You know that shampoos are used for cleaning your hair. But, do you know how dry shampoos work? Let’s find out this in the following section.
How Does Dry Shampoo Work?
Dry shampoo works by absorbing the excess oil from your hair and scalp between your hair wash days. This helps maintain your hair’s good health, despite experimenting with different kinds of hairstyles. Homemade dry shampoos also reduce the risk of side effects caused by the excessive use of commercial dry shampoos. Instead of burning a hole in your pocket by purchasing expensive shampoos that contain harmful chemicals, DIY dry shampoos save you time, effort, and money to a great extent. You can find a number of dry shampoo options in the market. But, why should you think of a natural solution for your hair? Find out the reason behind this in the next section.
Why Should You Look For A Natural Solution?
Many hair care products that you purchase contain many harmful ingredients in their formulations. Chemicals like isobutane, butane, and others can cause allergic reactions on your scalp, damage your hair, and even lead to hair loss. Thus, these are not ingredients you really want to be freely applying to your hair or scalp. Hence, look for DIY solutions in dry shampoos for healthy and natural-looking hair. So, how can you make dry shampoo at home? Don’t worry, we have got you covered. We have compiled a list of the 10 best dry shampoo recipes that you can easily make at home. Check out the next section!
10 DIY Dry Shampoo Recipes For Each Hair Color And Type
To prepare a homemade dry shampoo mixture, you need to use a base (like cornstarch) and mix it with other ingredients to make it beneficial for your hair. For instance, you can add rice flour to protect your hair from the harmful UV rays of the sun. Fenugreek or coffee powder can be used to treat dandruff, active charcoal for greasy hair, and essential oils such as peppermint, lavender, orange, eucalyptus, and lemongrass oils for fragrance.
1. Activated Charcoal And Cornstarch Dry Shampoo: For Dark Brown Or Black Hair
Activated charcoal dry shampoo works great and removes excess oil from dark brown or black hair. Besides cleansing and hydrating your hair, charcoal removes toxins and sweaty odor from your hair (1). It also relieves itchiness on the scalp and dandruff. Also, cornstarch absorbs oils from the scalp and make your hair look fresh. Note: This recipe may tint blonde hair.
2 tablespoons active charcoal 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1 tablespoon lavender oil
Pro Tip: For instant fragrance in your dry shampoo, just add a few drops of your favorite essential oil and prepare the DIY dry shampoo solution as you would normally.
2. Cinnamon And Cornstarch Dry Shampoo: For Red Hair
Cinnamon is considered to be the best option for redheads. It blends easily into your red hair while masking the color of the ingredients you used in the dry shampoo. It acts as a stimulant (improves blood circulation when applied to the scalp) and keeps your hair healthy and strong (2). Its antibacterial properties help in preventing scalp infections and inflammation.
2 tablespoons cinnamon powder 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1 tablespoon lavender oil
3. Arrowroot And Cornstarch Dry Shampoo: For White, Blonde, Or Silver Hair
Anecdotal evidence suggests that arrowroot contains high-quality nutrients that can nourish your hair and scalp to give you healthy, silky, and soft hair. This mixture works well on blonde hair and adds volume to the hair. Also, it absorbs oil easily and fights odor.
2 tablespoons arrowroot powder 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1 tablespoon lemongrass oil
4. Cocoa Powder And Cornstarch Dry Shampoo: For Brown Hair
Cocoa powder is suitable for brunettes and dark blondes. It can easily blend into your brown-hued locks and nourish the hair follicles. It not only promotes hair growth but also enhances blood circulation and promotes hair growth. It adds glow to your hair and imparts a pleasant aroma to it. Also, it prevents inflammation that influences growth patterns and hair health (3).
2 tablespoons cocoa powder 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1 tablespoon lemongrass oil
5. Rice Flour And Cornstarch Dry Shampoo
Apart from strengthening your locks, rice flour helps in protecting your hair from the harmful UV rays and relieves sunburns. However, there is no scientific evidence to prove the same. It is said to be the best scalp cleanser as it clears away all dirt, oils, and build-up from the scalp. Cornstarch eliminates greasiness and makes your hair look fresh and healthy.
2 tablespoons rice flour 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1 tablespoon peppermint oil
6. Blended Oatmeal And Cornstarch Dry Shampoo
Blended oatmeal is said to have antioxidant and antibacterial properties that help in adding luster to your hair and preventing itchy, flaky scalp. Oatmeal is a natural moisturizer that can help treat an itchy and dry scalp. Furthermore, it can give your roots some extra boost.
2 tablespoons blended oatmeal 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1 tablespoon lavender oil
7. Calcium Bentonite Clay And Cornstarch Dry Shampoo: For Gray/Silver Hair
Calcium bentonite clay is known as the healing clay. It is extracted from volcanic ash, which works wonders in removing toxins and getting rid of impurities from your hair. It absorbs excess oil to leave your scalp feeling clean and fresh. Also, it is widely used as a hair cleanser and softener (4).
2 tablespoons calcium bentonite clay 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1 tablespoon peppermint oil
8. Powdered Coffee And Cornstarch Dry Shampoo
Coffee helps in controlling hair fall, strengthening the hair roots, and stimulating hair growth (5). It adds a natural shine to your hair (6). Powdered coffee is also said to increase blood circulation and help the nutrients reach the hair roots. Also, it reduces the dullness of your hair and revives its appearance.
2 tablespoons powdered coffee 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1 tablespoon peppermint oil
9. Fenugreek Powder And Cornstarch Dry Shampoo
Fenugreek powder fights dandruff and serves as a solution for various scalp-related issues like flaking, itchiness, and burning (7). It also helps condition your hair and retains its natural shine.
2 tablespoons fenugreek powder 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1 tablespoon orange oil
10. Dry Spray Shampoo
Rubbing alcohol is a strong pesticide that helps in killing head lice. It also acts as a clarifying agent that keeps your hair fresh and free from impurities. It removes excess oils and balances the pH of your scalp. Note: Rubbing alcohol may dry out the scalp and hair. Always apply a hydrating agent to avoid scalp breakouts and brittle hair.
1 cup warm water ¼ cup cornstarch ¼ cup rubbing alcohol A few drops of any essential oil
Now that you have made your homemade dry shampoo, let’s take a look at how you can apply it to your hair.
How To Use
Pro Tip: If you are having a hard time removing the dry shampoo from your hair, a faster and effortless way is to use a blow dryer. The need to use dry shampoo arises when you start to feel the greasiness in your hair. This usually happens around 3-4 days after you wash your hair. Dry shampoo should be used according to your hair type due to its oil-absorbing capacity. Overuse of dry shampoo results in hair breakage, while underuse makes your hair look oily. So, how often should you use dry shampoo? Find out in the following section.
How Often Should You Use Homemade Dry Shampoo?
Dry shampoo essentially absorbs the oil from your scalp. Whether you use it once or several times a week, make sure you use it only when your hair starts getting greasy. Using it too often can make your scalp dry and flaky. Remember that a little dry shampoo goes a long way, and overuse of it may remove the natural oils from the scalp which are essential for maintaining the moisture that your hair needs. Furthermore, if you overuse these shampoos, the ingredients may build up and clog the pores on your scalp. Is dry shampoo bad for your hair? The dry shampoos available in stores can be bad for your hair if used excessively. Natural dry shampoos are safe to use since they mostly contain natural ingredients. But, using dry shampoo too often can cause product build-up on the scalp. How long does the effect of a dry shampoo last? It depends on your hair type, scalp oiliness, and lifestyle. However, the effect of most dry shampoos lasts for 3 days between washes. Can I use baking soda as a dry shampoo? Yes, you can use baking soda as a dry shampoo. It helps remove build-up and acts as a clarifying agent to cleanse dirt and excess oil from the scalp. Can I use baby powder as a dry shampoo? Yes, you can use baby powder as a dry shampoo. It can absorb the dirt and oil from your hair, leaving it fresh. What can I use as a substitute for dry shampoo? You can use oatmeal powder, arrowroot powder, cocoa powder, and baby powder as substitutes for dry shampoo. How do you get rid of greasy hair without dry shampoo? Apply arrowroot powder to the roots to eliminate grease and excess sebum. Does hand sanitizer work as a dry shampoo? Never use hand sanitizer on your scalp. It’s formulated to kill germs and not for absorbing grease. The alcohol in it may damage the scalp and cause dryness and irritation. Can I use hairspray as a dry shampoo? No. Hairsprays are formulated for the strands and provide a subtle hold. It cannot absorb grease and oil like dry shampoo. On the contrary, using hairspray on your scalp may leave a sticky feeling.
