11 Surprising Dry Shampoo Alternatives That Work Like Magic

Okay girls, here’s the universal truth, we all have bad hair days, even the biggest queens of Hollywood have. Especially, this harsh heat can turn your voluminous diva-ish hair into medusa’s and in the early morning haste, when all we girls can think about is reaching our office or college on time, who seriously have time to wash and condition the hair every single day? We understand your situation and this is why we have jotted down these ultimate alternatives to dry shampoo to help you on your bad hair day.

#1: Baby Powder

Before dry shampoo came on the scene, we only had this baby powder and we still have. So now you know that you can also use this as a dry shampoo as it is always cheaper and works well if you are going out for a couple of hours. This is the product we swear by on our bad hair day. Just sprinkle the powder on your oily scalp and rub in. Now you can style your hair however you want. An effortless substitute for dry shampoo!

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#2: Cornstarch and Cocoa Powder

Don’t be surprised, you heard it right. We are actually talking about cornstarch and cocoa powder mixture as a dry shampoo substitute. When you run out of every other option and want to fake that blow-dry hair look, then this homemade dry shampoo comes to your rescue. Apply cornstarch with a contour brush and if your hair is darker and brown in color then mix cocoa with it. It will also make your hair smell uh-mazing.

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#3: Blotting Papers/Paper Towels

Blotting papers do much more than just absorbing oil from your T-zone. Well yes, it also absorbs oil from your scalp too. And it also comes in handy, you can carry it literally take them anywhere with you and even put some in your pocket. Just part your hair in different sections and run the blotting papers along your roots. If you are out of blotting papers then take some paper towels from your office washroom to blot the oil. Works well in emergencies.

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#4: Hand Sanitizer

Ah well yes, hand sanitizer. Surprised right? A wonderful product both for hand and your hair. Just like when you are not carrying a water bottle and out of liquid soap to clean your hand and you use sanitizer, you can use it to get back those lustrous tresses. The alcohol present in it soaks the excess amount of oil. Squeeze some amount of it on your hand and run your fingers through your locks and your scalp. A perfect dry shampoo replacement!

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#5: Perfume

Another product which you might be using only for one thing, your body, but besides using it as a fragrance you can also use it to treat your oily hair problem. The same ingredient alcohol breaks down the oil on your scalp, leaving it smoother and less sticky. Apply your perfume or deodorant 2-3 inches away from the roots either by spraying directly or by spraying it on a hair brush, comb your hair normally and don’t let that greasiness take your charm away.

Photo Credit: Pexels

#6: Apple Cider Vinegar

Surprising right? Apple cider vinegar is not just an alternative to dry shampoo but also your regular shampoo for oily hair. And the best thing about this magical product is that it is great for all hair textures. Now you may be wondering how a foul-smelling vinegar could possibly make your unwashed hair look good right? Well that’s the beauty of this product. You don’t have to use it in pure form. Mix it well in five ounces of water in a spray bottle, section your hair and spritz at the roots and you’re good to go.

Instagram / @eculinario

#7: Salt+Cornmeal

Just when you thought salt is only for your food and bath therapy! Well this versatile crystalline mineral does more wonder than you can imagine and the results are heavenly when you add cornmeal to it. Take your old Parmesan cheese shaker or salt or pepper shaker for this mixture. Add one tablespoon of salt and ½ cup of cornmeal and shake the mixture well. Sprinkle it on your hair and brush out all the dirt and oil as you do so.

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#8: Cheesecloth

Loving this ultimate list of dry shampoo alternatives right? Next on this list is a product that you may never even have thought of. Yes, Cheesecloth! Well, this an age-old hair hack and your grandma probably know about this but as we are pulling away from our ancient remedies it’s our job to remind you of it. With this hack you are not only getting a creative and cool alternative to dry shampoo but you are also DIYing your own shampoo brush. Tightly wrap cheesecloth around your brush and brush your hair normally for one of a kind hair affair.

Instagram / @derondr

#9: Dry Clay

Dry clay acts as a dry shampoo and also leaves a fragrance in your hair. Because of the silica in it, it strips the sebum or oil as you may call it from the scalp, to give you that hair salon look. You can use any dry clay for this method- agar, green, white, red, powdered orris root etc. For a greater effect, mix milk powder and dry clay together for lustrous locks and soft hair. Apply it as you would apply other mixtures on your hair.

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#10: Arrowroot (Wet+Dry)

The basic idea of a DIY dry shampoo is to use an oil absorbing substance and Arrowroot is a natural oil absorbent. You can either massage it directly into your scalp or use arrowroot powder. Just take your old makeup brush, part your hair and apply. To make your own wet arrowroot spray solution, you just need 1 cup warm water+1/4 vodka+1/4 arrowroot and TADA! You have your very own spray wet shampoo.

Instagram / @zerowastedoc

#11: Oatmeal and Baking Soda

By now, we are sure you have become a pro in creating these mixtures just by reading this guide. And yes, you make this mixture exactly the same way. Grind your 1 cup oatmeal finely and add 1 cup baking soda to the powder. Empty baby powder or spice container and mix the powders thoroughly together in a bowl before you transfer it in a container. Sprinkle the dry shampoo on your roots and style your hair as you desire.

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Some Advice Before You Head on to Make Your Own Dry Shampoo

The mixture with cocoa powder, cocoa powder + cornstarch is more suited for dark hair, should be your choice and if you have lighter hair color, then go for salt+cornmeal. The trick is to choose your powders according to your hair color. Although, as these are natural home remedies, it won’t damage your hair even if you go for a different color base. If you have no option but to choose cocoa powder for your light hair color, then simply apply the mixture at least two hours before to give your hair some time to absorb it.

Some More Tips and Tricks for Better Results

You can experiment with these different mixtures to find out what works the best for you.

• If you want volumized hair (well who doesn’t want?) then use flour or prepare a mixture of flour + cocoa powder because flour sometimes tends to form clumps. You can try every possible flour, from potato flour to soybean flour to rice flour, to pick the best one for your hair type and color.
• If you fancy that Sephora hair mist but do not want to create a hole in your pocket then you can add dried flowers such as lavender, rose petals, amaranth etc for a scented hair mixture. Just keep the mixture for a few weeks before you put it to use.
• If you want instant fragrance, then you can always opt for essential oil. Just put a few drops of your favorite essential oil and prepare the mixture as you would normally.
• If you are having a hard time brushing off the mixture from your hair, then a faster and effortless way is to use a blow dryer.
• If you don’t have baby powder at home, then translucent powder would work exactly the same. Just use your old contouring brush to work your way instead of directly sprinkling it.

Well now you have it, the cheaper, natural and probably more effective alternatives to expensive dry shampoos.

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