It’s not a secret that I can’t shower or wash my hair nearly asmuch as I’d like. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve noticed that my hair goes limpfaster; it seems to go from fresh to manky with one misplaced roll in a moshpit. Dry shampoo has been a saviour, even during the dry winter months--Iprobably use it twice a week.
But I’m stuck on a few things:
●Smells like teenage girls (sorry girls, you just allsmell very sweet)
●Weird additives I don’t want to put on my precious hairor scalp
●Doesn’t last
I’ve tried a few brands, and--don’t get me wrong--they arelife-savers, but I haven’t found one for use with darker hair that I actuallyliked.
Darker powders leached out if I was dancing and sweaty, which looks likea weird Bodysnatchers-type problem. Ilike smelling like glittery pineapple-y throw-up never. Most of all, most dryshampoos I’ve tried don’t have a very lasting effect. I like Suave's and Bumbleand bumble's, but any moisture in the mix and they both fall flat.
But I have a DIY hairpowder recipe that's more portable and more effective than an aerosol dry shampoo.
You will need:
●Arrowroot powder
●Cocoa
I’ve seen a lot of recipes for dry shampoo that use cornstarch,but let me convince you right now that you don’t want to put that on yourscalp. Cornstarch has close to 10 times the carbohydrates than arrowrootpowder, and while I get you’re not eating it, someone might be. Or something, rather: Malassezia furfur to be exact. Totally a real thing--it’s a fungus, and one of the leading causes of dandruff.
There’s no hard evidence that the fungus is feasting on dry shampoo, but evenif it isn’t, several types of yeasts or bacteria that naturally occur on yourskin might be, so it’s best to avoid giving them easily digestible, naynutrient-packed cornstarch. Arrowroot powder is easy to come by in any healthfood store or even supermarket baking section.
Whenchoosing cocoa, I chose Dutched; it’s processed with alkaline, and it dries thecocoa significantly. You want this, as the whole point of dry shampoo is thatit will soak up extra oils on your head. Downside: some Dutched cocoa is reallyred in tone. I don’t mind this, and I don’t think it shows up on my hair, butHershey’s does a good non-Dutched cocoa that’s more neutral colour.
Usinga whisk, combine two parts arrowroot powder to one part cocoa. This blend works wellwith my hair colour, but you can darken it by adding a teaspoon of cocoa to approximate your hair colour.Remember, it doesn’t have to match perfectly, but just be less noticeable.
Andyou’re done! I store mine in an old mineral makeup jar; it makes it portable,and easy to use with or without a brush.
Tips:
Don’twait until your hair is super-greasy to apply dry shampoo. It doesn’t work aswell, and it certainly doesn’t last. Around day three, when you begin to noticesome limp activity, dust up.
Forthe love of all that is holy and good in the world, don’t put this directly on yourscalp. The heinous buildup from dry shampoo can be tough to get rid of,especially if you’re on a delicate cleansing routine. Dust it on using a blushor powder brush at least half an inch from your scalp. It helps to part and dust itsection by section.
Brushit out. Unless you want the ditch-wizard texture of dusty, matte hair, brush itout.
If you’re styling a beehive or a serious bouffant, then it’s helpful forkeeping backcombing rocking all night long. If you’re in a pinch, you can shakesome on in a bathroom, just fluffing and finger-combing will help you look likeless like Louis XIV.
It’sjust about the easiest, most useful DIY product I’ve made to date. I’ve got aginger friend that uses cinnamon instead of cocoa, but I haven’t tried it. I wouldlike to smell like a snickerdoodle, so I might...