Dry Shampoo Tips

I've been writing about my dry shampoo tips and recipes for many years on Hairboutique.com.

Dry Shampoo Tips

I was thrilled to stumble across one of my old hair notebooks from 1995, and inside it was one of my all-time favorite dry shampoo recipes.

Tucked in the same box was an unused, air-tight glass bottle, the exact kind I used to rely on years ago. It felt like uncovering a little time capsule from my own beauty past.

My Own Dry Shampoo Formulas

Guess what? I still make all my own dry shampoo formulas. I’ve been at it for 30 years now.

I never buy retail brands because I prefer all-natural fresh ingredients I make myself.

I’m incredibly picky about my hair, and I only want the very best for it, even when it comes to something as simple as shampoo.

And honestly, part of the fun is experimenting with essential oils and creating incredible custom aromas..

Rose Gardenia Dry Shampoo Recipe

Below is one of my favorite dry shampoo recipes, one I still whip up whenever I have the right oils on hand.

8 ounces organic cornstarch
8 ounces organic baking soda
4 drops organic gardenia oil
4 drops organic rose oil

Note:  Always use organic products whenever they’re available and affordable. Avoid artificial or synthetic oils, colors, or similar additives, as they may contain unwanted or potentially toxic ingredients.

This recipe uses both gardenia and rose oil because they’re two of the most beautifully fragrant oils, and their scent lasts a remarkably long time.

Their aroma stays true and rich, even when blended with cornstarch and baking soda.

Gardenia Oil

Extracted through enfleurage, gardenia oil has a wonderfully sweet, floral scent that lingers beautifully.

The gardenia flower itself is incredibly delicate, with lush, fragrant petals that are gently pressed into fat to capture and preserve its magnificent aroma.

After the gardenia petals are soaked in fat, they are placed in alcohol to release the fragrance.

The enfleurage process used to extract gardenia oil is extremely labor-intensive, requiring many pounds of petals to produce just a small amount of oil — which explains its high cost.

Oil Of Rose

Rose essential oil is distilled from fresh Damascus roses (Rosa damascena) and contains hundreds of aromatic compounds.

Damascus roses are the preferred variety for making rose oil because they are the most fragrant of all rose species.

The Original Red Rose

Damascus Roses are believed to be the original red roses.  They have both the strongest aroma and the highest oil content.

Rose essential oil offers more than just its beautiful fragrance.

It is known for its antidepressant, antiseptic, antiviral, aphrodisiac, astringent, and bactericidal properties, which also help it remain effective for a long time when stored properly.

Best Dispensers

One of the main drawbacks of DIY dry shampoo is that it can be messy to apply.

To minimize the dry shampoo mess factor consider the following options:

1.  Store in a glass jar minimize moisture exposure.

2.  Utilize a shaker-style glass jar for easier dispensing.

3.  Experiment with a series of make-up-style brushes for applying dry shampoo.

4.  For spot application, use clean cotton swabs to dab onto roots or fringe areas.

5.  Avoid utilizing fingertips which may transfer oil to hair.

6.  Use clean cotton t-shirts to blot loose powder off the hair surface.

Summary - Dry Shampoo Tips

There’s no single “right” way to make your own dry shampoo. You can experiment with using just cornstarch, or adjust the ratio of cornstarch to baking soda to suit your hair.

Have fun and play with the recipe to make it uniquely yours, and a quick tip: avoid applying it while wearing black clothing!

Best wishes to all.