lather, rinse, repeat: all natural dry shampoo for all hair colors

When it comes to skincare, we don’t always realize just how many unnatural things we intentionally apply to our skin, hair and nails on a daily basis. These chemicals, irritants, and additives are not always easy to avoid and often they only contribute to our dependency on them. A perfect example of this is hair care products, which are filled with irritants that strip our hair follicles of their natural oils and disrupt the natural ecology of our scalp. Our hair and scalp, like our skin, need to maintain a delicate balance in order to be healthy and happy.

While “lather, rinse, repeat” is a slogan that sells a lot of shampoo, what is actually more beneficial for your hair and scalp health is to avoid daily shampooing and wash much less often.

Natural beauty products get a bad rep because we’re led to believe that to be effective, they must come from a well-researched laboratory, the products must foam to a rich lather in order to be cleansing, and we certainly wouldn’t be able to make anything comparable in our own homes. This is completely false and this mindset and dependence on these chemical laden products needs to come to an end. Beauty and skin products are are some of the easiest things to make. Often they require just a couple of ingredients, and really, our skin prefers it that way!

Dry shampoo is such an easy swap (not to mention a fraction of its artificial counterpart), and so simple to make, there’s really no excuse not to make your own.

Going back to our recent post about Ayurveda and the Vata dosha, Fall and Winter is a time when the wind and dryness of the season can really wreak havoc on our skin and hair. Shampoos (and styling products, too) are drying, can strip the scalp of moisture and can damage hair, exacerbating these seasonal effects.

What’s needed is a dry shampoo that can be used daily and removes excess oils and buildup without damaging your hair, or stripping it of moisture. Our dry shampoos are completely natural and contain no chemicals, alcohol or propellant, and are simply brushed in and brushed out. Dry shampoo is so quick and effective that you don’t need to wet shampoo every day, allowing the natural ecology of your scalp to reestablish that delicate oil and pH balance so your hair is healthier, stronger, shinier, and thicker. They are also great if you just don’t have time to shower, and perfect for taking on a camping trip.

We’ve created two varieties, one for blondes and one for brunettes. Both can easily be adapted to suit your own fragrance prefrences.

FOR BLONDES

This blend has a delicate floral smell with antiseptic properties.

What you will need:

mixing bowl

fine mesh sieve

whisk

wide mouth jar for storing with tight fitting lid for storage

large makeup powder brush for applying

1/4 cup organic arrowroot powder or tapioca starch
1/4 cup baking soda
1 tablespoon finely ground lavender, dry
1 tablespoon finely ground mint, dry
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or a couple drops of your favorite essential oil

1. Make sure the herbs are completely dry. If grinding your own herbs, do so in a high speed blender or mortar and pestle until completely powdered and sift so only the finest powder is used.

2. Combine dry ingredients into a bowl and mix well with a whisk.

3. Add essential oils of choice and/or vanilla extract and combine well.

4. Seal in a wide mouth jar and allow essential oils to dry before applying to hair.

FOR BRUNETTES + REDS

This blend smells like a mocha frappe and has scalp stimulating properties.

What you will need:

mixing bowl

whisk

fine mesh sieve

wide mouth jar for storing with tight fitting lid for storage

large makeup powder brush for applying

1/4 cup cacao powder
1/4 cup espresso powder, finely ground

The ratio of cacao to espresso powder can be adapted to suit your own hair color. Use more espresso powder for a deeper tone, and more cacao powder for more auburn colors and even redheads. Charcoal powder can be added for black or deep browns. Tapioca starch or arrowroot powder can be added in small amounts to suit lighter shades of brown hair as well.

This mixture smells delicious on its own, but feel free to add a couple of drops of vanilla extract or your favorite essential oil to the mixture as well.

1. Grind the espresso as fine as possible in a mortar and pestle or high speed blender. Sift espresso powder through a fine mesh sieve so that only the finest powder is used.

2. Combine dry ingredients into a bowl and mix well with a whisk.

3. If desired add essential oils of choice and/or vanilla extract and combine well.

4. Seal in a wide mouth jar and allow essential oils to dry before applying to hair.

To Use:

Make sure your hair is completely dry. Apply roughly one tablespoon of dry shampoo to your hair with a large makeup brush, focusing on your scalp and roots, and massage in with fingers. Let mixture sit for 5-15 minutes. The longer you leave the powder on the hair, the more oil will be absorbed.

Then simply brush the powder out with a hairbrush. If you are worried about getting powder on your clothes, you can apply the mixture at night and wrap a towel around your head while you sleep. In the morning you can simply shake and brush out.

*Try massaging a couple of drops of essential oil into your scalp after the treatment to add an extra boost of fragrance. If you find the scent of essential oils in the dry shampoo has dissipated, you can also add a few more drops to the mixture.