Excess dirt and oil in the hair will make it look dull and limp. Dry shampoos absorb this dirt and oil, which is then removed when you brush. Perfect for cleaning hairpieces, and removing dirt and oil from hair when you are short on time, or when freshwater is unavailable, homemade dry shampoo are easy to make and use.

Homemade Dry Shampoo Recipe

Made with ingredients you probably already have, this homemade dry shampoo recipe is easy to make and contains none of those nasties that many commercial products contain.

Experiment with Fragrance

Homemade dry shampoos can be enhanced with different types of fragrances. This is particularly great for when you want to give it away as a gift. Dried flower petals, herbs, grated lemon peel, or one drop of favourite essential oil, will leave refreshed hair smelling lovely and makes a wonderfully personalised homemade gift.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are potent, and need to be diluted. As this soap is being used on your skin, you will need to use essential oils that are gentle enough to be applied to your skin – and used in the correct quantities.
Just be careful using some essential oils such as tea tree and peppermint, around children and pregnant women, making sure to do your research before using.

Ingredients for this Homemade Dry Shampoo Recipe

To make around 4 ounces, you will need:

4 TBSP Arrowroot Powder or Cornflour
Cacao Powder
1 Drop Essential Oil – Optional
Silicone Mould

Making Homemade Dry Shampoo

Combine the arrowroot powder with a little cacao powder. If there are clumps, use a coffee grinder to make the powder smooth. The darker your hair, the more cacao powder can be used. If you have light coloured hair, you may want to use only a very small amount of cacao or even none at all. As an example, 1 TBSP for dark blonde hair works well.

If you have red hair, try adding a little ground cinnamon to the mixture. For those with black hair, a little activated charcoal would work well.

If using the essential oil, add it and stir until combined through. Rosemary essential oil is great for hair.

Pour the mixture into an airtight container.

Store in a cool, dry place.

Using this Homemade Dry Shampoo Recipe

Dry shampoo can be a but messy to use as flakes tend to scatter when they are brushed from the hair. Clothing can be protected by using a towel and applying the dry shampoo to the roots of your hair when leaning over a sink and using a makeup brush. Apply about 2 teaspoons of the dry shampoo to a medium head of hair. If you have longer hair, use a little bit more and if you have shorter hair, use less.

Leave it for a minute or two to soak up any oil and remove any dirt, then brush your hair.

To help with excess mess, try cutting a piece of cheesecloth to the size of the head of your hairbrush. Make sure the brush is clean, and then push the bristles through the cheesecloth. This will help trap some of the debris, making it easier to get the dry shampoo out of the hair.

A quick vacuum of the area when finished, will eliminate any trace of the dry shampoo.

Storing Homemade Dry Shampoo

Pour the mixture into an airtight container.

Store in a cool, dry place.

The Meringue Shampoo below needs to be used immediately.

More Homemade Dry Shampoo Recipes

Here are a few different dry shampoo recipes that you could make up a large batch of to use, or even place in lovely glass jar, label and decorate to give as a gift.

Meringue Shampoo

Whip egg whites until they are the consistency of meringue. Massage into hair and let it completely dry. Then, gently brush the dried egg completely out of your hair.

Herbal Oatmeal Dry Shampoo

Mix a lovely, fragrant crushed herb with oatmeal. A teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) can be added to the mixture to help removing any lingering odours.

Sprinkle enough of the mixture to cover all hair. Massage for about five minutes, and then brush out.

Cornflour and Cornmeal

These two kitchen staples can stand alone in their ability to remove oil from hair. Rub either of the two into the hair at the scalp and brush out. Cornmeal seems to leave hair shinier than cornstarch, but the ability to remove oil is the same.

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