DIY Dry Shampoo

This simple recipe for Dry Shampoo refreshes hair and removes excess oils from your roots in between washes.  You can always cover up your lack of a shower with deodorant or perfume, but it’s harder to hide dirty hair. Enter dry shampoo. Try it today, and take back part of your morning!

Do you ever wish you could go back and make up for all the showers you didn’t take before you had kids? If I had any inkling that as a mother showers would be few and far between, I would have taken way more of them in my twenties.

Back when my daughter was in preschool, I remember seeing other moms at drop-off totally put together. Not only were they wearing real pants (non-yoga pants), they had their hair washed and styled. I would often stare at them in awe and wonder how exactly they made that happen at 7 in the morning and got their kids to school on time. They were pretty much unicorns in my eyes.

After 4 years of preschool drop-offs, I highly doubt anyone ever stared at me wondering how I found time to do my hair. Those unicorn moms probably knew about dry shampoo before I did! Fast forward a few years and dry shampoo has become a major part of my mommy-ing routine.

Why Use Dry Shampoo? 

Most people don’t actually wash their hair every single day. Overwashing can make your hair dry (or even oily), brittle, and limp. Although I love using our Moisturizing Shampoo recipe, washing too much can also make your scalp dry and irritated. I try to stretch out the time between washes and refresh the roots on the second or third day with dry shampoo.

The best part is, not washing my hair each day has freed up some time in my morning routine. I don’t need to have unicorn hair every single day, but it sure is nice when I do! I figure if I start the day with just one thing in place, the rest of my day has no other choice but to be awesome.

Here is an easy recipe for Homemade Dry Shampoo you can make with just a few natural ingredients:

Arrowroot Powder

Arrowroot powder has gained popularity lately due to the rise in gluten-free, paleo and keto diets. It is a fantastic alternative to wheat flour. Arrowroot powder comes from the root of the Maranta arundinacea plant. It is very similar to cornstarch but it can easily be extracted from the plant without the use of heat or chemicals.

In baking, arrowroot is used as a thickening agent since it is quick to dissolve. Arrowroot is white in color and its particles are very lightweight, making it perfect for the hair. It works to absorb oil when used in a dry shampoo, without leaving behind an excess of powdery residue.

Cocoa Powder

Cocoa Powder is perfect for adding brown coloring to dry shampoo without the use of dye. Its consistency is very similar to arrowroot powder so the two blend together nicely. You can modify the shade to match your hair color. As someone who likes to change the color of her hair frequently, this is a genius color hack. A good rule of thumb is to add 1 teaspoon for each shade darker than light blonde, up to about 4-5 teaspoons for dark brown hair.

Essential Oils for Dry Shampoo

One of the main reasons I love DIY recipes is because you can truly customize the essential oils depending on your beauty needs, skin type, or even your mood. Can any other product do that? I added Kunzea and Lavender to this recipe for so many reasons.

Kunzea essential oil was released by Young Living in 2018 and it has quickly become a favorite. Similar in composition to Tea Tree, Kunzea is perfect for the skin (try this Clay Face Mask with Kunzea), hair, and relieving muscle tension. Since my hair needs all the love it can get, I chose this essential oil due to its high levels of alpha-pinene and eucalyptol. Both terpenes are also found in rosemary, which is widely known to support hair growth. You can read more about Kunzea here.

Lavender is also a favorite for hair care. It contains linalool which gives lavender its pleasant scent. Its constituents make it beneficial for regrowing and nourishing hair. Lavender is a gentle oil that mixes well with other oils, without overpowering the blend. What you put on your body matters. I love that this blend of essential oils will benefit me (and my hair) throughout the day.

New to essential oils? Learn more about how we use them and why you should use them as well.

Here are two Dry Shampoo recipes for light or dark hair:

Dry Shampoo for Lighter Hair

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons arrowroot powder
• 1-2 teaspoons cocoa powder
• 2 drops Kunzea essential oil (where to buy)
• 2 drops Lavender essential oil
• 2-ounce shaker jar
• powder brush for application

Directions

1. Combine the arrowroot powder, 1 teaspoon cocoa powder, and essential oils
2. Stir to combine. Test on your hair to see if you need to add more cocoa powder
3. Only people with very cottony white hair should consider omitting the cocoa powder
4. Once you have a good match for your hair, place the dry shampoo in the jar

To use: Shake dry shampoo into roots. Part your hair and work the powder into your hair on both sides of the part. Add to other sections as necessary to cover your head and absorb all the excess oil. If you are using a brush applicator (like this one), dip the very edge of your brush into the jar. Tap the side of the jar to remove excess powder back into the jar. Do not use too much powder as this can leave a residue. 

To store: Store jar in a cool place away from heat and direct sunlight.

Note: You could also substitute cornstarch for the arrowroot powder. You might also like to try substituting Geranium or Tea Tree essential oils into the recipe.

*Just be careful not to apply too much dry shampoo or you will look like you’re wearing an ashy, powdered wig!

Dry Shampoo for Darker Hair

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons arrowroot powder
• 2-4 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 2 drops Kunzea essential oil (where to buy) 
• 2 drops Lavender essential oil
• 2-ounce shaker jar 
• powder brush for application 

Directions

1. Combine the arrowroot powder, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, and essential oils
2. Stir to combine. Test on your hair to see if you need to add more cocoa powder
3. Medium brown hair will probably work great with 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder
4. Darker hair will need more cocoa powder and less arrowroot
5. Once you have a good match for your hair, place the dry shampoo in the jar

To use: Shake dry shampoo into roots. Part your hair and work the powder into your hair on both sides of the part. Add to other sections as necessary to cover your head and absorb all the excess oil. If you are using a brush applicator (like this one), dip the very edge of your brush into the jar. Tap the side of the jar to remove excess powder back into the jar. Do not use too much powder as this can leave a residue. 

To store: Store jar in a cool place away from heat and direct sunlight.

Note: You could also substitute cornstarch for the arrowroot powder. You might also like to try substituting Geranium or Tea Tree essential oils into the recipe.

*Just be careful not to apply too much dry shampoo or you will look like you’re wearing an ashy, powdered wig!

Crushed and powdered mica, beet powder, or charcoal would be a good option for people who have red, auburn, or black hair. Experiment with different natural options to find what works best for you!

More essential oil recipes you might enjoy:

• Anti-Frizz Serum
• Overnight Conditioning Spray
• Coconut Shampoo
• Detangler Spray