DIY Dry Shampoo Spray

Heather Dessinger

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DIY Dry Shampoo Spray For Light Or Dark Hair

It’s alchemy for your hair. Okay, not exactly, but DIY dry shampoo spray – or dry shampoo powder for that matter – does feel pretty magical on days you need a quick way to “wash” your hair without, er, washing it. Now, if you’re thinking that a dry spray doesn’t quite make sense, here’s the deal: Your hair is dry, the spray is wet.

Interesting, no? Let me tell you more: By absorbing excess oils, dry shampoo transforms limp, oily strands into voluminous, grease-free tresses in just a matter of minutes. It can help your hair look great while washing less often, and that’s a good thing because:

  • Most store-bought shampoos contain detergents that strip oils from your hair (This one is an exception)
  • Washing your hair too often will stimulate your scalp to produce extra oils in order to compensate.
  • This often leads to a situation where the scalp is very oily, but ends are dry and possibly damaged

DIY dry shampoo spray and dry shampoo powder can both be helpful in breaking the cycle of overwashing/excessive oil production. Over time, most people find that they need to use less dry shampoo between washes as their scalp adjusts to the new routine.

Powder Or Spray ~ Which One Should I Use?

I’ve found both to be helpful in different situations. When my hair is already styled and I just need a little volume/oil control at the roots I use homemade dry shampoo powder. On days I need to style from scratch or have all-over oiliness I prefer the spray. The method that works best for you might be different, though, so you might try making both at the same time to see what you like more. They both call for the same ingredients and together they’ll take about five minutes to make, so it’s easy to try them both.

Bottom line: Whether you hit the snooze button one-too-many times, spent your “getting ready” time trying to convince your toddler that he must, in fact, wear pants, or just want to extend the time between washes for healthier hair, give this stuff a try.

Bonus fact: Your hair may actually already contain trace amounts of gold – no alchemy needed! (source)

Tip For Avoiding Clogs

Use a high-volume styling spray bottle like this one to avoid clogs. If you’re using a different bottle and it does become clogged, try soaking it in hot water and clearing the nozzle with a needle to get it working again.

DIY Dry Shampoo Spray

DIY Dry Shampoo Spray For All Hair Colors

I have almost black hair and this recipe does not leave any light spots on my hair, but for those who have issues with some shampoo being visible after styling I’ve included another recipe below.

Ingredients

To Make

Combine all ingredients thoroughly and pour into a spray bottle.

To Apply

Arrowroot and cornstarch powder tends to settle at the bottom between uses, so shake thoroughly. (Also, apply before you get dressed to go out. The spray may land on clothing and leave a light layer of powder.)

Hold spray bottle about three inches from hair and apply wherever it looks greasy. Hair should be damp, but not soaking wet. Dry with a hair dryer – this will only take a couple of minutes because it’s just damp-  then touch up any spots you missed if necessary. Style like you normally would.

DIY Dry Shampoo Spray For Dark Hair

I have almost black hair and this recipe does not leave any light spots on my hair, but for those who have issues with some shampoo being visible after styling I’ve included another recipe below.

Ingredients

To Make

Combine all ingredients thoroughly and pour into a spray bottle.

To Apply

Arrowroot and cornstarch powder tends to settle at the bottom between uses, so shake thoroughly. (Also, apply before you get dressed to go out. The spray may land on clothing and leave a light layer of powder.)

Hold spray bottle about three inches from hair and apply wherever it looks greasy. Hair should be damp, but not soaking wet. Dry with a hair dryer – this will only take a couple of minutes because it’s just damp-  then touch up any spots you missed if necessary. Style like you normally would.

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About HEATHER

Heather is a holistic health educator, herbalist, DIYer, Lyme and mold warrior. Since founding Mommypotamus.com in 2009, Heather has been taking complicated health research and making it easy to understand. She shares tested natural recipes and herbal remedies with millions of naturally minded mamas around the world.