For years, I shampooed my hair each and every day. Especially when I was getting sweaty from regular workouts at the gym, I didn’t really feel that I had any choice. But my stylist always recommended shampooing once per week only, as it would help my hair become healthier and less dry.
Increasing numbers of people are starting to adopt a shampoo-free approach to hair care, usually using vinegar and/or baking soda to clean their hair instead of shampoo.
Many of these people have found that using dry shampoo helps them keep their hair from getting too oily, allowing them to go longer without washing.
Too much shampooing strips the natural oil from your hair and scalp. It can even alter your scalp’s natural pH. Washing less frequently may actually make your scalp produce less oil in the long run. In my case, less frequent washing has reduced the amount of oil in my hair between washes. I use a little dry shampoo on my scalp and roots to help absorb any excess oil.
Styling hair is easier if your hair isn’t squeaky-clean. When I was getting a fancy up-do for a wedding or formal, my stylist always advised me not to shower or shampoo that day. Dry shampoo can be used in two different ways in this situation: you can either use it instead of shampooing, or if you feel you must shampoo that day, you can still use it to add body or texture to your hair and help it hold its style for longer.
Making dry shampoo at home is simple. You just need to pick up some supplies, many of which (such as the clay) you can buy online at Amazon. You’ll also need some kind of shaker to help you apply the dry shampoo, and these can also be found online.
Here is a very simple recipe to get you started.
DIY Dry Shampoo Recipe
Ingredients
1 cup powdered clay (white clay for lighter hair, or red clay for red hair)
4 Tbsp arrowroot powder
About 2 drops of essential oil (lavender, or any essential oil that is typically safe)
Instructions
Mix all the ingredients thoroughly and put the mixture into a shaker. An empty baby powder bottle or Parmesan cheese container is fine. To use the dry shampoo, first separate your hair into sections using a comb. Sprinkle the dry shampoo onto your scalp and roots. With your fingers, massage it to distribute it evenly through your roots.
Why Use Clay?
For a long time, people have been using clay to soothe, heal, detoxify, absorb oil, and exfoliate skin. Red clay contains minerals such as silica, magnesium, calcium and iron.