Last Updated on July 16, 2024
DIY dry shampoo will leave your hair feeling soft, silky, and free of oil buildup. It comes together in minutes and smells great too.
Dry shampoo powder absorbs excess oils in your hair and allows you to skip daily shampooing. Freshen your hair after a workout, give hair a natural lift, and keep your hair healthy by using homemade dry shampoo. Commercially prepared options are expensive and filled with dangerous toxins. Learn how to make your own DIY dry shampoo that is eco-friendly and only uses natural ingredients.
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how dry shampoo powder works
Do you want to know my secret to having fab hair and extending to a weekly wash? Two words: Dry. Shampoo. I’ve been using this dry shampoo DIY recipe for ages, and it works just as well as even the most expensive store-bought options.
It’s not a new product by any means — dry shampoo has been buzzing around for quite some time.
But just in case you haven’t heard of this magical product, it helps keep your hair full of life and free of grease between washes.
At the drug store, it typically comes in a powder or spray form. You dust or spray your oily roots with the powder, let it sit for a minute or two, and then massage it in. This dry shampoo DIY option works similarly, you just don’t spray it.
I don’t find it to be any less convenient, though! The powder will help absorb the excess oil in your hair and give you some lift at the root.
You’re left with clean, voluminous looking hair. And, no one has to know you slept in instead of washing your hair.
how a dry shampoo homemade recipe differs from store bought
Largely, the biggest difference between a dry shampoo DIY and store bought dry shampoo is the delivery. Most store-bought options you see are aerosols that can come in cans very similar to hair spray.
Obviously, we’re not pressurizing aerosol cans for a dry shampoo that’s homemade. So the biggest difference is that we’ll put ours in a shaker bottle. I like to use an old salt shaker that I’m re-purposing or have thrifted. Then, I’ll store excess in a large mason jar that I can use to refill my shaker.
Secondly, this dry shampoo recipe eliminates all of the harsh and toxic ingredients found in most commercial products.
There’s no benzene, alcohol, parabens, or synthetic fragrances, just to name a few. These ingredients are known to be carcinogenic, drying, or irritating, making them a no go for my hair and scalp. An option that foregoes those ingredients was a must, and this homemade option fit the bill.
why I prefer homemade dry shampoo
I first discovered dry shampoo while doing the musical Gypsy. My hair was looking a little oily for the performance and someone handed me a bottle of baby powder.
It was MAGICAL…. other than the fact I smelled like baby powder. There’s something about the smell of baby powder that makes me want to vomit.
The next time I saw my stylist, I asked her about something similar. She recommended a fabulous product that gave a lot of lift to the root too.
Southern girls do love big hair. But at $30 for a small bottle, there had to be a better way.
For a while, I just used organic cornstarch which does a fine job, but I found that it faded quickly and did not cling to the roots as much as I would like.
But I’m happy to announce, I have found an awesome DIY dry shampoo recipe you’ll love! It combines bentonite clay with cornstarch to add a little bit of staying power and includes cocoa powder to keep it from looking chalky in my dark hair.
how to make diy dry shampoo
5 minutes
- 1 Tablespoon Bentonite Clay
- 1 Tablespoon Organic Cornstarch or Arrowroot Powder
- 1 Tablespoon of Cocoa Powder
step 1: mix the ingredients
Combine the bentonite clay, cornstarch or arrowroot powder, and cocoa powder in a small bowl. Once mixed, add the homemade dry shampoo recipe to a salt or pepper shaker.
step 2: apply homemade dry shampoo recipe
To apply the DIY dry shampoo, you’ll want to section your hair. I always part my hair a little bit further left and sprinkle.
Then, I part it a little too far to the right and sprinkle. I save the crown for last.
By sprinkling the powder underneath the greasy hair, you’re also adding a little extra lift to your hair. We all know that hair can become quite limp when greasy — and no one wants that!
Allow the dry shampoo powder to sit for 2-5 minutes. This gives your homemade dry shampoo time to absorb the excess oil.
After it’s done its thing, take your fingers and work the product through your hair. It should blend in and there shouldn’t be any obvious product. If there is, continue to work it in.
And that’s it! You’ve saved yourself at least one more day without having to wash.
why is it good to postpone hair washes?
Washing your hair entails washing out the excess oil, dirt, debris, and product out of it. However, traditional shampoos tend to strip more than they should and can leave your hair feeling dry, crispy, and prone to breakage and split ends. It can even dry out your scalp, leading to flakiness and embarrassing dandruff problems.
By using my dry shampoo homemade recipe, I’ve been able to extend my washes to only being weekly! By slowly phasing out excessive washing, my hair balanced out its own oil production, became greasy at a much slower rate, and is healthier than ever.
It’s especially important to manage your wash routine if your hair is curly or textured, as those tend to be a little drier and more prone to breakage and frizziness than straight hair is.
faqs about this dry shampoo diy recipe
is this dry shampoo only for dark hair?
Yes, this DIY recipe for dry shampoo is for dark hair. The cocoa powder makes it the perfect color so there are no white residue spots that come with other dry shampoos.
For light colored hair, simply omit the cocoa powder, and it will look great!
how often can I use dry shampoo powder?
This homemade dry shampoo is safe enough to use 3-4 times a week without drying your hair out.
can I sleep with diy dry shampoo in my hair?
Yes! I like to add the dry shampoo to my roots before I go to sleep so I can wake up with perfectly fresh hair. Don’t worry about working it through your hair. In the morning, give it a quick brush and you are all set.
does this recipe leave a chalk residue in your hair?
The clay and arrow root powder can definitely leave a residue, especially if you use it too much or too often.
If you’ve been washing your hair daily, don’t try to jump directly into only washing once a week. The reliance on your homemade dry shampoo recipe will definitely leave build up in your hair when used 6 days in a row. Just as it’s important to not wash every day, it’s also important to not use a dry product every day!
To prevent build up, start by washing your hair, using the powder shampoo the next day, then washing again on day 3. Eventually, you’ll be able to skip a day before you need a dry shampoo refresh. As your hair grows accustomed to managing its own oil production and not being stripped daily, it will need less help to look less greasy, reducing your need to use the dry products.
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Last time I tried dry shampoo, it stayed white in my hair – not a good look! Even with cocoa powder, too, and my hair isn’t thaaaat dark. It scared me off trying it again, but I think I probably should. Allll about extending that wash time. So glad you shared!
That’s why you should sprinkle on either side of your part not directly on your part. Just in case! 🙂
Hi! I’m very glad I found your blog. Thank you for posting so many useful advices. I have some questions regarding this topic. How often do you wash your hair with dry shampoo? Is the only thing you use to wash your hair or do you use "normal" shampoo and water as well?
Thanks for reading! I wash my hair on average every 5-7 days with a shampoo bar I make in the shower. I use dry shampoo starting day 3 or 4 until I actually wash in the shower. There’s a picture of my hair on my insta after not washing for 14 days and using dry shampoo. This is why I say clean "looking" hair. You still need to wash it eventually, whether it be no pop or a soap bar or dr. B or whatever your preferred method is. Hope that helps!
Is there something that would be a suitable substitute for the cornstarch?
Try arrowroot! I actually prefer arrowroot in the recipe. I think it works better.
Are you able to buy your bentonite clay and cornstarch in bulk? The only containers I’m finding are plastic! 🙁
I use organic tapioca powder. The trick for my (dark hair) is to put it in with a small powder brush near the roots and after couple of minutes rub it out with a towel – no wait dust, deadly simple and works like a charm! 🙂
For my dark hair, I used activated charcoal powder as the colorant rather than cocoa powder 🙂
Is it bentonite clay or clay powder that I’ve got to get?
I made this exactly as written, and my hair instantly became full of static. Like, comically – it was standing straight up! Any idea why?