A simple yet effective DIY dry shampoo for brown hair

Before we moved to DC in June, I gave my hair stylist carte blanche and walked out of the salon with a sleek side-parted bob. She convinced me that the cut would be great for summer because it would take less time to blow dry and I wouldn’t suffer hot, sticky hair on the back of my neck.

The one thing I didn’t consider before letting her chop off my hair was how to style it in-between washings. When it was long, I could throw it up in a bun when it started looking greasy and go days without shampooing and conditioning. This was helpful because, as a mom with two kids, I have precious little time to shower on a daily basis, let alone blow dry my hair.

After my haircut, however, I could barely gather my straightened strands into a low ponytail. And despite it being short, I still needed at least 30 minutes to wash, dry, and style it.

So I started experimenting with store-bought dry shampoo to keep my hair looking clean and smelling fresh on the days I couldn’t find time to shower. Some worked better than others at absorbing excess oil, but almost all left a noticeable white residue in my dark hair.

Instead of splurging on designer dry shampoo for brunettes, I decided to try making my own using ingredients like Asa’s baby powder that I already had at home. Today, I’m excited to partner with Johnson’s to share my DIY dry shampoo for brown hair recipe. Honestly, though, I hesitate to call it a recipe because it’s SO easy to make!

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Baby powder. Almost all the homemade dry shampoo recipes I found online included essential oils for fragrance, but you can save yourself the hassle by choosing Johnson’s baby pure cornstarch powder with calming lavender & chamomile or refreshing magnolia petals.
• Dutch-processed cocoa powder. Unlike natural cocoa powder (think Hershey’s), Dutch-processed cocoa powder has been processed with alkaline to neutralize its acids. According to my husband, that means it’ll be gentler on your hair because it’s pH-balanced like water.
• A small airtight jar or container. I found mine at The Container Store for less than $2.

How to make dry shampoo for brown hair:

• Combine two-parts Johnson’s baby pure cornstarch powder with one-part Dutch-processed cocoa powder.
• Mix with whatever you have on hand: a fork, a whisk, a random coffee stirrer from Canada, etc.
• Continue adding cocoa powder until dry shampoo reaches desired hue. Remember, it doesn’t need to match your hair color completely. You’re just trying to make it less white.
• Store in a small jar with an airtight lid.

How to use it:

The trick to applying dry shampoo is to tap it into the roots of your hair with a large blush or powder brush. (Tip: Before repurposing an old makeup brush, clean it with Johnson’s baby shampoo.) To prevent buildup, avoid applying it directly onto your scalp, and be sure to lift your hair in sections to get your mid and bottom layers, not just your part.

Gently massage the dry shampoo into your hair with your fingertips, then wait a few minutes, brush out, and style as usual.

Are you as lazy as I am when it comes to washing your hair? Do you have a favorite store-bought dry shampoo or would you try making your own?

PS: My quick and easy five-minute makeup routine.

This post was written in partnership with Johnson’s #MoreForYou campaign. As always, all opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that allow me to continue producing quality content for the blog.