DIY Dry Shampoo Recipes for Dark & Light Hair

There has been a lot of buzz lately around DIY and natural hair care. In the previous weeks, we've shared no-poo recipes, DIY hair rinses, and fermented rice water treatments. A perfect pairing to all those homemade hair care products is having a dry shampoo to get you in between "washes."

Dry “shampoos” are created to work without water, and there has been a long history of people using powdered herbs, grains, and natural cosmetic clays to remove excess oil and dirt build-up. These ingredients naturally absorb oils and can then be brushed out without causing damage to the hair or scalp. Dry shampoos can also be a good option for folks who want to shampoo once or twice a week, using powders between washings to keep hair fresh, full, and manageable. They also come in handy when packing for camping trips  and outdoor festivals! 

We've created two different powders, one dry shampoo for dark hair (made with cocoa or carob powder) and another for lighter hair colors, but you can adjustment ingredients to suit your needs. Both shampoo blends are built around a base of organic tapioca powder, a super lightweight starch that becomes pretty much invisible once applied. 

Homemade Dry Shampoo Recipes

Ingredients

Rosemary Cocoa Shampoo Powder (for darker hair)

• 1/2 cup organic organic tapioca powder or arrowroot powder
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 1/2 cup organic cacao powder or organic carob powder
• 1 Tbsp. organic rosemary powder
• 1 Tbsp. organic oatstraw powder
• 10 drops each organic rosemary and organic bergamot essential oils 

LAVENDER & SWEET ORANGE SHAMPOO POWDER (for lighter hair)

• 1/2 cup organic organic tapioca powder or arrowroot powder
• 1/2 cup French green cosmetic clay
• 1 Tbsp. organic oatstraw powder
• 1 Tbsp. organic lavender flower powder
• 1 Tbsp. organic chamomile powder
• 10 drops each organic sweet orange and organic lavender essential oils

Directions

1. Mix all the ingredients together and stir well to combine.
2. Transfer finished blend into a dry container and store away from moisture (to reduce clumping). 
3. Use as necessary.
   
   

How to Use Dry Shampoo

• Shake or sprinkle powdered shampoo blend along the crown of the head, working through the scalp and hair to pick up any excess oils or debris.
• Depending on the texture and thickness of your hair, either brush or shake well to remove the excess.
• It's best to do this right before bed or before you get dressed so you don’t wind up with any powder residue on your clothes.
• You can also drape your shoulders with a towel to keep the powder off your clothes.

Feel free to experiment with organic herb and flower powders and essential oils to create your own signature dry shampoo!

Want more natural and low-maintenance hair care?

Learn How to Go Shampoo-Less!

You may also enjoy:

• Fermented Rice Water Hair Treatment
• Herbal Hair Care & Color
• DIY Herbal Hair Care: Detangler & Anti-Frizz Spray Recipe