Friday, November 18, 2011

DIY: Dry Shampoo Spray


Dry shampoo. Have you tried it? Its what you use when you need to wash your hair yet don't have time to take a shower. I think everyone has encountered this dilemma once or twice.

Today, I'm going to teach you my rendition with 3 simple ingredients you should already have. If you don't, then they can be found in any grocery store.

This recipe came to my mind a couple days ago when I realized my hair needed a spruce up, yet I didn't have the time for an actual hair washing. It felt like a AHA! moment, as a little lightbulb turned on in my head. 

I have to say that this Dry Shampoo isn't dry at all. But like the name says, it's a spray. I kept the dry part in because its a familiar name/product and it gives the same results.


What you need:
1 tbsp of cornstarch
4 tbsp of water
1 tbsp of rubbing alcohol ( I used ethyl, found it at Walgreens) 
small measuring glass, cup, bowl...whatever.
a small spray bottle (shown in first picture)

Mix it all together, pour it into your spray bottle and shake it up!

To Use:
Spray in on your scalp, in your hair and anywhere the your hair needs to be de-greased. You do not need to drench your scalp, just dampen it up. 

Side note: cover or close your eyes, alcohol in eyes is not fun. Also, if you don't like to the use of alcohol in your hair products( i.e. hairspray) then this DIY might not be for you.

Run a comb or your fingers through your hair to distribute it evenly.

Let it air dry or quickly blast your scalp with a hair dryer, which is my favorite method. We are going for speed here. 

Repeat if necessary.

 All done. Rejoice! you can go another day without washing your hair, and no one will notice.

Why it works,
Both alcohol and cornstarch are de-greasers. Cornstarch does not dissolve fast so you will notice that after the water has evaporated the cornstarch will still remain. Pretty neat, huh!

I hope you like this. Let me know how this worked out for you. 

After-thought: I only recommend using this at max once a week. You know, for the day you really should've taken a shower but didn't. We've all been there.I'm also working on a couple of different versions of that don't include the alcohol, so stay tuned, or come back again. 

92 comments:

  1. Geesh... is there ANY?thing you can't do! MUST try this! :)

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  2. Rach, Try it! its easy and gives you instant gratification.=)

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  3. I have the mint smelling rubbing alcohol...do you think I can use that?

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  4. does this make your hair smell bad?

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    Replies
    1. http://www.ehow.com/how_5610841_add-fragrance-isopropyl-alcohol.html
      you can make the alcohol smell better! :)

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    2. Rubbing alcohol is scentless once it evaporates.

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  5. could to make a larger batch to have on hand, or would it evaporate too much?

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  6. Does the cornstarch still dry white. I have brown hair, I don't want to have white stuff all over in my hair!

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  7. i doubt it would make your hair smell bad. alcohol has a strong smell but it is used to sterilize the skin and i think it would kill odor. I will have to find some of the mint rubbing alcohol jessica mentioned. I think that will be perfect. thank you for this idea. I have oily hair and skin and i will def try it out! i have used baby powder as a quick fix before and now ive been using fresh start by tresseme but it is expensive compared to this!

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  8. Just fork over the cash and buy dry shampoo at the store. It smells good and you don't need a hair dryer. The BEST is Big Sexy Hair's dry shampoo. I feel like this recipe would just be a big hot stinky mess on your head.

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  9. To answer questions:
    It does not stink after it evaporates First: Your only using a faction of alcohol to water, so its not like your putting straight alcohol on your hair.

    Second: If you've used alcohol you know that it evaporates as does the smell. Since there is no fragrance in it, your not going to smell it after it evaporates.

    When I put straight cornstarch in my hair it does make my hair look lighter at first , but eventually it soaks up the oil and you can't tell a thing. Because you are spraying a fraction of the cornstarch on your head your not going to be left with cornstarch dandruff. This, of course, has been based off of my experience in using it.

    You don't need a hair dryer for this, but it will speed up the process. I've used this several times and I think I only use the hair dryer for 30 sec-1 minute.

    Ok for a big batch, I would have to experiment with how long it would last. This recipe will last a while because you really don't need that much on your hair.

    I hope this helps!

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    Replies
    1. Can you use apple cider vinegar instead of rubbing alcohol or witch hazel? I heard apple cider vinegar has amazing beauty benefits

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  10. is there a substitute for cornstarch? I'm allergic to corn, baby powder makes blisters on my feet, so I'm leary to try this.

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    Replies
    1. use arrowroot powder. should give the same results :)

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    2. I use arrowroot powder instead of cornstarch in lots of other recipes and diy items--so far they have all worked out well!

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  11. I doubled the recipe only because I wanted to somewhat fill my 6oz spray bottle ;) I also went ahead with the mint rubbing alcohol...I'll report back after tomorrow morning...I fully planning on being lazy and not washing my hair ;)

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  12. Also...I just gave my 65 lb Boxer a bath and I wish I would have thought about it earlier, but I bet this would work great on animals too??? At least to freshen them up in between baths or grooming sessions ;)

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    1. I'm no expert on dog products, but I wouldn't use this on my dogs, especially short-haired breeds like Boxers. Dogs may have problem with odor, but not greasy fur. Something that masks odors but retains moisture would be good for dogs, but not something that will dry out their skin. That's why you shouldn't even use regular people shampoo on dogs.

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    2. My mother has been a dog groomer for over 35 years, and has worked in a vets' office for 10 years out of that time. You shouldn't bathe a slick-haired dog that doesn't require a cut any more than 4 times a year. In all of these years, if the dog starts to smell like...well...a dog, then just spray a little bit of your favorite fragrance on them behind their head (where you would place their flea medication). They DO make animal cologne, but it has no less alcohol than those made for humans. Also, creating a spray with a small of coconut oil. It's actually really good for them, so it won't hurt them at all, and it smells good. :)

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  13. Jessica- please let me know your results, also where did you get your mint alcohol?

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  14. Arrowroot might be a good substitute for cornstarch, but I would have to get some to test it out. Cornstarch does not de-solve fast in cold water. So it has a consistency that is different then flour ,which would not be a good wet substitute.

    I would have to play around and get to you on this one.

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  15. Just made some and tried it! So gad I repinnedit for all my friends! Lol

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  16. You can buy menthol alcohol at CVS!

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  17. I have seen cornstarch alone used the same way - use a big make-up brush to apply it to the roots and then towel out to remove the white powder. Seemed to work, without the alcohol.

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  18. Alcohol is terrible for your hair. It dries it out and damages it. I wouldn't recommend using this often, if at all.

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  19. This seems like a perfect alternative to the store versions which are filled with chemicals and things that really shouldn't be inhaled.

    I also have oily hair and skin, even with regular and proper hygiene practices. Because of this I think using a bit of alcohol would help give your scalp a refresh and break down a little bit of oil build up.

    I say well done Danielle!

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  20. Baby powder does the same thing. Sprinkle on.... brush out. :)

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    Replies
    1. I have dark hair and baby powder makes my hair look weird. This doesn't because of the water involved.

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    2. baby powder = cornstarch. that's why :)

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    3. I mix cocoa powder with cornstarch to get rid of the white in my brown hair.

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  21. Alcohol is really bad for your hair!! I would just use baby powder!!

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  22. Thanks Kate! And I think you hit on the mark, this is a different alternative to the store bought product that has way more chemicals then just alcohol.

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  23. Can't wait to try this. My daughter has extremely oily hair and have used many store bought products that are full of.chemicals.

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  24. My hair gets greasy when i flat iron my hair! Just made some up and going to flatten my hair tomorrow! Hope it works!!

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  25. Awesome idea! I have been using baby powder for those lazy days but was confused as to why my hair hasn't grown much in the past couple of years... Figured out the baby powder clogs the hair pores and prevents growth!!!! Thanks for this idea :) will be trying tomorrow!!!

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  26. Rachel- I didn't know baby powder did that! I personally can't handle the smell of baby powder so that's why I've never used it.

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  27. I have really curly hair, so when I straighten it, I like to keep it for more than a day, this helped soooo much with the extra grease! love it!

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  28. Alcohol in the hair is not a good thing. It dries out the hair leaving it brittle and frizzy. Don't use this!

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  29. Seriously? People that are saying that alcohol is bad for the hair because it dries it out: That's sort of the point here! As someone who really can't go a day without washing because of the oil, I'm all for completely drying out my hair every once in a while. This isn't meant to be an every-day thing. It's meant to be a substitute in a pinch. It's not the end of the world to use this once in a while.

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    1. I agree with you 100%!!!! I have very oily hair, and I love the idea of something that will dry my hair out a little bit now and then.

      Also, I use all Bumble & Bumble products, and I checked the labels and they ALL have alcohol in them. They're the best products I've ever used, and I pay a pretty penny for them. So I don't see how this could be that bad for your hair, as long as you're not doing it everyday.

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  30. Theres alcohol in majority of shampoos...so whats the diffrence? Like it says above...if u dont like using alcohol then product may not b for u.

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  31. Thanks for this. My hair is so greasy after one day, usually by evening, truth be told. I hate it!

    This is a good alternative, considering what a lot of people purchase in the store has way more than alcohol (unsafe chemicals). As for baby powder, done that and it is not as convenient as it sounds. My hair looks really gray when I use it. Not to mention baby powder has it's own problems, if you breathe it in it could cause serious lung damage! Talc based is worse. But either way it's easy to inhale and a little alcohol in the hair is preferable to lung damage.

    I'm going to have to try this out.

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  32. you can also use baking soda, water, and vodka or diluted apple cider vinegar

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  33. As a stylist this saddens me that stylist are not doing their job to educate their clients. An oily scalp is caused by overactive glands when you use a product with some kinds of alcohol (not all alcohols are bad; suchas grain alcohols) or anyother

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  34. Drying agent, is a fix that may appear to be temporary butactually those glands are working even harder now to soften the scalp, which then tends to make hair even oilie. There are some good professioal lines that do not add all the chemicals that the store boughten products do. Most products contain petrochemicals in them which causes build up on the hair and scalp. There is some good dry shampoos out there that do not have the harsh chemicals . The line I would recommend looking into is Eufora, no petrochemicals or other harsh chemicals. You can find Eufora.net and go to salon locator for a Salon near you. These salons usually have educated stylist that know how to assist you in giving you beautiful, healthy hair and scalp.

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  35. I came back on to get the "recipe" for making this. My comment is directed at the stylist. Some of us use no products in our hair at all. And our hair still gets the greasies. Certain things can make it worse, like fidgeting with your hair a lot during the day. This can stimulate the oil production from what I was told. However, my oldest has the same issues and he doesn't wear any hair product at all. We usually use Organic hair shampoos with no alcohols or any other bad stuff. We have switched shampoos many times. He also doesn't mess with his hair the way I do. His hair is just plain oily no matter what, and so is mine. So, I'm definitely down for trying this!

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  36. Is it just me, or are all of the negative comments posted by "Anonymous" ??? ;) Just sayin'... Lol

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    1. That's what I thought! I thought comments left were to add something they've tried or maybe just tonsay thanks! I needed something like this!:) it's inexpensive and useful! Baby powder does dry it out.

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    2. Ps,I have tried this DIY,and I love it! I used to get bed head,rock star,$18? But it sprays outmore whitish tint I'm sorry I can't backspace for some
      Reason:( I have bought very sexy Victoria secret 2 for $22 I think Amd they have lasted me a year!:) I send them
      Over sees to my navy BFF:) I like very sexy"if you can't do the DIY :)

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    3. Check your settings in blogger, you can block anonymous commenters and require everyone be signed in.

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  37. I am definitely going to try this. As for all the comments about whether it is harmful or not, I'm not planning to use it everyday for 2 weeks straight. Once in a while when you're in a time crunch shouldn't be that big of an issue...

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  38. This looks interesting, thank you! You can also use plain corn starch the NIGHT BEFORE, just put it into your roots with a powder brush and the whiteness should be gone by morning! Just refresh your roots with hairspray and off you go :)

    I have dark hair so using it in the morning left the white/gray hair that several people mentioned. Good luck!

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  39. If I am working outside in the yard or cleaning inside and don't have time to wash my hair b4 heading out to work, dr. app, or shop I will spray my scalp with Bactine and use towel to scrub then blow dry. I like the fact that it is an antiseptic and halts the growth of microorganisms from perspiration and how it feels BUT it doesn't absorb excess oil...

    Soooo I was thinking of adding some Bactine spray to the formula to add an antiseptic quality to the "Dry" shampoo...what do u think about that?

    Wonder if I could take this

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    1. You could get a good quality essential oil like rosemary, mint, basil, or tea tree oil. All will help with drying excess oil AND have antibacterial properties. Just avoid aloe, lavender or other essentials that would be moisturizing since that isn't the goal here. Just a couple drops is all you'd need so it lasts forever!

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  40. sounds good, but if you have colored treated hair I would reccomend substituting the alcohol as it will strip away color ( try BED HEADS DIRTY SECRET - dry shampoo $19 @ most salons- It rocks! )

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  41. I know this isn't the exact same thing... but I used to have extremely oily hair. I would sometimes wash it twice a day even because it bothered me so much. Then I found out that the more you wash it and dry it out, the more oil you produce. I started doing an olive oil treatment once a week and I can even go two days without washing my hair now and it looks clean still! All you do is take a couple tablespoons of olive oil and massage it into your scalp for a few minutes. Let it sit for 10-20 minutes, and then shampoo and condition as normal. I do this about once a week, although you could do it twice a month too. It also leaves your hair feeling so soft. I love it!

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    1. ahh i had a stylist tell me to do this several years ago. i definitely need to try it. my hair is super oily as well and it drives me insane.

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  42. I agree that dirty secret is awesome! This is for that morning when u wake up late and need a quick fix cause there's no time for that shower...lol. For the people with constant oily hair you should try Joico treatment shampoo. I have quit a few clients that have had oily hair problems and u just start with the shampoo and eventually u will need conditioner. This shampoo balances the PH in your scalp. Pretty amazing stuff!!

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  43. This is great! I think I will try this with Witch Hazel instead of alcohol, though. I'll let you know how it works!

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  44. What if you used witch hazel instead of alcohol?

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  45. So late to this party, but I'm excited about this. I've been using baby powder in my hair and it does make my dark tresses look "frosted" for an hour afterwards (i put it in my hair before bed so nobody sees, hehe).

    Also, if you have super greasy hair you might want to lay off the shampoo, believe it or not. Your scalp produces natural oils which are meant to be redistributed along the length of the hair to keep it healthy. I like to use a natural bristle brush for this. Shampoo is a detergent, and strips all that oil from your hair, so if you use it frequently your scalp goes into overdrive. If you shampoo less (or stop altogether) your hair will reach a nice equilibrium in a couple of weeks.

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  46. I have dark brown hair so I added cocoa powder so my scalp wouldn't turn white! Makes it smell nice too!

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  47. I think its great that you posted an inexpensive recipe for the dry shampoo. I've bought it but it doesn't last very long for as much as I pay for the bottle! To the various cosmetologists out there concerned with stripping someone's hair (as you color our hair with peroxides, ammonias, and alcohols yourself). This is a DIY board... it means do it yourself, not pay 10X the price it costs to make it on your own. Btw... cornstarch does not equal baby powder, though some baby powders have a specific type you can buy which includes cornstarch in it. If you think its the same, thicken your gravy with baby powder and tell me how it tastes please. Lastly, oily hair doesn't mean our scalps arent healthy... it just means our hair is producing the same natural oils that it normally does, but we don't have time to wash it! Thank you for saving people some money by posting this.

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  48. Can I had this premixed and let it sit? Or do I make it every time I am going to use the mixture?

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  49. I have also used cocoa powder. It smells good and works much better for medium to dark hair. I also will take my face powder and brush a bit of it on my part if I'm in a big hurry and don't have time to do much else. Works for those ponytail days. I don't think I would try alcohol because my hair is colored and I have extensions, but for the all natural girls, I don't see why not. I think most of us know not to use it every day. Once a week or occasionally won't hurt.

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  50. This is a great dry shampoo!! I have made it twice now. Both times I have added Bath and Body works body spray to make my hair smell good. It works so well!! Add about a teaspoon or two at the most. Believe me, it will retain the smell. Also I have noticed if you don't shake it daily or every other, the corn starch will settle at the bottom and harden. Great recipe!! Thanks so much!

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  51. Sofabellie- Cocoa Power is a great option for darker hair.


    April- Yay! I'm so glad you like it. I too have noticed that the cornstarch will settle at the bottom. That's probably why making small batches is the best option.

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  52. I saw this on pinterest and love it! You can also use baking powder for a dry shampoo. It takes away all of the grease and rubs right in. I have dark brown hair and I haven't had a problem with my hair looking "frosted". I am new to the conversation so this might already be posted.

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  53. I just tried this with cocoa powder and it worked great! I also found it on Pinterest. To all those who poo poo the idea, there is alcohol in a lot of hair products and I think it works much better and faster than the store bought product I tried. Seriously, I'm impressed! Will definitely use this while camping and when I'm feeling lazy :) Thank you!

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  54. Totally trying this! I've been told using dry shampoo works great for fixing 'hat hair' which I get a lot because I wear many hats :)

    Thanks!

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  55. Yay! Can't wait to try this!! Thanks for sharing

    I am addicted to dry shampoo. I used at least a can a month of Bumble and Bumble hair powder that retails for $42 for years and years. I am soooo glad that now suddenly all sorts of affordable brands are now selling different options for me. I use it because my hair is fine and my bangs looks greasy even a few hours after washing my hair. It not only allows me to skip a day washing but it thickens it up, creates volume and helps hold styles. However I really really miss the Bumble only because it proides an array of colors. Being that I have red hair, it definitely adds life to my color when it starts to fade and works great to cover up roots and extend time between colors. I have seen a few brands online offering colored powders but still always expensive and always a loose powder.

    Maybe I can figure out a way to add some color to this. I wonder if I could add some powdered make up to it? Sometimes I will brush on a bit of blush over my hair to try and counter the whitish tint from using white dry shampoo.

    I'd love any suggestions!

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    Replies
    1. How about adding cinnamon or some other red spice? It will keep it more natural and smell nice :-) I'm thinking of doing that for my red hair.

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  56. Oh I just now seen all the cocoa comments to make it darker... maybe chili power for red??

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  57. Has anyone tried it with Witch Hazel substituted for the alcohol? I'm wondering if it is as effective...

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  58. why can we only use it once a week?

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  59. I'm a regular user of spray gel, hairspray, mousse--all contain alcohol. I don't see how the amount of alcohol in this recipe would be any different.

    I wouldn't use this daily, but if I needed to stretch 2 day hair into 3 day hair, I'll bet it fits the bill. Follow it up with a nice coconut oil treatment and you should minimize any potential damage.

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  60. It's been just over two weeks since I had cranial surgery to remove a benign tumor behind my right eye and above my right ear. About 1/4 of my hair was shaved back and I haven't been able to wash my hair myself yet. This recipe is saving my sanity!!! I did add a bit of cocoa to the cornstarch to darken the mixture and instead of spraying it on I soaked a large cotton ball to soak the "oil slick". I blew it dry on low and it's FLUFFY again! THANK YOU SO MUCH for this wonderful FIX! Millie in Thousand Oaks, CA

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  61. I have been making a similar dry shampoo for years. I think it is wonderful you have shared this! As a Registered Aromatherapist here is a simple DIY to "spice" up this formulation:
    Lime Eu de Portugal
    Add to your alcohol
    FYI: (you can also use vodka or witch hazel)
    20 drops lime oil
    10 drops sweet orange oil
    50 drops rose oil
    10 drops lemongrass oil
    10 drops of bergamont
    Best to let marry in the refrigerator at least 14 days before use.
    Combine this essential oil infused alcohol (or witch hazel) with the distilled water and cornstarch and your hair will smell fresh and look amazing!

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  62. Will this recipe last for a while if I make several bottles?

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  63. Sounds good, def will try! my hair is greasy no matter what so i often turn to dry shampoo and as luck has it, im fresh out!

    btw i hope all the people on here talking about how bad alcohol is for your hair is realize that alcohol is an ingredient in the VAST majority of hair products, including shampoo and some conditioners as well. If you dunk your entire head into a tub full of alcohol quite often, then maybe you will have a problem. a negligible amount of alcohol on your roots really isnt going to do anything negative!!

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  64. Thank you for this solution. I've been fighting oily hair for years and I hate to spend $10 on a small dry shampoo bottle that lasts me less than a month. I did a review of this post with pictures to show how well it works. Check it out http://wp.me/p2JOfa-4R

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    possumhillfarms.com

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  66. How well does this work on African American hair?

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    1. I don't know from experience, you might want to try it at night once to see how you light it. I've also heard the cocoa powder is a good option for dark hair.

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  67. for a simple recipe, you can just sprinkle some baby powder in your hair, but not to much or you'll be gray headed. The scent is nice and no mixing required.

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  70. a little coconut oil, conditioner and essential oil drops of ylang ylang made it not so drying to the scalp or harsh and made it smell wonderful flowery honeysuckle scent!

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  72. Has anyone mentioned that washing your hair actually isn't all that good for your hair anyway? Especially if you color your hair. Sulfates in traditional shampoo actually dry the scalp making oil production worse. This is a good alternative to washing all the time. I would love to find something like this without alcohol, however the drug store dry shampoos all have alcohol in them too. Everyone is different, some people are going to be oily no matter what. I have switched to a sulfate free shampoo and I love it. Sulfates dry my scalp out and make me itchy.

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