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How to Make Natural Dry Shampoo

If you want to go longer between washes then dry shampoo is your ticket!
Jun 23, 2016 | Joy McCarthy

When I first got my bangs cut several years ago, I immediately went to the drug store to buy some dry shampoo . I asked the sales associate at the beauty counter for her recommendation on the best brand. She gave me a couple of choices and 15 bucks later, I went home with a dry shampoo spray in hand. I'm actually embarrassed to admit I bought this stuff.

You might be wondering, what is dry shampoo? It's a powder you put in your hair to soak up the oil and prolong hair-washing or to give your hair a quick refresh. Sounds kinda gross, but if you're like me and don't want to wash your hair every day, it's a major time-saver.

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The first time I tried the drug store dry shampoo I found the smell very strong. And you probably already know that I'm very anti-fragrance because anytime you see "fragrance" listed on the label means it can be full of hundreds of undisclosed chemicals.

For some unknown reason, when I was at the drug store, I didn't even look at the ingredients list. So while I was standing in my bathroom after spraying this stuff in my bangs, I looked at the ingredients and was absolutely horrified!!! Propane? Isobutane? Parabens? Fragrance? WTF!? And if you're wondering why I was so alarmed by those ingredients, you can read more about them over here.

I knew better. I guess the excitement of getting my new 'do distracted me from using my lady smarts and reading the ingredients list. I was in a bang fog! 

There was no way I was going to be spraying isobutane among other toxic chemicals in my bangs every morning to get rid of the grease.

Since I kept the receipt, I returned it with no issues and got my 15 bucks back (thankfully!).

The problem with these ingredients:

Isobutane

It is rated a 7 on the Environmental Working Group's website. It is linked with organ toxicity and listed by the Environment Canada Domestic Substance List as "expected to be toxic or harmful."

Propylparabens

This class of chemicals are known endocrine disrupters, human immune toxicants and animal studies show reproductive and developmental toxicity. They are rated a 7 on EWG. 

Fragrance

Any time you see this listed, it can mean literally hundreds of chemical toxins. The problem is that we just don't know what chemicals are hiding in the fragrance because Health Canada does not require manufacturers to disclose this information. Fragrance is associated with allergies, immunotoxicity, irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) and organ system toxicity. It is listed as an 8 on EWG. 

Alcohol Denat

This chemical is linked with developmental and reproductive toxicity, organ system toxicity and cancer, even though it's rated a 4 on EWG. 

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These are only a few of the problematic ingredients in conventional dry shampoos . As I've talked about on my blog before, manufacturers of these products can basically put anything in their products they want. The government does not have a watchdog keeping these companies from putting toxic and harmful ingredients in products you could be using every single day.

It is up to you, the consumer, to decide what toxins you want to expose yourself to. And let's not forget about our environment. These chemicals get into our rivers, lakes, oceans and soil that our food is grown in.

Now you know what you need to avoid – most conventional products – which you can do by making your own natural alternatives!

The ingredients you need are probably in your kitchen pantry right now. You can watch the video and find the full recipe is below. As you will notice in my video and recipe, I don't have a solution for redheads. But maybe ginger powder would work. Any suggestions for redheads, please post below!

This recipe is adapted from a the lovely Kathrin, the founder of For Love of Body.

And if you aren't interested in making your own, you can order our Natural Dry Shampoo (for Light Hair and Dark Hair) in the Joyous Shop! :)

DIY
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Ingredients
  • 1 part arrowroot powder
  • 1 part raw cacao or cocoa powder (for brunettes)
  • 10 drops of high quality essential oil (your choice)
Instructions
  1. Combine arrowroot powder and cacao in a bowl and mix with a wire whisk. Add essential oils and mix. I suggest you drop the oil in all throughout the powder to evenly distribute the lovely scent.
  2. If you have blonde hair simply omit the cacao powder.
  3. Using a funnel, pour the mixture into a clean spice bottle. I just washed out my old Simply Organic glass bottles and used them.

Be sure to watch the video because I give you tips on how to use it! This dry shampoo will come in handy if you don't wash your hair every day. And I don't recommend you wash every day. Washing daily dries out your scalp which makes your hair dull and dry. 

Have a joyous day!

Jun 23, 2016 BY Joy McCarthy
60 Comments
Karen   •   June 23, 2016

Hey Joy! I love the video and and cannot wait to try this! I too have bangs, so I understand what they look like when they are a greaseball

Reply
Karen   •   June 23, 2016
Heather Allen   •   June 23, 2016

Becky   •   June 23, 2016

You can also use a blush brush to work the dry shampoo into your hair. It can be somewhat awkward I find for bangs but it works well every where else! :]

Reply
Heather Allen   •   June 23, 2016

Scott   •   June 23, 2016

I will try this less the cocoa powder. I will let you know how it works for.

Reply
Heather Allen   •   June 23, 2016

Joanna   •   June 23, 2016

Do you have a preferred branch of essential oils that you use?

Reply
Heather Allen   •   June 23, 2016

Emily   •   June 23, 2016

I make dry shampoo too! I add cinnamon and cacao for my reddish hair :)

Reply
Heather Allen   •   June 23, 2016

gabriela flores   •   June 23, 2016

Maybe turmeric for blonds, ginger hair?

Reply
Heather Allen   •   June 23, 2016

Steph   •   June 23, 2016

Cinnamon for redheads!

Reply
Heather Allen   •   June 23, 2016
Susan   •   February 17, 2017

Kim Maurice   •   June 23, 2016

Why do you prefer arrowroot powder over cornstarch, may I ask?

Reply
Heather Allen   •   June 23, 2016

Erika   •   June 23, 2016

What is the link to the shampoo/hair detox?

Reply
Kristi   •   June 24, 2016

Melissa   •   June 23, 2016

A dash of paprika could work for red hair!

Reply
Heather Allen   •   June 24, 2016

Laura   •   June 28, 2016

Hi joy! Thanks for the dry shampoo video - I'm keen to try it!! Just wondering, do you have to add essential oils? Thanks.

Reply
Heather Allen   •   June 29, 2016

Louise Gagne   •   June 30, 2016

Turmeric should work for redheads too I think! Thanks Joy for your suggestion and recipe. I will be making my own soon. Do you mind if I share this on my blog?

Reply

Vee   •   June 30, 2016

Baking soda with cocoa powder / cinnamon works well too.

Reply
Heather Allen   •   June 30, 2016

Marjolaine   •   July 3, 2016

Thanks for the video Joy! I have strawberry blonde hair now. Used to be red, like a brand new penny when I was younger. Just wondering though, as you brush the shampoo off anyway, why do you have to use anything other than the arrowroot and essential oil, regardless of what hair color you have? warmly, Marjolaine

Reply
Heather Allen   •   July 4, 2016

Rosario   •   August 7, 2016

I love this video and your hair looks healthy.

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Abby   •   October 19, 2016

I absolutely love this! It totally works!! I use sweet orange with mine. Thanks again for coming to Vancouver Joy! Was lovely meeting you and Walker :)

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Susan   •   February 17, 2017

I am a redhead, and heard tumeric is good for us gingers.. I hope to try soon, just don't know the ratios to use.

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Rachel   •   February 21, 2017

Sherry   •   November 18, 2017

Hi where did you buy the raw coacao powder?

Reply
Rachel Molenda   •   November 21, 2017

Liz   •   January 11, 2018

Is arrowroot powder the same as arrowroot flour? Do you use the Bob’s Red Mill brand? Thankyou!

Reply
Joy McCarthy   •   January 11, 2018

Hersh   •   June 19, 2018

Awesome insight you have on the way we need to be checking labels...thanks for the info....

Reply
Rachel Molenda   •   June 20, 2018

Ainsley   •   June 20, 2018

I am blonde and usually use baby powder....is this bad?

Reply
Joy McCarthy   •   June 21, 2018

Mariana G.   •   July 9, 2018

Just read this after clicking on the link from your natural hair challenge! I will definitely try :) Quick question, would you have any recommendations for a hair brush for someone with thin (brittle) hair? I dont have a lot of hair and my scalp is sensitive (can't brush too hard) so I have a hard time finding the "right" brush. Any suggestions?

Reply
Karen   •   November 28, 2018

Naima K.   •   July 11, 2018

What about a tiny bit of beet powder? for red heads

Reply
Naima K.   •   July 11, 2018

Petra   •   July 17, 2018

This was interesting I never heard of dry shampoo. I never wash my hair everyday but in the past two years so my hair really went from bad to worse it's dry it's breaking its falling but I am trying to cope with any more tips

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Jacqueline Kyne   •   July 30, 2018

Love this thanks!!!

Reply
Rachel Molenda   •   July 30, 2018

Kristen Kelly   •   September 16, 2018

Any special brand of arrowroot powder you recommend?

Reply
Joy McCarthy   •   September 16, 2018

Nerissa L.   •   January 22, 2019

Hi Joy I purchased Arrowroot Flour from Bulk Barn, and it has arrowroot as the first ingredient and Sulfur Dioxide listed as the other?! I'd like to know your thoughts and opinion if I should use or find else where/order. Thanks!

Reply
Joy McCarthy   •   January 23, 2019

Hana   •   March 22, 2019

Hello Joy, Do you think that I can at least rinse my hair with warm water every day as I take a shower, which means I only use shampoo every few days but will blow dry every day because I wet my hair by rinsing it? I don't think I can stand my hair without washing even a day... as it gets oily and smelly, I sweat on my scalp during the day as well as while taking a bath.

Reply
Joy McCarthy   •   March 22, 2019
Hana   •   March 22, 2019
Joy McCarthy   •   March 22, 2019

Hana   •   March 24, 2019

Hi Joy, thank you so much for your reply. I've just put my name on the waitlist through the link. I can't wait to start the challenge! Thank you! Hana

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Joy McCarthy   •   March 24, 2019

Emma   •   June 12, 2019

I just made this and my mixture is kind of clumpy. I’m able to sprinkle a little out of the top but then the holes clog up. I even put it back in the bowl and whisked it some more. Any suggestions? Thanks! Emma

Reply
Joy McCarthy   •   June 12, 2019

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