Let’s get one thing straight, I’m no artist.  You will see that below.  What I am, though, is wondering what crazy rock I’ve been living under lately.  I had no idea that companies had latched on to the dry shampoo idea, shoved chemicals in it, charged ridiculous amounts of money for it, and patted themselves on the back. 

Dry shampoo has been around for centuries, and it’s quick, easy and dagnabit cheap to make.  What do you need to make this hot commodity product in your home?  What plethora of ingredients will you have to run out to buy?  What on earth do you need to put in there to achieve the EXACT SAME results as a $12 bottle of dry shampoo spray? 

Cornstarch. 

Yes.  Cornstarch.  That is all. 

Let’s look at my high-tech, artistically crafted graphic now. 

As you can see, I suggest that perhaps store-bought dry shampoo is expensive and unnecessary.  That is my opinion.  You are welcome to yours, just as you are welcome to wasting all the money you work so hard to earn.  It’s your life.  I ain’t judging. 

In the spirit of transparency, though, I have to admit I guessed on how much the homemade dry shampoo would cost you.  But, face it, half a cup of corn starch is probably equal to a dime, a stick of gum, and a ball of lint – everything in my pocket right now. 

As you can also see, I included other things on the list that you can use – cornmeal and ground oats.  You know what else works?  A piece of cheesecloth stretched over your brush.  Whisks the oil and grime right away. 

Before I go any further into my rant, though, let’s talk about why you would want to use a dry shampoo. 

What in Bacon’s Name is Dry Shampoo, Anyway? 

Picture this: It’s Monday morning.  Your alarm has been going off for the last 20 minutes.  You’re tired, frazzled, and have to choose between making coffee and washing your hair, which is a hot, oily mess. 

You need something that doesn’t involve water and a hair dryer. 

You need a dry shampoo. 

A dry shampoo, really, is just a life-saver between hair washes.  Believe it or not, a lot of people use a dry shampoo several times a week instead of suffering the blowing and primping that a hair wash entails. 

It drags the oil and grimies from your scalp and hair, and leaves your locks fresh and soft and oh-so-touchable. 

Homemade Dry Shampoo Ingredients

Choose one or combine them if you’re feeling frisky:

Cornstarch

Cornmeal

Baking Soda

Ground Oats

For one application, you need only use a tablespoon or two.  If you want to make a handy shaker, you can use a mini-martini shaker (like the one in the picture above) or just use an empty, clean Parmesan cheese container, which is a great way to reuse instead of toss.  Just fill it with your powdery substance of choice.  Note: I have read a lot of homemade dry shampoo recipes that include baby powder.  I personally do not recommend using baby powder, as there is a link between talc and cancer, as well as the fact that it’s closely related to asbestos and bad for the lungs. 

In the one I made last night, I used 1/2 c. cornstarch and 5 drops of ylang-ylang essential oil.  Ylang-ylang drives Fiance wild.  You don’t have to use essential oils, but it’s a fun way to add extra fresh yumminess to your dry shampoo. 

Applying Dry Shampoo

Take the powdery substance of choice and apply it to your hair roots.  Scrub it in with the tips of your fingers, and run your fingers through the length of your hair.  With a fine-bristled brush, briskly brush the powder out of your hair.  That is all. 

This is my hair during the dry shampoo.  I encourage you not to wear black when you’re doing this.  I also encourage you NOT to look in the mirror if your hair is dark brown.  You will try to decide whether or not you look like a student playing Aunt Polly in a junior high production of Tom Sawyer, or 80 years old.  If ever I was taken aback by my little grays sprouting up, this gave me pause to consider whether or not I should rethink my stance on never coloring my hair. 

This is my hair AFTER the dry shampoo. ( Note: It is not easy to take a picture of your own hair with a clunky dSLR and a 50 mm lens.  But you get the idea.) 

One Last Note on Store-Bought Dry Shampoo

I’m a fanatic when it comes to making things more cheaply than you can buy them.  I’m also a fanatic about knowing what’s in the products I’m using. 

The majority of dry shampoo brands I looked at last night contained things like butane, hydroflurocarbons, fragrance (which is usually a bad sign), and other ingredients even the mightiest of chemists couldn’t pronounce. 

There is no need for that. 

Plus, when you buy this stuff, you’re also buying packaging and containers that are unnecessary and just plain wasteful. 

Again, I encourage you to make your own and try it (especially in comparison to any you might already own).  Give it a time or two.  Release your attachment to the idea that “manufactured products MUST be better than anything I can make at home, because I’m not a professional.” 

You are a professional of your own self, your own health, and knowing what’s best for your world.  You can do this! 

In powdery-substance crunch!