Putting time and effort into the way my hair looks has never been my forte. My go-to styling technique is throwing my hair into a braid overnight for loose waves the next day. I own a hair dryer, straightener, and curler, but probably only use them twice a year. So it’s really no surprise that I would rather throw some dry shampoo in than wash my hair every day. My excessive use of the classic dry shampoo spray from Target started to really break my bank, so I did a little research and started to make my own. It turned out to not only be cheaper, but healthier for my hair and better for the environment! Plus, you really only need two ingredients that you could probably find in your baking cupboard right now!
Step 1: Base In my dry shampoo recipe, I use cornstarch as the base. If you don’t have cornstarch readily available, you can substitute with blended oats or baking soda.
Step 2: Color To help this natural dry shampoo blend in well with your hair, it helps to add an element for color. Charcoal works best for black hair, cocoa powder for brown, cinnamon for red, and arrowroot powder for blonde. If you have colored hair, use sidewalk chalk to mimic your hair color.
Step 3: Bonus ingredients There are several other things you can add to your dry shampoo to enhance it! For dandruff, try adding coffee or fenugreek. Rice flour will help protect your hair from the sun, and essential oils can give your hair a fresh, just-washed smell! My usual mixture is corn starch, cinnamon, and coffee grounds, which makes my hair smell like a delicious cinnamon latte!
Step 4: Mix Start by mixing equal parts base and color ingredients, then adding more of either to get your desired color. Throw in any bonus ingredients and voila! You’ve got yourself some effective, eco-friendly dry shampoo.
Step 5: Apply & reap the benefits! You can just use your hands to apply your new dry shampoo, but an old makeup brush works the best. Dab the brush into your mixture, lightly apply to your entire scalp, rub it in with your fingers and watch the grease magically disappear! Now you can instantly freshen up your hair without a full wash in the shower, and no one will ever know!
Try making your own dry shampoo and tag me @afterrsummer so I can see your recipe!