Author: I used to pass dry shampoo in the drug store and turn my nose up. “I make my own shampoo from scratch, why on earth would I ever need this stuff?” I’d ask myself, then move on and forget about it.
But then a few weeks ago, the topic of DIY dry shampoo came up during a lunch date with a girlfriend of mine. She admitted to using dry shampoo, and at first I was beyond shocked. I had always thought it was for people who didn’t want to wash their hair. But that’s when she schooled me – dry shampoo is exactly that, but it’s the reason for not wanting to wash your hair that I had wrong.
Why Use A Homemade Dry Shampoo?
I imagined the average user of dry shampoo was a backpacker or festival goer, where going without showering for days at a time is practically encouraged. While it works great in this context, I just didn’t realise it wasn’t the only context. In reality, homemade dry shampoo is the perfect product for anyone who’s trying to avoid washing their hair too often.
After all, excessive washing is associated with weaker, duller and more fragile hair. Split ends become more common, and the hair just feels lifeless.
As I get older, I’m actually finding that my life is only getting busier. Between spending time with my energy-packed grand kids, my fitness routine and running this blog, I can actually work up quite a sweat! So, as a way to try and reduce the amount I wash my hair these days, I decided to give DIY dry shampoo a try. Mostly because, as it turns out, DIY dry shampoo is super easy to make using cornstarch, and I had the ingredients already.
Honestly, I was shocked at how well it worked. It let me go another 2-3 days before I needed to wash my hair. So I delved deeper, and perfected my recipes… and it’s only fair I share them with all of you!
Ingredient Spotlight: The Secrets of DIY Dry Shampoo
Cornstarch
Cornstarch is natural, very affordable, and really effective at absorbing oil and grease from your hair.
It is usually the main ingredient in a dry shampoo recipe, and will rejuvenate your hair between washes by tackling oiliness. It’s also very gentle on your scalp making it perfect for most skin/hair types. Using this will reduce the chance of irritation that comes from harsh chemicals found in commercial dry shampoos.
Cornstarch also seems to lift my hair making it less flat giving it more body, texture and volume.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is another great ingredient for making homemade dry shampoo, and can be used as the main ingredient, as in my baking soda dry shampoo.
Again, it is great for absorbing oil, this common ingredient also works wonders at eliminating nasty odors and clearing away buildup or impurities from the scalp.
Essential Oils (Bergamot and Grapefruit)
The use of bergamot and grapefruit eo’s adds a lovely, citrusy fragrance. The pleasant and aroma also helps mask any odors in your hair.
Both bergamot and grapefruit also provide important antibacterial properties.The aromatherapeutic benefits should not be underestimated either. Adding them to your dry shampoo recipe can create a nice aromatherapy experience.
TIP: This recipe can also be adapted to suit darker hair types by adding suitable pigments.
Substitution Guide
Cornstarch: It’s our star ingredient, so a hard one to replace, but if you do not want to use it why not take a look at our arrowroot dry shampoo or baking soda dry shampoo recipes.
Baking Soda: You could try arrowroot or finely ground oat flour. Just ensure the latter has been finely ground and you sieve it properly.
Essential Oil: You can use any EO that you want. Lavender, peppermint, and rosemary would be good to use. But remember to follow the recommended usage rate.
Citrus Bliss DIY Dry Shampoo Recipe With Cornstarch
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Ingredients
- 59 g Corn Starch
- 40 g Baking Soda
- 0.5 g Grapefruit Essential Oil
- 0.5 g Bergamot Essential Oil
- 1 Mason Clip Jar (or powder spray bottle / powder pump bottle)
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl (Glass, Aluminium or PET)
Video
Instructions
- In a bowl, sift the cornstarch and baking soda and mix well.59 g Corn Starch, 40 g Baking Soda
- Sprinkle in the grapefruit and bergamot essential oil.0.5 g Bergamot Essential Oil
- Mix all the ingredients thoroughly to ensure you have an even distribution of the components.
- Store the shampoo in a mason jar or powder spray bottle. Or a container with a lid, such as a clean and empty spice jar.
Notes
Storing Your DIY Dry Shampoo
Keeping your homemade dry shampoo in tip-top condition is simple and convenient. For a straightforward storage solution, you can opt for a glass jar. This not only preserves the quality of your cornstarch dry shampoo but also allows for easy application with a hairbrush.
Alternatively, for those who prefer a more direct method, a pump powder bottle is an excellent choice. I’ve showcased this handy tool in my how-to video, demonstrating its effectiveness in dispensing the product.
When considering storage materials, it’s important to remember the essential oils in our recipe. If you’re leaning towards plastic containers, make sure they are made of PET as its best for the oils. Otherwise, glass or aluminum containers are great options for storing your dry shampoo safely.
Using Your DIY Dry Shampoo
Applying your DIY dry shampoo is so easy:
- Part your hair into sections so that you expose the roots.
- Apply your dry shampoo all the way down to those roots. I like to use a powder spray bottle for this, but you can also use a makeup brush or powder puff.
- Next, gently massage the powder right into your scalp using your fingertips.
- Allow the baking soda dry shampoo to sit for a few minutes to absorb any excess oil.
- Finally. brush or comb through your hair so that the powder is distributed, then remove the excess.
- Style your hair as desired.
Final Thoughts
That’s all I have for you today. I hope you enjoyed this post on how to make DIY dry shampoo!
Cornstarch really is a great choice, it’s fantastic at absorbing oils, and being a natural ingredient makes it even more appealing.
If you have any questions or problems feel free to comment below and I’ll do my best to answer.
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