For the past six months or so, I’ve been cutting back on the number of times I wash my hair each week. Hair stylists have been telling me for years that daily washing is the best way to accumulate build-up, strip hair of its natural oils, and keep it looking flat. I have fine hair but I have a lot of it, and one of the biggest grips I have is that it ends up looking pretty limp a couple hours after I wash it. Now that I’ve backed off on my hair and only wash it every 2- 3 days, it’s looking and feeling so much healthier. (Don’t worry, I still shower daily 
.) Second and third day hair also holds style a lot better. But no one likes greasy strands. So what’s my secret? Dry shampoo! I first discovered it back in 2009, and used it primarily to give my hair mega volume for weddings and other fancy events (it responds very well to teasing).
I try to stay away from aerosol cans whenever possible, and unfortunately most dry shampoos come in them. My favorite dry shampoos are made by Bumble & bumble, but at $35, I’m just not willing to budget for that repeated expense. I’ve been looking around for a solid dry shampoo recipe with minimal ingredients, and I managed to whittle mine down to just two! Bonus: it smells like chocolate.
HOMEMADE DRY SHAMPOO (for brunettes)
Adapted slightly from this post, click to find the recipe for blondes
- 2 tablespoons corn starch
- 1/3 c. cocoa powder
Mix ingredients together and put in a glass shaker (I used one of those cheese + spice shakers you see at pizza places). Shake onto roots and massage well.
Tips:
-use on clean hair, too! I find the best way to extend my shampoo is to use dry shampoo on the first day, as well as the second and first, before I have a chance to build up oil.
-massage, massage, massage. Not only does it ensure all the oil on your scalp gets soaked up, but it provides great volume!
-this is a brown shampoo, so make sure you lean your head over the sink or drape a towel around your shoulders so it doesn’t get on your clothes.
I’ve been using my homemade dry shampoo all week, and I’m officially obsessed. I washed my hair Monday and rubbed it into the roots when it was dry; I also sprinkled some on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Thursday, when I went to the gym, my hair didn’t look greasy at all. And if you’re like I am and rock the low-maintenance topknot look when you don’t feel like a labor-intensive style, your bun will have major volume and staying power. Obsessed.
