Make Your Own Homemade Dry Shampoo

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Ever wanted to make homemade dry shampoo? This simple recipe for DIY Dry Shampoo can be made with a few ingredients you already have in your pantry and works well for any hair color.

Ever wanted to make homemade dry shampoo? This simple recipe for DIY Dry Shampoo can be made with a few ingredients you already have in your pantry and works well for any hair color. #dryshampoo #diy #makeyourown #diydryshampoo #homemadedryshampoo

Homemade Dry Shampoo

I have kids so some days, even though I have the best intentions, shampooing my hair just doesn’t happen. Some days I’m lucky to even get a 2-minute shower in before someone decides they need something. Such is life, am I right?

So I decided to learn to make my own dry shampoo. Just a few years ago, you could only find dry shampoo for $20+ in a specialty store. Now, it has become so popular you can go to any drugstore and find a $4 can of dry shampoo. But, since I rely on dry shampoo for keeping my hair looking fresh between washes, I really wanted to try to make my own dry shampoo so it’s one more thing I don’t have to buy. Like most homemade things, I was guessing that it’s much less expensive if you learn to make your own! Plus, who wants the chemicals that come in the commercially produced dry shampoos?

As it turns out, making your own homemade Dry Shampoo couldn’t be easier, and you probably have everything you need to make it in your pantry right now! This simple recipe is perfect for any hair color and be sure and check out the additions and alternatives at the bottom of this post for even more homemade dry shampoo tips!

Dry Shampoo Recipe

Ingredients

How to Make Dry Shampoo

Mix the ingredients together thoroughly. If there are any clumps, break them up with the back of a spoon. The mixture should be completely powdered when you’re done. Adding in the essential oil is optional but it does add a nice, fresh scent to your hair. You can add any essential oil that you wish, just stay away from the citrus varieties as they can cause phototoxicity when used on your scalp and exposed to the sun.

How to Use Dry Shampoo

How to Use Dry Shampoo

To use, you can easily just sprinkle it along the part in your hair with your fingers. For a better, mess-free option try putting the dry shampoo mixture in a glass salt shaker. (Which you can pick up for a dollar at the local dollar store) Then you can just shake it on.

When sprinkling the dry shampoo on, make sure to focus on the part. Use no more than 1 teaspoon over your whole head. Let it sit in your hair for a minute or two (you can do this while you finish getting ready) and then brush out. Make sure to brush really vigorously to shake out all the excess powder. You can use any hairbrush to brush it out but a Boar’s Bristle Brush works particularly well.

Dry Shampoo for Dark Hair

Homemade Dry Shampoo for Dark Hair

While you can use the recipe above for just about any hair color, for dark hair, you may want to add in some cocoa powder. Skip the cornstarch and add in 1/2 cup of plain, unsweetened cocoa powder with the baking soda and any essential oils if desired. Use the same way as described above.

How to Use Homemade Dry Shampoo

Alternatives and Additions to Dry Shampoo

Liquid Shampoo – Not ready to make your own dry shampoo? Check out our other recipe on how to Make Your Own Shampoo (Liquid).

Easy Conditioner – If you want a conditioner to follow this homemade dry shampoo with, try this Homemade Coconut Oil Hair Conditioner. You don’t need wet hair to use it!

Scented Hair Rinse – To make a scented “rinse” for your hair (so you don’t have to add the essential oils into your dry shampoo if you are having trouble with clumping), simply place a few drops of your favorite essential oil into a clean spray bottle filled with water. After using dry shampoo, spritz a little of the scented water (shake before spraying) onto your hair for a lovely scent.

Lice Preventing Shampoo – Another tip…if your child is in school or daycare and you are concerned about lice, create a dry shampoo for them (or even just the scented rinse as mentioned above!) and add in tea tree essential oil. Tea Tree Essential Oil repels lice so your little one is a little more protected. You might want to consider doing this for yourself as well if you work in a place where you might easily contract lice, such as a classroom.

If you are looking for a wonderful source for oils, I highly recommend Rocky Mountain Oils. After careful consideration of all the companies selling essential oils, I’m happy to share that Rocky Mountain Oils has become my main source of oils for many different reasons.

If you like this DIY Recipe, you might enjoy some of these Homemade Beauty products:

Homemade Aftershave Lotion
Homemade Bubble Bath
How to Make Deodorant
Homemade Face Moisturizer
Easy Homemade Soap Recipes
7 Homemade Body Products That You Can Make With 5 Ingredients

Here are some other great DIY recipes that you might want to try!

Little House Living

Looking for even more super simple recipes just like this DIY Dry Shampoo?  Little House Living: The Make Your Own Guide to a Frugal Self Sufficient Life. It has over 130 great DIY recipes just like this one!

Have you ever tried to make your own dry shampoo? Do you make the regular or dark version?
What additions do you add to yours?

This post on Homemade Dry Shampoo was originally published on Little House Living in May 2013. It has been updated as of September 2019.

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42 Comments

  1. I’ve been using cornstarch as a dry shampoo since high school, but I never thought to try adding baking soda. Thanks for the tip!

  2. How does this work on people with dark hair? Does all the powder come out with enough brushing?

      1. Yeah, Char, I have dark hair and it comes out. The key is starting with a small amount, and then brushing it out very well. It is all brushed out in the picture, those are gray strands you see. 🙁

  3. Is there something that could be used instead of corn starch? I’m sensitive to corn.
    Thanks!

    1. Hopefully Sarah will answer too but I’m pretty sure you could use Potato Starch…I’m allergic to corn and I use potato starch in place of corn for everything.

    2. I have used cornstarch baby powder for years and plain baby powder! Works great …sprinkle on my brush and brush through and instant body!

  4. I haven’t tried it yet myself, but I have heard of using a cocoa powder/arrowroot blend if you have dark hair and applying it with a makeup brush.

    1. I use this formula for my dogs, have for years & never thought to try on me! It works awesome on my German Shepherds & Red Heeler but do make sure their fur is dry before applying. I put it in an empty parm cheese container & sprinkle along their backbone.

  5. Can you use arrowroot powder instead of cornstarch? I have a TON of arrowroot powder but no cornstarch 😉

  6. I have deep cherry-red hair. If I use corn starch, will there be white stuff in my hair? If so, what else can I use?

  7. I followed this recipe, but it did not work for me, not sure if I did something wrong. The mix stuck to my hair and it was very visible, it looked like dandruff all the way through. Any advice?

    1. Sounds like you’re using way too much! Did you only use 1 tsp. – as recommended in the recipe? Also, you need to be sure and brush it all out. You must follow the directions, to the letter. Hope you have better luck, when you do it properly. ;’)

  8. I have used baby powder in this manner, but never thought of using corn starch and baking soda. and essential oils (which I love) I will have to experiment. My hair gets super greasy if I don’t wash it… so sometimes the baby powder doesn’t work very well. I will have to try this!

  9. I have been using baby powder. I buy the generic brand and its cheap and has that baby powder smell which I love. I only need to use a little of it and it does the trick so a large bottle of it would last me well over a year. I shower everyday and my hair is naturally on the oily side so I love not having to wash it everyday now and ending up with extreme dry hair. your recipe sounds great too and if I ever run out of baby powder I will def try out your recipe. Thank you for the tips 🙂

  10. I would like to try this on my dogs to keep them smelling better without giving them so many baths as I have heard that this is not good for their skin. Has anybody tried this and given you feedback?

    1. I have used dry oatmeal, crushed fine in a blender. It doesn’t dry out their skin, and won’t harm them if they lick it. I recommend a fine bristle brush, rather than a plastic coarse brush or a wire one.

    2. It works awesome on my German Shepherds & Red Heeler but do make sure their fur is dry before applying. I put it in an empty parm cheese container & sprinkle along their backbone.

    1. Yes you can skip the essential oils. I’m not sure about the vanilla extract since extract generally contains alcohol and that might not work on all hair but it’s worth a try.

  11. THE BEST “shampoo” I have used so far is egg yolks. i have tried borax, baking soda, all sorts of other weird “shampoo” recipes and this is the ONLY one that made my hair fell like it did when I was using store bought shampoo. I mix up two egg yolks, applied it to my roots with a hair dye type of brush and added a little water just enough to work it through. rinsed it with coolish warm water to make sure it didn’t cook into my hair and then when I felt I had gotten it all out I rinsed my hair with the juice of half a lemon. left that on while I did the rest of my cleaning and then rinsed it out. Fantastic! Soft! Shiney!

  12. I never heard of adding cornstarch to the baking soda, but that makes so much sense. I’m definitely going to try it. By the way, since baking soda (& cornstarch) is white & I have brown hair, I add cocoa powder, which allows the powder to blend better and what’s not to like about the smell of chocolate?

  13. I’ve used baby powder as a dry shampoo, and some of the store-bought spray dry shampoos. Neither worked too well for me, they left my hair still looking dirty/greasy and feeling very heavy/yucky. I have been using this cornstarch/baking soda recipe for a couple of weeks now, alternating regular shampoo days with dry shampoo. This actually absorbs the oils better and gives me some body as well. I added a couple of drops of spearmint instead/or along with lavendar (I can’t even remember now). Instead of sprinkling it directly into my hair, I rub some between my hands and then run my hands thru my hair, concentrating on my scalp and roots.

  14. I just tried this, this morning and it worked great! I mixed 1/2 cup cornstarch with 1/2 cup baking soda and maybe a teaspoon. Of cocoa (that’s all I had), and it worked wonderfully! I don’t think I even used a whole teaspoon. I have dark hair and I had no problem rubbing it in and brushing it out. Will definitely be using this from now on! Thank you for the tips!!!

  15. I have curly hair…I don’t use a brush, haven’t in years. Any tips on how to use dry shampoo with curly hair??

    1. Olive Oil and Vanilla wouldn’t be quite the same as an essential oil like lavender. It would be best to either leave it out or replace with a different kind of essential oil.

  16. Oh, rose essential oil or even apple. Nice soft smells. Yum. Thanks, Melissa, for sharing your great recipe for dry shampoo. I am going to try it on my dogs. I don’t like shampooing them so often, I read somewhere that it strips too much natural oil from their skin.

  17. Looks simple, and easy to use ingredients. Will def. have to try this for sure! Thanks for sharing such an easy tip!

  18. People in my area have no knowledge of the fact that fast growth shampoos (obviously with no sulfates, no parabens, no DEA) are a thing. Folks can now attain longer hair and achieve more possibilities. Surely worth considering.

    If you’re thinking about hair loss, damaged hair, preventing skin disorders, fast hair growth, hair health normally, very similar principles become relevant.

    In general, you will want to avoid hair products and treatments that include chemicals such as parabens, DEA or sulfates.

    What is good for your hair is good for your skin also.

    Obviously the content above is spot on for many reasons. It avoids the common errors and traps too many fall into- getting ineffective alternatives. Greatly appreciated!