DIY Dry Shampoo

This Winter seemed like it would never end but now the first signs of Spring are finally here.  Not all of this winter was bad though, it's when I started making my own dry shampoo.

When it gets cold outside, I have to change my entire personal grooming routine because my skin gets so dry.  I have to moisturize my face twice a day, I have to switch from bar soap to body wash and I have to constantly put on body lotion to avoid getting eczema.  My scalp also gets very dry and itchy so I have to use an anti-dandruff shampoo. 

This winter, I went for Head and Shoulders Anti-Itch shampoo.  I wanted to get a separate shampoo and conditioner, but I went back to the aisle three weeks in a row and the store only had shampoo or 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner.  I decided that it was only for a few months and I'd tough it out using the 2-in-1 stuff.  This was a bad idea.  Even with the added conditioner and using a leave in conditioner, my hair was dried out and breaking.  I had to clean the hair out of my brush twice a week and it was all over my bathroom floor.  I bought some anti-dandruff repairing conditioner and it did help, but it was clear that I couldn't wash my hair all of the time this winter. After doing some research, I decided to only wash and condition my hair twice a week and use dry shampoo for the other 5 days.

Now, I had used the TRESemme spray in dry shampoo before and there were a couple of things I didn't like about it.

1. It felt like you had to use half an aerosol can in order for your hair to not feel greasy.
2. It therefore meant that you were spending about $1.50 per use.
3. It smelled like a baby prostitute.

I still use the TRESemme aerosol dry shampoo sometimes, but I was looking for a better way.

Through Pinterest, I had found a few dry shampoo recipes and some loose guidelines for what to use to make homemade dry shampoo.  This is what I do:

• Combine 2 parts baking soda, 2 parts UNSWEETENED cocoa powder (from the baking aisle) and 1 part corn starch (for brunettes).
• For blondes, use 1 part unsweetened cocoa powder and 2 parts corn starch in addition to the 2 parts baking soda
• Mix these three ingredients and then add a few drops of clear extract from the baking aisle
• Lemon extract, vanilla extract, almond extract -- whatever you like -- just make sure that there's no kind of sugar or syrup in it or your it will make your hair sticky
• You can also use a few drops of essential oils, but with the extracts, everything is non-toxic
• Mix everything together until the liquid is completely absorbed and then place in a storage container.
• I use mason jars for everything.

There are a couple of ways you can apply this dry shampoo.  You can use an old (thoroughly cleaned) spice shaker or parmesan cheese shaker to sprinkle the shampoo near, but not directly onto your roots.  The way I originally was applying the dry shampoo was by dipping a makeup brush into a little tub of the dry shampoo and then applying it to the hair near my roots.  Then I would, of course, brush it through so that it cleaned all of my hair.  This worked very well and made my hair smell like chocolate.

I figured that there had to be a better way and began the searching the internet for some kind of dry shampoo brush dispenser.  I found a couple of different brands of dry shampoo that came in a container that was a brush on top which was connected to a tube of powdered dry shampoo but I didn't see anything where you could put your own dry shampoo into it.  I even contemplated taking the pad and bristles out of a paddle brush, poking holes in the pad and pouring dry shampoo behind the pad before reattaching it -- anything to make the brush and the shampoo applicator one and the same.

I discussed this dilemma with a friend who also couldn't find anything on the internet matching what I wanted.  She did tell me that she found something similar to what I was looking for at Sally's Beauty Supply.  I went to Sally's and spoke with the sales associate and the only thing she knew of that matched my description was this:

This Roots Only Applicator is only $1.69 and it's used for applying hair dye as well as medicated shampoo and other items to your hair.  It has small holes at the top of the comb that release the dry shampoo and then you can easily comb it through. 

I've only used this applicator once so far.  I've found that you have to have a toothpick or a safety pin at hand because sometimes holes in the teeth of the comb get clogged with the shampoo.  Also, you have to let air into the bottle because you have to squeeze it to get the dry shampoo to come out.  Once you squeeze it, you can comb it through.  I'm not sure how I feel about this applicator or if I'll stick with it, but it is really convenient so I'll give it a whirl.