Contrary to popular belief, washing your hair every day may not be the best practice when it comes to achieving your healthiest locks. A greasy scalp is a common hair woe for many women but washing each day can be harsh on the scalp and actually increase oil production, making your hair look dirtier than it should after just a day.
Just like the skin on your face, your scalp possesses natural oils necessary for keeping your hair nourished and hydrated. If your hair is washed too frequently, online publication Byrdie says, it can be stripped of its natural oils, sending oil production in the scalp into overdrive to compensate and making your hair appear greasier than ever. It may seem counter-intuitive to wash less frequently to combat greasy locks but bear with us here. As your scalp readjusts to the natural oil it releases and your hair grows healthier, dry shampoo will be your new best friend.
While the drugstore offers plenty of wallet-friendly options to soak up excess oils, and salons can provide a pricier yet more scalp friendly option, there’s nothing better than making your own dry shampoo at home. Dry shampoo works by soaking up the oils from your scalp and hair, allowing you to lengthen the time before washes and removing the greasy appearance we’re all familiar with. But store-bought options also contain a multitude of chemicals that can create residue buildup on your scalp, eventually doing more damage than good for your hair’s longevity. So, finish up your newly bought can (no good in wasting it), and mix up some of your own. Yes, even you dark-haired ladies.
When creating your own dry shampoo solution, you will need only a few ingredients that are likely already in your home. For the base, an ingredient with oil-absorbing properties is necessary, so Wellness Mama recommends either arrowroot or cornstarch. If you have blonde hair, you could stop there, simply adding ¼ cup of arrowroot to a wide lid jar and 5 drops of an essential oil of your choice. Lavender and peppermint are great options, but eucalyptus or any other fresh scent will work just as well to get your hair smelling like it was just washed. Apply your new “shampoo” with an old (and of course, clean) makeup brush to the roots of your hair and comb through or rub into the roots with your fingers before brushing out.
The best homemade dry shampoo for dark hair must also have an oil-absorbing base. For your shampoo, try 2 tbsp of arrowroot, 2 tbsp of unsweetened cocoa powder (for color) and 5 drops of an essential oil of your choice. Mix all ingredients in a jar and apply as suggested above. Dry shampoo for black hair can be created by switching cocoa powder for a small amount of activated charcoal, and for red hair, consider 2 tbsp of cinnamon. The formula is highly customizable—just another reason to choose homemade over store-bought!
Still not sold on making your own? Healthline states that natural dry shampoo creates less buildup on your scalp, leaving the skin with room to breathe and without the added chemicals of formulas stored in a can. The activated charcoal in the dry shampoo for black hair also boasts benefits such as dandruff and dirt reduction according to a study on the use of activated charcoal in herbal shampoos.
Use your new dry shampoo only when necessary, after the hair becomes visibly greasy, and to ensure that your skin isn’t sensitive to any of the ingredients, do a patch test on your arm at least 24 hours before your first use. If a rash occurs, start again, and try a different base (ground oats or cornstarch will do); when you’re making the formula yourself, there’s no point in using something that will only further agitate your skin!
Whether you’re trying to get your salon blowout to last just a little bit longer or training your hair for less frequent washing, dry shampoo is the perfect remedy for greasy strands in need of a boost. Treat your scalp with as much kindness as possible and avoid store-bought solutions that can be heavy on chemicals and instead make your own with just a few common household ingredients. DIY dry shampoo will save your wallet and the environment from aerosol cans, and your scalp will thank you when it gets a break from other pore-clogging formulas. Now you don’t have to choose between beautiful hair and the lengthy process of washing and blow-drying every day, leaving you more time to focus on other things you enjoy in your busy life!
