Life with little ones can really hamper your ability to meet basic self care tasks. For us, showering tends to be an *event* rather than a quick job so it happens less frequently than what is ideal. Plus living through two years of a pandemic has meant we've rarely gone anywhere that warranted etiquette even worthy of an every other day wash.
To be fair, I was already on the "shower less" train. It saves on both water and the fuel to heat it (I cannot help but indulge in a toasty temperature) while being better for my strands. My goal was to support my oily hair type by reducing my scalp's desire to over produce by not washing away its natural resources.
But that doesn't mean my vanity washed away instead. Even though grocery shopping and preschool pick-up are the highlights of my time outside of the home, I feel like a bit of a schlep around other well groomed folks out in society. Sure, I am proud to live a more natural lifestyle....but I don't need people to think I forgot how to bathe.
A tool I'm leaning on is dry shampoo. It's another great example of the D.I.Y. version being better for you, the environment and your wallet while also being quick and easy to make.
The purpose of dry shampoo is to absorb excess sebum oil while refreshing the scalp and giving hair a bit of lift. Something my fine, oily locks could use! After a few quick steps, you are back in business looking like you are fresh out of the shower. Well, almost. ;)
A big bonus when making your own blend is you get to control the color to best match the shade of your hair. Many store bought options are straight white powder. I think I can safely say most of us no longer wear powdered wigs nor do we want to look like we do.
Let's get started!
I N G R E D I E N T S
Arrowroot is a food starch from tropical plants. It is a light textured powder that absorbs oil well.
Bentonite clay is derived from volcanic ash. It is known for its drawing effect and ability to absorb.
Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. It is a bit of a thicker powder known to absorb oil, deodorize and to be a PH balancer.
Cacao powder is the result of removing cocoa butter from cacao beans. It offers a brown tint and is rich in antioxidants.
Cinnamon is bark harvested from a Cinnamomum species tree. It is a circulation stimulating herb that can bring blood flow to the follicles. It's antifungal and antimicrobial properties support dandruff and reducing build up.
Activated charcoal is created when carbon rich materials, such as coconut husks, are burned at high temperatures making a highly porous powder. It gives a dark tint while deodorizing and aiding in dandruff.
Below is the combination that matches my hair color. For lighter brown hair, perhaps a bit more cinnamon without activated charcoal will do the trick. For auburn or red hair, mix cinnamon and ginger powder to reach your desired shade. For blonde hair, straight ginger powder might be all you need.
M A K E
Base
3 tbsp arrowroot powder
2 tbsp bentonite clay
1 tsp baking soda
Tints (optional)
3 tbsp cacao or cocoa powder, unsweetened
1 tbsp powdered cinnamon
1/2 tsp activated charcoal
Essential Oils (optional)
5 drops lavender essential oil
3 drops rosemary essential oil
3 drops sage essential oil
Whisk all dry ingredients in a bowl.
Add drops of essential oil, being careful to disperse them throughout the surface of the powder.
Whisk until blended.
Bottle in a jar or a shaker.
U S E
*Apply to roots of hair by lifting sections and applying dry shampoo with a makeup brush or by sprinkling powder via shaker bottle.
*Day of: before styling, allow to sit on scalp to absorb oils. Brush hair to remove any loose powder.
*Night before: apply before bed so the ingredients absorb the oil overnight.
*Use dry shampoo every other day between washes.
*After 2-3 uses of dry shampoo, wash with wet shampoo.
N O T E S
*Add more essential oils if you prefer a stronger scent.
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