Essential Oil DIY Dry Shampoo Recipes for Every Hair Type (2024)

Everyone knows second-day hair is the best hair, but sometimes it needs a little touch-up (thank you—dry shampoo!) to make it do what you want it to. Turns out that it’s super simple to make your own dry shampoo at home with a few basic ingredients—and you can customize it with essential oils for your hair type, leaving it feeling soft and clean!

Every time I try an aerosol dry shampoo spray, my scalp starts itching like crazy, so I figured it would be easier to make my own and save some serious cash. You probably have the basic ingredients in your cupboard, and it lasts forever.

Plus, I can tailor it to get just what I need from it for my hair: blonde, thin, and oily. Because when it comes to dry shampoo, there’s nothing more annoying than not having it properly blend into your hair.

Ingredients

• Cornstarch — If you’re in any way familiar with cornstarch, then you know how fine it is—making it the perfect powder for using in your hair. It’s incredibly effective at absorbing oils and adding volume to hair, deodorizing as well as freshening it. It’s easy to find and even works as a makeup setting powder in a pinch.
• Arrowroot powder — As another popular thickener, arrowroot powder is typically finer and lighter in texture than cornstarch. It has a silky feel and may be less noticeable in your hair, as it can be used to thicken liquids without turning them cloudy.
• Baking soda — Another super effective oil absorber to use when you’re training your hair, baking soda can help your hair feel fresher by absorbing excess sebum. It’s also effective at eliminating any smells, keeping your scalp fresh and funk-free. Be sure to pick up the powdered kind instead of the crystal type.
• Cocoa powder — Oil-absorbing cocoa powder also helps the dry shampoo match darker hair tones.
• Cinnamon — A dry shampoo recipe in the American Journal of Pharmacy from 1918 included coumarin [source], which is actually derived from cinnamon. It was added to provide a clean, spiced scent to hair—the same reason we’ve included it in these DIY recipes.
• Oatmeal — Adding a spoonful of ground oatmeal to your dry shampoo will give your roots a little extra boost, which is awesome if you happen to have fine hair. To get your oatmeal as powder-like as possible, use a coffee grinder.

What’s not included? While baby powder is a popular aerosol-free alternative to dry shampoos, it usually contains talc—a controversial ingredient some people would like to avoid because it might be linked to certain cancers [source]. Talc is also featured in many aerosol dry shampoo ingredient lists, so by making your own dry shampoo, you can be sure it’s not included.

Instructions

Start with these basic instructions then customize with the following recipes to find one for your hair type and color.

Choose the right base: The base ingredient of your dry shampoo recipe is crucial. Common options include cornstarch, arrowroot powder, and baking soda. Start with 2 tablespoons of arrowroot or cornstarch to absorb excess oil and give your hair extra volume.

Adjust the ratios: Finding the right ratio of ingredients is important to achieving the desired consistency, color, and oil-absorbing properties. Start with a small batch and experiment with different ingredients like oatmeal, baking soda, cocoa powder, and cinnamon until you find a blend that works best for your hair.

Add essential oils: Add essential oils like lavender, rosemary, or citrus to your homemade dry shampoo to improve scalp and hair health while giving it a delightful aroma.

For normal hair: Try using lavender, rosemary, orange, or cedarwood.

Apply as needed: Combine the powders in a small shaker container (or something with a lid). Add the essential oils and shake for 30 seconds to distribute them throughout the powder. Sprinkle the powder on oily roots as needed.

Hint: You can’t go wrong with lavender or rosemary for hair health. Lavender has a calming and balancing effect, promoting overall hair health and providing a soothing aroma. Rosemary is known for stimulating hair growth, improving circulation to the scalp, and adding shine.

For Dry Hair

Essential oils for dry hair: palmarosa, sandalwood, lavender, geranium, ylang ylang

This homemade dry shampoo recipe is specifically designed for dry hair, as these oils provide a soothing and nourishing effect. Geranium helps balance the scalp’s natural oil production, moisturizes the hair, and adds a pleasant floral scent. Ylang Ylang is hydrating and nourishing, helping to combat dryness and improve hair texture.

The addition of ground oats helps soothe and condition the hair, leaving it refreshed and revitalized between washes.

—2 tablespoons arrowroot powder or cornstarch
—1 tablespoon finely ground oats
—10 drops ylang ylang essential oil
—10 drops geranium essential oil

For Oily Hair

Essential oils for oily hair: geranium, juniper berry, lemon, cedarwood, cypress, eucalyptus

This recipe with eucalyptus and lemon essential oils is specifically formulated for oily hair types. Both oils are known for their cleansing and clarifying properties, which help combat excess oil on the scalp.

—2 tablespoons cornstarch or arrowroot powder
—1 tablespoon baking soda
—10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
—10 drops lemon essential oil

For Dandruff-Prone Hair

Essential oils for dandruff: cedarwood, patchouli, peppermint, rosemary, sage, tea tree, thyme

Tea tree has powerful antimicrobial properties that can help alleviate dandruff and soothe an itchy scalp. Peppermint has a cooling effect and can provide soothing relief from itching while promoting scalp health.

—2 tablespoons cornstarch or arrowroot powder
—1 tablespoon baking soda
—10 drops tea tree essential oil
—10 drops peppermint essential oil

For Blonde Hair

Essential oils for blonde hair: Roman chamomile, lemon

Lemon and Roman chamomile essential oils are great options to use for blonde hair. Lemon adds a refreshing citrus scent and can help combat oiliness, while chamomile enhances the natural highlights and shine of blonde hair.

—2 tablespoons arrowroot powder or cornstarch
—2 tablespoons finely ground oats
—15 drops Roman chamomile or lemon essential oil (or a combination)

For Dark Hair

Essential oils for dark hair: rosemary, cedarwood

Rosemary and cedarwood essential oils work well for brown hair. Rosemary EO is known to promote hair growth and improve scalp health, while cedarwood can help balance oil production and add a woody scent to the dry shampoo.

—2 tablespoons arrowroot powder or cornstarch
—2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
—⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
—15 drops cedarwood or rosemary essential oil (or a combination)

If you don’t want to add cocoa powder, you can use the dry shampoo mixture at night before you go to bed to allow the white powder to absorb overnight.

For Red Hair

Essential oils for dark hair: sweet orange, ginger

Sweet orange and ginger essential oils complement red hair nicely. Orange adds a delightful citrus aroma and can help with oil control, while ginger brings warmth and a spicy scent to the dry shampoo.

If you have red hair, I recommend adding cinnamon. You can also add small amounts of cocoa powder until you get a shade that matches your hair color.

—2 tablespoons arrowroot powder or cornstarch
—1 tablespoon ground oatmeal
—1–2 teaspoons cinnamon
—1–2 teaspoons cocoa powder (if needed)
—15 drops sweet orange or ginger essential oil (or a combination)

Equipment for Application

If you think that you’ll miss the accuracy of using an aerosol spray, don’t worry. There are a few different application methods for dry shampoo that you can use to ensure your scalp is refreshed all over with no greasy spots left behind!

1. Use a spice container to shake and go: Upcycling a spice container or salt shaker for application is perfect for dry shampoo.

Just shake the container over your head, massage in the product, and brush your hair out for the ultimate refresh. I call this the “shake-and-go” method. And it’s perfect when you’re a little short on time in the morning but need your hair to look like you just washed it.

2. Powder brush for precision application: Method two involves using a powder brush. It’s best if you set this aside as your dry shampoo-only brush. Your scalp is normally a little more oily than your face, so you’ll want to keep any residue off your face.

Reuse a jar or anything you like to store the dry shampoo powder then simply dip the brush into the shampoo, and apply it to your roots or wherever your hair needs refreshing. I like that it’s more precise than sprinkling the product over your hair.

3. Spritz with a spray bottle + blow dry: Use a small spritzer bottle to make a dry shampoo spray that absorbs oil and gives a bit of wetness to help with restyling. Lightly spray your roots then use a hair dryer to dry and style. Not only does this get rid of oily roots, but it also gives the hair a nice volume boost!

Watch where you spritz because after the spray dries, it can leave white spots on clothing.

Storage + Usage

How often to use dry shampoo is up to you and your hair type. Just keep in mind that applying too much product can weigh down your hair and make it look dull.

Store properly: Store your homemade dry shampoo in an airtight container or a clean, empty spice jar. This will help preserve its freshness and prevent clumping.

Test on a small section first: Before applying the dry shampoo to your entire scalp, it’s a good idea to patch-test it first. This way, you can ensure the formula blends well with your hair color and doesn't leave any visible residue.

Apply strategically: Focus on applying the dry shampoo to the roots and oily areas of your hair. Use your fingertips or a makeup brush to distribute the powder evenly, and gently massage it into your scalp.

Give it time to work: Allow the dry shampoo to sit on your hair for a few minutes before brushing or styling. This gives the ingredients time to absorb excess oil and refresh your locks.

Brush thoroughly: After the dry shampoo has had time to work its magic, brush or comb through your hair to thoroughly remove any residue. This will help distribute the product evenly and leave your hair looking clean and voluminous.

Apply at night: Use the powder mixture on your roots before bed, and the pale powder will absorb overnight, making it less noticeable in your hair.

This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Gina Jansheski, a licensed, board-certified physician with over 20 years of practice experience. Learn more about Hello Glow’s medical reviewers here. As always, this is not personal medical advice, and we recommend that you talk with your doctor before using this recipe to determine what’s best for you.

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