In my twenties, I rocked a serious pixie cut for way too long. Whenever the style would reach my shoulders, I would tell my hairdresser to just give me the teeniest of trims and three hours later, I'd be leaving with a pixie cut and back to the cruel process of maintaining bangs. Don't get me wrong, I loved my bangs. I didn't love the struggle that came when my roots would inevitably grow back and my bangs would start to extend off of my forehead and I definitely didn't love the amount of oil that seemed to live inside each strand on my forehead — if only someone had uttered the words "dry shampoo" to me just once.
Of course, five years ago at the height of my pixie phase, I was also all about chemicals. You could've given me a dry shampoo bottle that said the main ingredient was gasoline and I would've happily used it as long as it promised to make me pretty — and that's not far off from the typical ingredients that are in OTC dry shampoos. Propane is a highly flammable gas found in some dry shampoos, it's marketed as safe... until you breathe it in which is likely to happen when you are spraying your face, obviously. Since I have a natural 'do I've ditched my pixie cut for good and in the process increased my flammability by using oils in my hair. Fortunately, mother nature has provided us with a plethora of dry shampoo options on the cheap — because I don't know anyone with straight or kinky hair that is looking to increase their chances of catching fire.
Thank goodness because dry shampoo has some excellent uses that almost all hair types can benefit from. Dry shampoo is great for eliminating oil build-up, whether you are rocking bangs or not. It's also got some serious styling skill for that tousled, just-out-of-bed look, or braiding fine hair.
Don't think dry shampoo is just for naturally straight-haired beauts; dry shampoo can be used for relaxed hair in between washes as well. Since washing your hair right before your next relaxer is a huge DON'T, a dry shampoo is a perfect alternative to take away the greasy build-up without wetting your hair. I can't and won't suggest dry shampoo for kinky hair, however, since those curls crave water constantly. It's always a good idea to wet naturally super curly hair even if you aren't going in for the shampoo bottle. Of course, if you are a natural that is trying to keep your freshly flat-ironed hair, dry shampoo can keep your style longer.
Fortunately, there are plenty of all-natural dry shampoos out there that are affordable, but the best part about making your own dry shampoo is that you can play with the coloring to match or enhance highlights. These recipes are perfect if you aren't a frequent dry shampoo user because the cost is minimal and most of these products can be found in your very own kitchen.
For these recipes, I recommend using a makeup brush to avoid an uneven application. Start at the roots and then comb or brush downwards, then do the ends first and brush or comb upwards. Using gloves for these recipes is advised, since some of these powders are natural dyes.
1. Oatmeal & Baking Soda For Blonde or Light Colored Hair
This dry shampoo is not only all natural, but it's an excellent way to plant some nutrients in those oily locks. Oatmeal is pH balanced with antibacterial and antioxidant properties that are going to help those locks from encountering too many toxins in between your washes that make hair look dull. The baking soda will actually help remove dirt and excess oil. This recipe gets bonus points because of the anti-itching properties of oatmeal — itching your hair vigorously is never a good look. Purchase unflavored, organic oatmeal for best results.
2. Nutmeg & Cocoa Powder For Brunettes or Dark Hair
I love this recipe because it's really great at enhancing the color of dark hair AND it smells absolutely delicious. Nutmeg is a natural antiseptic that has antiviral and antibacterial properties, which means you aren't just throwing powder in those locks to create a clean look, you're actually getting benefits from the dry shampoo as well. Cocoa powder is a great addition, especially, if you are covering up greys or roots.
3. Cornstarch & Turmeric (Red Heads)
This recipe is great for any secret faux red head that wants to cover up roots. With cornstarch being one of the most common ingredients in a homemade dry shampoo and turmeric, a natural dye, being antiseptic and antibacterial, this dry shampoo will remove oil, plus enhance your style and hook up those red highlights. The more oily your hair is, the more likely your strands will catch the powder and it won't flake out onto your clothes. Warning: Do not massage this recipe into your scalp as it WILL dye it orange — just a light dusting at the roots will do the trick.
Images: Porsche Brosseau, Max Braun, Scarleth Marie/Flickr; Giphy; Elisabeth Waltz
