How to Make Dry Shampoo (Natural and Toxin- Free)
Hi guys it’s Rosie with another non-toxic living tutorial, my DIY dry shampoo for those interested on how to make dry shampoo!
This recipe is so simple you most likely won’t have to buy anything for it. Surprisingly I have received compliments for how voluminous my hair looks and people love the smell!
I’ve never turned back after making my own dry shampoo; it’s too easy.
First, let’s get into why powder dry shampoos are better than the ones in the cans.
Why are Aerosol Dry Shampoos Bad For You?
Dry shampoos have gained so much popularity over the yeas for their convenience and effectiveness, but unfortunately many of us don’t know how bad they really are.
I used to love the Batiste Dry Shampoo, but unfortunately they have faced many lawsuits for containing carcinogens like benzene. You can read more about it on Top Class Actions.
Below are the reasons I choose to avoid aeros dry shampoos:
- Propellants– Aerosol dry shampoos use propellants like butane, isobutane, and propane to spray the product out of the can. These propellants can contribute to air pollution and irritate our lungs. Yikes! We do not want to be putting this anywhere near our bodies.
- VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds): Some aerosol products release VOCs which also can irritate your lungs.
- Chemical Exposure: Some dry shampoos contain chemicals such as talc (which has been linked to respiratory issues and, in some cases, has been contaminated with asbestos) or fragrances that can cause allergic reactions.
- Causes Hair Fallout: Now this is was the biggest reason I wanted to switch to powder dry shampoos. I noticed my hair follicles became irritated and itchy when using dry shampoos like Batiste, and soon enough my hir started falling out. Ever since I switched to making my own powder dry shampoos, I’ve never had an issue.
So those are a few reasons why you should stop using aerosol dry shampoos and stick to powder ones, which can be made at home very easily!
Dry Shampoo Recipe
The ingredient you really only need for a DIY dry shampoo is arrowroot or cornstarch; however, the additional ingredients in this recipe will make it salon quality.
You technically don’t have to have all of these ingredients but I highly recommend it as it will make your DIY dry shampoo professional quality! Feel free to tweak the recipe to your liking. This is what personally works for me.
DIY Dry Shampoo Recipe:
- 2 TBSP Arrowroot Powder (or Cornstarch)- I love the Arrowroot Powder by PuroRaw, it’s perfect for absorbing oils on your scalp without leaving too much of a powdery appearance. If you don’t have arrowroot powder, you can also use cornstarch as well!
- 1/2 TBSP Bentonite Clay– The bentonite clay is a great for adding volume into the hair, I think this is the one ingredient that many other recipes lack! You can add as much as you want, play around with it. Definitely use the food grade one, in case you inhale any of the particles. All my recipes are safe enough to eat. My favorite Bentonite Clay is from Lone Star Botanicals. They are food grade, organic, and medical grade.
- 1/2 TSP Cinnamon– Cinnamon has great anti-fungal properties, so adding in a tiny bit of this has it’s perks! Plus, it’s a little brown tint I could use since my hair is so dark.
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1 TBSP Unsweetened Cocoa Powder (Optional)- This is optional for my lighter hair ladies, but if you have darker hair, I find that adding a little bit of unsweetened cocoa powder helps lessen the appearance of the white powdery look on my naturally black hair. Add as much as you like. My favorite is the Cocoa Powder By Navitas; I would highly recommend it. I use it to bake as well!
- 5 Drops Jasmine Essential Oil– You can use any essential oil you like, you don’t have to use the one I do, but this is my favorite combination! You don’t have to scent your dry shampoo however I love adding a little scent to it. It makes it feel more put together and keeps my scalp smelling nice. Don’t use too much though or it could irritate your scalp. *I’ve listed some different fragrance formulas with essential oils later in this article if you’re interested in different scents!
Additional Materials to Store your Dry Shampoo:
- Resealable jar– Make sure you put your dry shampoo in jar or container with a sealed lid as this dry shampoo is food grade and can be contaminated if you don’t keep it sealed properly.
- Powder Brush– I use a makeup brush to apply my dry shampoo in light layers. This method is nice because it doesn’t’ put too much on and it’s a good way to apply it all over my head. I like using a kabuki brush because they are retractable when they’re not in use and they are the perfect size for covering the hair parting.
- Travel Jar with Brush– if you want to travel with your new dry shampoo, I found a jar on amazon that’s perfect. It comes with a sifter jar and kabuki brush attached so you can take your dry shampoo on the go!
Tips on Applying Powder Dry Shampoo
- Apply it in sections along the partings of your hair.
- Brush it in! After you put it in your hair, use your hair brush to blend and brush it in. This gives it a seamless finish.
- Apply it the night before! This gives me the best volume to my hair and it absorbs the sebum better.
- Wash the next Day. I would recommend washing it out the next day. Because the ingredients we use are very natural and without preservatives, it would be best to rinse it out to prevent any bacterial infections that may occur when you sweat.
- Less is More. You really don’t have to put too much of this in your hair. Be careful, if you put too much, you could end up having too many white flakes.
Essential Oil Blends for your Dry Shampoo
Feminine and Floral
- 3 drops Jasmine Oil
- 2 drops
Summer Fun
- 3 drops Grapefruit Oil
- 2 Drops
Clean and Fresh
- 2 Drops Lemon/Lime Oil
- 3 Drops Peppermint Oil
These are just some simple formulation ideas you could try. I would check out Young Living’s blog on different fun essential oil blends for every season.
Too Lazy to Make Your Own Dry Shampoo?
I’m not judging you– we all get a little busy sometimes!
If you found this diy dry shampoo tutorial too overwhelming, I thought I’d share some other dry shampoos you can buy that are well formulated and work great– nontoxic too.
Acure Dry Shampoo
The Acure Dry Shampoo is a really good non-toxic dry shampoo powder. They have a dark hair version too.
Hair Dance Volumizing Dry Shampoo
The hair dance Volumizing dry shampoo has great ingredients and is voluminizing. It lasts you six months to a year!
Conclusion
That was my ultimate guide on how to make dry shampoo, fully non-toxic and gentle for all scalps!
If you enjoyed this article please check out my others nontoxic beauty articles.
Note: I do receive a small portion from purchases made through the links in this article which helps fund our small business. I will never recommend a product or service I don’t have 100% faith in.