It’s one of those mornings! You’ve overslept, have a big presentation at work, and have to get the kids (or pets) out the door in a matter of minutes.
And, your hair is a mess! Oily, flat, and in dire need of a shampoo and blow out.
Flustered, but not panicked, you reach for your trusty bottle of dry shampoo to save the day…
…only to discover you’ve just run out.
You could panic and attempt a last-minute greasy bun or braid…
Or you can reach for one of these twelve simple yet effective dry shampoo substitutes—many of which you likely already have in your pantry or beauty cabinet. First, let’s explain what dry shampoo is and how it can help.
What is Dry Shampoo?
Dry shampoo contains drying ingredients like starches, baking soda, and talc, which absorb excess oil from the hair and scalp.
Although these may seem like modern products, dry shampoos have been used for centuries in the form of arrowroot, herbs, clays, or even dirt to keep hair looking fresh, bouncy, and matte between shampoos.
You can find dry shampoos for sale through conventional and clean hair care brands, or make your own at home using ingredients like corn starch, cocoa powder, and baking soda.
What Does Dry Shampoo Do For Hair?
A good dry shampoo will naturally absorb excess oil, giving the hair a more matte and freshly-washed appearance.
Dry shampoos also help give volume to roots, deodorize, add shine, and even freshen color if formulated correctly.
Since dry shampoos are very drying by nature, they should be considered an occasional, but not permanent, substitute for wet shampoos.
Overuse can result in an excess drying effect on hair and scalp, leading to breakage, damage, and (believe it or not) overproduction of oil on the scalp.
12+ Non-Toxic & Effective Dry Shampoo Alternatives for All Hair Types
These dry shampoo alternatives are entirely natural, non-toxic, and suitable for all hair types, with a few caveats.
If you have dark or red hair or are brunette, adding a darkening or coloring agent, such as cocoa powder or cinnamon, is generally recommended to avoid an ashy, dull, or gray hair look.
Charcoal is also a great color enhancer for black or very dark brown hair, either alone or combined with cocoa.
Those with blondes, gray, or white hair can use most of these methods without adding extra color.
With that in mind, let’s explore these non-toxic dry shampoo substitutes and alternatives.
1. Starches: Corn, Tapioca, Potato, Etc.
Cornstarch is already the leading ingredient in many premade and DIY dry shampoos.
Cheap, effective, and widely available, this simple starch is a wonder for absorbing oil and adding bounce and shine to oily hair.
However, cornstarch isn’t the only starch you can use as a dry shampoo substitute.
Other starches, such as those used in gluten-free baking and cooking, will work just as well, including:
- Tapioca starch
- Potato starch
- Rice starch
To use, simply dust onto hair, rub in with your fingertips, wait as long as you can stand it (5-10 minutes is optimal), and brush through.
For dark hair, add cocoa powder, carob powder, or cinnamon. For black or very dark brown hair, add powdered charcoal alone or combined with cocoa powder.
For red hair, add cinnamon, beet root powder, or hibiscus powder.
2. Spray Hand Sanitizer
It may sound weird, but conventional, natural, and low-tox hand sanitizer works great in a pinch as a dry shampoo.
The magic is in its high alcohol content, which is very drying and will quickly break up oil and give hair a nice shine.
Since alcohol is so drying, we only recommend using this on your roots and only occasionally.
To use, just spray on, massage in, let dry, and brush.
If the smell is overpowering, know it will dissipate quickly.
You can also add some of your favorite essential oils, like oil-busting tea tree or lavender, to create a more pleasant scent.
Related reading: 6 Ways To Use Essential Oils For DIY Self Care
3. Baking Soda
Baking soda makes a fantastic dry shampoo substitute and ingredient because:
- It absorbs oil
- It eliminates odors
- It’s naturally non-toxic and biodegradable
- It’s cheap
- Nearly everyone has a box in their pantry or fridge
To use, sprinkle baking soda directly onto your roots, rub in with fingertips, let sit as long as you can stand it (5-10 minutes), and brush through.
Add charcoal powder, cocoa, carob powder, or cinnamon for dark hair or cinnamon, beet root powder, or hibiscus powder for red hair.
You can also mix baking soda with a starch plus darkening agents and essential oils to create a gentler and effective DIY dry shampoo.
4. Natural Baby Powder
Baby powder is fantastic as a dry shampoo alternative.
However, choosing a natural, non-toxic brand is essential. The reason is that conventional baby powder contains talc, which is known to contain cancer-causing asbestos.
So, skip the traditional stuff in favor of natural, non-toxic baby powders made from starches, clays, and pure essential oils.
To use, shake on, rub in, wait 3-5 minutes, brush through.
Add appropriate darkening agents (charcoal, cocoa, cinnamon, beet root powder, hibiscus powder, etc.) as needed.
5. Apple Cider Vinegar Spray
You may have heard of using apple cider vinegar (aka: ACV) as a shampoo and conditioning substitute, but did you know it can also work as a dry shampoo?
This DIY wonder contains natural acetic acid, which harbors powerful degreasing properties.
It also has natural drying, shine-enhancing, and deodorizing properties, and can be applied directly to your roots.
To use, fill an empty spray bottle with ACV, add essential oils if desired, and spray directly on roots, let dry, and brush through.
Let dry, and you’re ready to go!
Notes:
- If straight ACV is too harsh or you have very dry, damaged hair, dilute 50:50 with water
- Apple cider vinegar contains natural acetic acid, a lung irritant when sprayed. Its use as a spray is not recommended if you have a lung condition.
6. Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is legendary for its natural hair lightening properties, and it can also be used as a dry shampoo substitute.
Lemon juice, like all citrus, contains natural citric acid, which, like acetic acid in vinegar, is a powerful degreaser, deodorizer, and shining agent.
Plus, it has a more pleasant scent than vinegar.
To use, fill a spray bottle with straight lemon juice and spritz on roots. Let dry and brush through.
You can also take a cut lemon and rub it directly onto your roots.
Notes:
- Citric acid is NOT a lung irritant. Therefore, this method can be used by anyone.
- If you have very dry or damaged hair, dilute the lemon juice 50:50 with water.
- If you want to take advantage of lemon juice’s hair lightening properties, spend a few minutes relaxing in the sun to achieve a sun-kissed look (this may take a few applications, but it does work). You may want to avoid lemon juice if you have darker hair to avoid this effect.
Related reading: 8 Essential Tips For Your Best Summer Hair
7. Blotting Papers
Oil blotting papers work great for skin and hair!
To use, apply the papers to your roots and blot up excess oil. That’s it!
This works great on its own, or can be combined with other dry shampoo substitutes for very oily hair.
8. Oat Flour
Oat flour, made by grinding rolled oats, has natural oil-absorbing and shine-enhancing properties.
It also has a more neutral color effect on hair than starches or powders, making it a potentially better solution for dark or brunette hair types (although you may still wish to add color enhancers).
To use, sprinkle oat flour directly onto your roots, let it sit 5-10 minutes, and brush out.
Note: other flours, even All-Purpose flour, Whole Wheat Flour, or Gluten-Free flour blends will work in a pinch!
9. Natural Clays
If you’re a skin care DIYer, you’ll likely have some clays on hand for making face masks or detox packs.
These same clays, such as:
- French green clay
- Bentonite clay
- Kaolin clay
- Moroccan clay
- And Charcoal for black or very dark hair
All make perfect dry shampoos.
To use, just sprinkle on, let sit for 5-10 minutes, and brush through.
You can also add these clays to starches or flours to enhance their oil-absorbing properties and for color enhancement.
Related reading: 4 Reasons You Should Incorporate Charcoal Into Your Daily Routine
10. Powdered Herbs
As mentioned in the introduction, various natural substances, including powdered herbs, have been used for centuries to promote hair health, growth, shine, and cleansing.
If you take herbal supplements or make DIY personal care products, you may even have some of these in your natural medicine or tea cabinet:
- Amla powder (aka: gooseberry)
- Orris root powder
- Shikakai powder
- Soapberry powder
- Quinoa powder
All these herbs have natural cleansing properties and absorb excess oil; some, like amla, have color-enhancing properties.
They can be used alone or combined with the other dry shampoo substitutes in this article.
11. Arrowroot Powder
Arrowroot powder is one of the original dry shampoos used in the Victorian period. It is still a top ingredient in DIY and pre-made dry shampoos.
Like starches or flour, it can be used alone or combined with color-enhancing ingredients.
To use, sprinkle on, let sit for 3-5 minutes, and brush through.
12. Cornmeal + Salt
This hack has become a well-known dry shampoo substitute that works for all hair types and requires no additional coloring agents.
To use, combine half a cup of cornmeal with 1 tablespoon of salt. Pour into a shaker and sprinkle onto the scalp. Let it sit for 5-15 minutes. Brush through.
Dry Shampoo FAQs
Q: How often should you use dry shampoo?
A: Dry shampoo is very drying and should be used as an occasional substitute for wet shampoo. 1-2 times a week is typically fine for most hair types. Ask your stylist if you aren’t sure.
Q: When should you use dry shampoo?
A: Use dry shampoo when you don’t have time to shampoo your hair or need a little refresher between shampoos.
It’s also great to take camping or on trips.
Q: What’s the best dry shampoo for a sensitive scalp?
A: Opt for ultra-gentle arrowroot or starches vs. baking soda, lemon juice, ACV, or clays. Also, take care with powdered herbs and essential oils, which may irritate a sensitive scalp. Asking your dermatologist might give you better insight.
Q: What essential oils are best for dry shampoo?
A: Choosing essential oils that balance oiliness, such as tea tree, lavender, lemon, rosemary, and sage, can make your dry shampoo work (and smell) even better.
Q: How long does dry shampoo last?
A: The effects of dry shampoo generally last about a day, but you may need to reapply depending on how oily your hair is, physical activity, the climate, how much you used, etc.
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