but you also won’t be putting toxic chemicals on your hair!
(And if you don’t have the time or desire to DIY, keep reading for a solution… )
How to Make Your Own Dry Shampoo at Home
The basic idea of a dry shampoo (or wet “dry” shampoo, see that variation below) is to put an oil-absorbing substance like arrowroot or cornstarch on the oily parts of your hair. This absorbs the oil and leaves it looking clean and volumized.
On my hair, I use a light powder (arrowroot) since I’m blonde, but dark-haired mamas can mix cocoa powder in with the arrowroot for naturally tinted (and delicious smelling!) homemade dry shampoo.
Bonus: Dry shampoo is also very helpful if you’ll be styling hair and need it to hold. Dirty hair holds better than clean hair, but it doesn’t have to look dirty! In fact, for an upcoming wedding I’ll be sporting hair that hasn’t been washed in three days (you’re welcome for that visual!) 🙂
Here are the official “recipes” that can be customized to your hair type:
Dry Shampoo Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup arrowroot powder (or organic cornstarch, for dark hair use 2 TBSP arrowroot and 2 TBSP cocoa powder)
- 5 drops essential oil (optional - I use lavender)
Instructions
- Place the arrowroot, or arrowroot and cocoa powder, into a small jar.
- Add the essential oil and mix to combine.
- Apply with an old make-up brush to the roots or oily parts of your hair. Applying with the brush is optional, but it removes the need to comb through as much and is better for styled hair. If you don’t use the brush, comb the powder through your hair and style as usual.
Notes
If you’d rather have a spray wet shampoo that works as a dry shampoo, you can accomplish this by adding some water and alcohol to the above recipe.
Here’s how:
Wet “Dry” Shampoo Option
A wet-dry shampoo uses the same concept but puts the oil-absorbing substance in a quickly evaporating liquid like vodka or rubbing alcohol.
- 1 cup warm water
- 1/4 cup arrowroot or cornstarch
- 1/4 cup vodka, rubbing alcohol, or witch hazel
- Essential oils or a spritz of your favorite perfume to scent
What to do: Mix all ingredients in a small spray bottle and shake well. Shake before each use and spray on roots or oily parts of hair. Let dry and style as usual.
Bonus Tips
- Arrowroot or cornstarch can also be used as a mineral veil or finishing powder for homemade makeup or as an oil-absorbing powder on the skin. I keep a mason jar filled with arrowroot on my counter and use as a dry shampoo in my hair and to set my makeup.
- If you have dark hair but don’t want to use cocoa powder in your hair, just use plain arrowroot and apply before going to bed the night before or at least 2 hours in advance. With some time to absorb you won’t get the fake-gray-looks-like-a-wig look!
If you decide to go pro and try pre-made dry shampoo, let me know what you think if you try my Wellnesse line! I’ve been working hard to make sure these are the safest, most natural products for moms and families that work even better than conventional options. I’d love to know how they work for you!
Do you use dry shampoo? What is your best haven’t-washed-my-hair-in-days trick? Please share below!
Very interesting and will definately trying this. Any suggestions for covering some greying hair naturally. Also, suggestions for eyebrows joining my hair and going the same direction – grey. Only a little but enough to notice.
This won’t work on your scalp, but for your eyebrows a little bit of oil, especially thick like castor oil, would help darken eyebrows. The castor oil is supposed to also be moisturizing for eyeballs if put on eyeLIDS at night, as well as help eyelashes grow thicker and longer. So I put castor oil on eyelids and lashes at night (gets rid of my dry eyes) and then a little on brows when applying makeup to darken them and keep them in place.
i have heard you can use walnut powder to “dye” with…. haven’t tried it but I know you can find at a lot of natural stores and co-ops….
Wow! I’m amazed at how well this works. I used tapioca powder (because I didn’t have arrowroot) and cocoa powder. I took a before/after pic and am in awe.
Haven’t tried recipe yet…anyone know,if it can be used to heat style?
love it, the commercial powders for dark hair are super expensive
I love this and did it right away! I have bought the store stuff or used baby powder in the past but was never happy with that! Thank you! I have to laugh! You seem to be on my wavelength! Your posts are almost always something I’ve been thinking of or want to get to! From barefoot running, to organizing the house, to natural dry shampoo!! Thanks!
I love this and did it right away! I have bought the store stuff or used baby powder in the past but was never happy with that! Thank you! I have to laugh! You seem to be on my wavelength! Your posts are almost always something I’ve been thinking of or want to get to! From barefoot running, to organizing the house, to natural dry shampoo!! Thanks!
I think shampoo is the one ‘chemical’ I will never give up. It’s easy and I know the way it makes my hair behave. I tried dry shampoo once and it was weird 🙂
Hi Lina, I agree, not giving up shampoo… however I have learnt how to DIY shampoo bars (the ones with SCS coconut surfactants) and it’s even better than bought shampoo! Then I got inspired and learnt how to make conditioner bars too! I feel like with all the wonderful ingredients I put in them, I’m really pampering my hair like never before (since I can’t justify the cost of super premium shampoos and conditioners). The shampoo bars I make cost me about $4.50 AUD (that’s about US$3) and last at least as long as a standard size bottle of shampoo.
Hilary,
I am so interested! What’s your shampoo bar recipe? The plus to your bars is no plastic bottles to thro or recycle! Love that!!!
Please share and help save the planet;-)
I would like to know too. I can’t shampoo bought at a store.
I’d love your recipes, too, if you don’t mind! I have such a sensitive scalp and am currently spending WAY too much money on shampoo/conditioner that won’t hurt me. ?
For fear of sounding dumb…The essential oils won’t make your hair oily-er? Like you, I have naturally oily hair regardless so the concept of putting something on my hair with oils in it (without stripping the natural ones 1st) in an attempt to cover up the oil seems strange to me lol. But ny dark hair is SICK of using commercial dry shampoos that turn my hair a nasty gray color & smell awful so I’m super excited to try your recipe!!
i find that only using it on your scalp, in small amounts, and using your fingers to vigorously rub it in solves the grey issue!! don’t comb it through your hair!
A little (few drops) goes a long way. They are used for adding a fragrant aroma to the starch. Despite the name essential ‘oils’ they really are not oily at all. They are made from distilled water and essence of plants.
Actually, you can find the right essential oil for your hair type. I do this for my family, and customize it to each hair type.
I have been using this for years as I have curly hair that is just such a pain at times. Especially the environment in which I live. Good luck, and have fun with it.
Hey Colin, I have super curly hair also. What essential oil(s) do you use on your hair? Thanks!
A few drops of essential oils in the whole recipe will not make your hair greasier. In fact, essential oils are very volatile and aren’t greasy to begin with.
Awsome! Just one question, what would the shelf life be for both dry and spray shampoos?
Dry is indefinite as long as you wash the brush you apply it with. You can also just keep in a salt shaker or powdered sugar shaker and it will literally last for years. The spray lasts about 3-4 months (the longest I’ve tested it…)
I only wash my hair twice a week, right now I’m going on 5 days, and have long thick healthy hair. I started washing less out of laziness, I have a ton of hair and the whole hair process takes over an hour.
My friends all think I am crazy but I know that not washing the essential oils away has a huge benefit as well as not processing as often (I now only dry and flat iron twice a week too). I use dry-shampoo after a workout or a quick fix if I am short on time before I go out. I am excited to try your natural alternative; it seems better, easier and cheaper than dry shampoo.
Tips- Parting your hair in different directions or places helps to hide your roots, also try a zig-zaggy part. Once I get to day 4 or 5 I usually wear a pony tail (or messy bun), sometimes with a small braid across the front to hide my roots. I usually don’t care what my hair looks like at work and always remember the benefits of washing less 🙂
Same here, very thick straight hair…I do pigtails when it’s day 4 🙂
I’m so glad you posted this! I love dry shampoos but I have dark hair and opted for the store bought kind as they seemed to disappear easier. But making my own with out all the chemicals will be so great! And such a money saver!
Question though – what essential oils would smell good mixed with the cocoa powder? I’m not too familiar with the different essential oils to know for sure.
Thanks for all the great ideas!
Jenny
Lavender would work well, or any citrus (orange and chocolate would be great!). Mint chocolate is also an amazing combination and either spearmint or peppermint would work (and mountain rose herbs has both pretty cheap)
I made this up this morning and used it. I used sweet orange essential oil, but used probably 2 times the amount. I LOVE this! I’m SO excited about it! The money I’m saving using this is huge! Although I need a new way of storing it as I made a huge mess all over my counter when applying it. I’m thinking of investing in one of those brushes that have the powder in the handle and just continue to reload it. That should contain the mess that way. Thank you for the idea and for your website!!!
Thanks for reading! Glad you like it and that is a great idea on the re-fillable brush!
If i decided to opt out of the cocoa poweder and use corn starch is there a certain time frame i should keep it in my hair before I brush it out? And when i brush it out will the color fade and look normal or should i only do it before i goto bed and let my natural movements settle it in?
Jenny P,
Did you ever get a makeup brush that holds the powder in the handle? If so, please let me know where you got it!, I’ve been looking on the internet, but cant seem to find one…
I reused mine which originally had a finishing powder in it. It’s by FACES cosmetics.
So I used a salt shaker I had cinnamon in. One of those cheap ones from target with a bunch of holes in the lid. I have darker hair. I used 1/2 cinnamon to cornstarch. Shook it up Parted my hair and shook it on my roots over the sink and repeated this all over my hair. I then used a synthetic boars head brush to blend it through my hair. They are used to pull your natural oils down the hair anyways. So it was perfect. I can hardly see anything In my hair. I them took a shower with my hair wrapped in those wrap towels. It was great. Thanks
I used three drops of jasmine and two of tangerine and it smells heavenly.
I use a salt shaker I bought from the dollar store to just shake lightly on maybe head. I make a couple different parts and shake it down along those and then kind of rub it in with my fingers.
I’ve also read that citrus helps absorb oils as well – I plan to try the orange/ chocolate mix. I’ll keep you posted!
I think orange or peppermint e.oils would be fabulous 🙂
I love this! I have been using dry shampoo for about a month now using cornstarch and cinnamon!(I have red hair). One small problem is that no matter how much I rub it in, I can still see little white dots all over! Am I the only one with this problem?
I have the same problem. I used 50% cocoa and 50% cornstarch and I still look gray and dandruff-y because my hair dark brown, but I’m not sure if I should add more cocoa or not. I also read I could add cinnamon but that it can burn your hair- what did you experience with the cinnamon? Cocoa and Cinnamon mixed would smell awesome!
I haven’t tried this, but maybe it work to run the mixture through the food processor to take away the small lumps.
You could use ground black walnut she’ll…the black outer covering of the shell actually……you can soak the nuts casings and color your hair different shades depending on how long you soak them…
Would activated charcoal/cocoa/cornstarch work for you? The charcoal is black and mixed with the cocoa maybe you could color match your hair. I too have hair darker than cocoa powder.
I had the same problem, but I found that after the powder absorbs on my roots, if I shake off the excess and brush through with a brush I run under the faucet for a few seconds, it solves the problem. Since there isn’t much water, it dries again in about 5 minutes.
Hi Katie,
I just recently found your blog and I’m LOVING it! You have so many good posts that are helpful in trying to live a clean life. I have tried store bought dry shampoos in the past but just cant take the chemicals. This looks like a great alternative to that and I can’t wait to try it! Keep up the great blog!
Michal
Do I leave in or do you wash this out,
Leave it in…
Hi, does it work well to rinse out as well? Any reason it wouldn’t?
The whole point is a dry shampoo for days when you don’t shower. If you rinse it out, it isn’t doing its job.
I put the powder on my scalp first. I keep it in a squeeze bottle, anything with a nozzle on top. if it held liquid before just use scissors to make the dispensing hole a bit bigger. then i bend over my sink or tub, give myself a vigorous scalp massage once the powder is in then brush or comb (I have fine hair so brush for me) the powder past the ends of your hair. If you get a bit too much in there the first time use a really thickly bristled brush and just brush brush brush
oh you just gave me the idea to use one of those condiment bottles as an applicator or maybe Sally Beauty sells the empty hair color bottles. The fine tip nozzle would make application a breeze.
Can I use instant organic coffee instead of cocoa powder ? I’ll blend it into a powder…
I have been using corn starch for years as a quick fix when I don’t have time to wash my hair. In the 1980’s and 1990’s I used corn starch baby powder. I can’t believe this is now a trend, with an actual name! 🙂 Careful everyone, or you can look like you have gray hair, lol.
I was afraid of the same thing, that the white starch would look like dandruff on my hair. But the added cocoa powder makes it almost invisible 🙂
Nothing wrong with those of us who choose to go gray gracefully 😉
I have brown hair and actually love how cornstarch makes my hair look more gray! I think the gray/brown color is way prettier than my natural color.
I have just tried this technique and I am SUPER happy!! I have long fine hair but my scalp gets oily fast, so I would have to wash my hair everyday which of course resulted in dry ends 🙁 Well not anymore! Thank you for this time saving and money saving technique 🙂
I have very dry skin and hair (I *have* to go 3 days without showering) and to keep the ends of my hair moist I massage in some coconut oil about 5 minutes before my shower. It’s now winter in MN and my hair is happy as can be, and almost never staticky!
Have you tried vitamin E oil as a facial moisturizer? Very gentle and what I use in the winter when my skin is thirsty!
Hi there – I’ve found this “recipe” about a dozen times, but I have a problem which may not be unique to me. Having slightly darker than arrowroot hair, I tried adding just a little bit of cocoa, which worked so well and my hair looked so nice….
BUT, I couldn’t stop my dogs from licking my hair. Naturally, this only got worse after adding any essential oil (and I tried several). Do you know of an oil that would be unpleasant enough to ward off my puppies without doing the same to my friends and family? Or is there something other than cocoa that could darken the arrowroot?
Thanks if you can help – bel
..You shouldn’t be letting your dogs lick cocoa they can die. but i hear most animals hate mint
Thanks for your suggestions, but as it happens there isn’t an aroma in the world that will deter my dogs. In fact, mint is one of their particular favorites!
One other thing – naturally, I don’t allow my dogs to lick my hair at will. It’s just gross, but it would take at least an entire canister of cocoa to give my 55lb dog so much as a belly ache! They are much less intolerant of chocolate than the media has led us to believe.
My dog has even eaten an entire 1 pound bag of dark chocolate M&M’s with no residual discomfort. Not so much for the snail bait (formaldehyde + molasses), or the Advil, or the brand new bottle of 2000mg Vitamin D tablets, but he survived it all. I think he’s suicidal…
Lol my schnauzer ate our chocolate Easter eggs all the time! Never got sick or died from it.
For the hair powder, I have brown hair and have tried alternatives to baby powder, etc. The internet can be useful.
I don’t know where you are in the world, but a local skincare company here in St. John’s, Newfoundland called Tval makes an awesome dry shampoo for brunettes (and blondes, too). All natural ingredients and smells like rosemary and mint. It’s beautiful 🙂
Hi Betsy,
Just wondering if cinnamon would work, and if your dogs would be as into it as they are cocoa powder.
Try menthol. My little dachshund is blind (born that way) and uses his nose to get into EVERYTHING. He hates anything that smells like vaporub.
I’m pretty sure they won’t die just from licking some cocoa powder… I know that chocolate is bad for dogs, and can even kill them, but I feel like the main concern in this instance would be the digs messing up your hair:)
It would probably take at least half a pound of chocolate to kill a dog. Licking a thin film of cocoa powder isn’t going to hurt them.
https://www.petmd.com/dog/chocolate-toxicity
This comment about dogs dying from licking a bit of cocoa powder further exemplifies the extent of your scientific knowledge…
Just for the record, aerosol cans always contain “explosive chemicals” like butane, isobutane and propane, that’s what makes the aerosol container functionally spray out its contents, they act as propellants. These organic chemicals are only explosive when the contents are under pressure, in a can… and they volatilize as soon as they are out of the can. So, while I have no problem with using an alternative to mass-produced dry shampoo, you are wrong in suggesting that these natural, organic hydrocarbons are dangerous to spray on your head, because they don’t stay on your head. If anything, you should recommend against inhaling the contents, but even inhaling cornstarch isn’t good for you.
Also remember that “natural” does not always mean good (just as “synthetic” is not synonymous with “bad” and sometimes the synthetic derivative of a chemical compound produced by plants is actually safer for human use or consumption, like aspirin). We all know that ingesting a large quantity of chocolate is not good for dogs, but cocoa is a completely “natural” ingredient, consider that there are lots of plant-derived toxins that have adverse effects on humans.
I am all for DIY and using these types of ingredients, I love plants and nature and vegetables and hemp just as much as the next person on here, but I really don’t appreciate the fear-mongering… Maybe look into what exactly ingredients are and what the purpose of each one is before you criticize it and scare people into thinking that spraying from an aerosol onto their head will make them catch fire.
The person that made the comment about the dogs dying is not the same person that wrote the article. Also you should be reading Wellness Mama’s articles with a bit of humor in mind. I highly doubt anyone read that explosive comment seriously (except for you). Her philosophy is far from fear mongering. Most people looking up these recipes are trying to stay away from any aerosols, many of which do leave a toxic residue and contribute to environmental concerns.
I agree with you, but she has a sense of humor in her writings. It isn’t fear mongering lol
Dogs hate citrus. They make citrus spray bark collars. You could try adding that to it. The Cocoa powder in your hair will probably not kill your dog, the lethal dose of chocolate for dogs is weight dependant, but chocolate is certainly not good for them.
Have you tried tumeric or another alternative power that has a darker tint?
Dogs won’t die on cocoa or chocolate. It’s hard on their digestive systems and they may be diarrhea, but there’s a lot of hysteria around dogs and chocolate so I try and share this info when possible.
No chocolate is not just hard on a dog’s digestive system, I work in an animal hospital and I’ve seen dogs die from chocolate toxicity. In smaller amounts chocolate can cause vomiting and diarrhea but with larger amounts dogs can experience things like muscle tremors, seizures, an irregular heartbeat, internal bleeding or a heart attack. The chemical that dogs can’t tolerate is theobromine and naturally a larger dog can handle more of it than a smaller dog and dark chocolate is more dangerous than milk chocolate b/c of the higher concentration of theobromine. Please don’t “share” info about things you don’t know for sure, that’s why people wait until the last minute to bring their pets in to the vet after eating a brick of bakers chocolate and then are devastated and guilt ridden when they die….
This is an older post, but I couldn’t help being shocked at someone saying that chocolate doesn’t hurt dogs. I worked in a vet clinic for 12 years, and saw many many dogs get sick from it. Some died. Your post is irresponsible, so stop sharing this horribly inaccurate information.
Use Tea Tree Oil. Your dogs will not like the smell.
But your cats might! One of my cat goes completely batsh*t for tea tree oil when I apply it (and I know it is toxic to cats)
This is too funny..but I guess is true!
Try a brown mica in place of cocoa. Madoils.com sell lots of colours and you can make eyeshadow with it, too. Or in Australia, My Mica Obsession on Facebook.
So very sorry. But I had to say – I got a good chuckle when I read that your dogs were licking your hair… 🙂
I do hope you found a ‘cure’ for that though.
FYI: The darker/more pure the chocolate the more poisionus it is to our dogs. Milk choc is not good for them but the pure stuff is the worse
Dogs hate Tea Tree oil – I use it (very very sparingly, they are so sensitive to scent…) when they won’t stop licking an ouchie. 🙂
you can use neem essential oil or neem in a carrier oil. it smells earthy but tastes incredibly bitter, your dogs won’t like it one bit. neem is also really good for hair : )
Have you tried carob powder? Looks and tastes almost like chocolate, but is actually healthy for dogs and humans.
Try eucalyptus. Most animals & insects hate it & humans love it. Use it more sparingly than most essential oils; it’s more potent & toxic to humans than most essential oils.
Agreed. Thanks Wellness Mama! My dirty hair now smells like orange citrus.
Citronella is also a scent that dogs tend to dislike.