Dry Shampoo

Dry Shampoo

  

So what can you do with your dirty oily hair if the power is out for days?  Use dry shampoo!  :) It could also come in handy out camping, at the gym, etc.

Store-bought dry shampoo can be very expensive $$$ but cost just a few cents to make at home and is super easy to make.  You can simply use just cornstarch or baby powder or mix them with baking soda. A few other options people use are arrowroot, rice flour, cornmeal, ground oatmeal. You can try different combinations to find the one you like best or even equal parts of all the above.  Blend the more coarse ones in a blender like the oatmeal and cornmeal until fine.  You can even use regular flour in a pinch.  It doesn't take a lot.  It's better to start with a little than to have so much that it is hard to brush out.  

If you want it scented, just add a few drops of essential oils or a little perfume or you could add some ground dried flowers or herbs/spices. The scent will work its way through the rest of the ingredients after it sits a little while. Some scents people like to use are Lavender, Rose, Lemon, Coconut (nice for the beach!), Peppermint, etc. I went with Mountain Heather.

Apply the dry shampoo to the roots of your hair. Some people use a shaker of some sort, like an old spice shaker; or you can use a large makeup brush.  Lift your hair with your fingers and work it through your hair.  Let it sit for 5-10 minutes to absorb the oil from your hair and then comb or brush it out.  You may want to do this over a sink.  I've read instructions that say to use 1-2 Tbsp, but I think that would be way too much.  I found what worked best was just to rub a little between my hands and work it in my hair, starting at the roots and going out.  Do this a few times until you get the whole hair done.  At first, I got distracted by a mosquito buzzing around and put a little too much in one spot, and it was hard to get it all out.   I only plan to use this in a pinch though. I'd rather just wash my hair the regular way when possible.  ;)

For the light hair formula:

I used 1/2 cornstarch to 1/2 baking soda.

A few drops of essential oil (optional).

  

If you have darker hair and want something that is not so easy to see, use cocoa powder or even cinnamon.  I've seen recipes for different ratios, so just play with it and use the combination or color you like.  Some people use a 50/50 combination of the cocoa powder and cornstarch or 2 tablespoons of the cocoa powder to 1/3 to 1/2 cup of the cornstarch.  

For the dark hair formula:

I used 2 Tbsp cocoa powder to 4 Tbsp cornstarch.

(You can use talc too but there is supposedly a link between inhaling talc and cancer so just wanted to make a note of it.)

"Dry" Spray Shampoo

An alternative to the dry shampoo is a spray that dries fast because of its alcohol content and cornstarch.  Just mix 1 Tbsp of cornstarch in 4 Tbsp of cold water (Cornstarch melts fast in cold water!  I use it to make gravy.)  and add 1 Tbsp of alcohol.  Put it in a spray bottle and spray a little on your hair, mainly the roots, and work it in.  Be sure not to get it in your eyes as it stings!  I haven't personally tried this one yet. Isn't alcohol bad for your hair?  It would be for an emergency type situation if I did use it though.  

Thanks for checking out my blog.  :)

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