Beauty Mythbuster: Does DIY Dry Shampoo for Brunettes REALLY Work?
I’m not sure about you, but I am a dry shampoo connoisseur. I try every brand of dry shampoo I come across — the powders and the aerosols, the ones specially formulated for your hair color that cost an arm and a leg and only last a few treatments. I have even tapped my DIY side and used corn starch alone, baby powder (when I was a blonde) and even bronzer to see which — if any — of these could actually amp up second-day hair. And let me tell you, the hacks are a loooot harder when you’re a brunette. So in our latest installment of Beauty Mythbusters, we’re putting a made-for-dark-hair dry shampoo recipe to the test. The secret ingredient: cocoa powder. Hmm… is it worthwhile for brunettes to make it themselves? Or will this concoction just make you smell and feel like a walking cupcake?
DIY Cinnamon Cocoa Powder Dry Shampoo
I ended up going with a delicious almost edible recipe that Eileen Chow made for our site last year, which includes only three ingredients: the cocoa powder I mentioned before, cornstarch and cinnamon (the original recipe calls for essential oils for a scent, but I wanted to try it without first). I liked how simple it was and the fact that I literally had everything I needed in my kitchen cabinet already, which made it feel like I was getting something for free — SCORE! Here’s everything you need to make this happen:
Materials:
– 1/8 cup cornstarch
– 1/8 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
– 1/8 cup cinnamon
Tools:
– measuring cups
– mixing bowl
– mixing spoon
– airtight container with lid
– makeup brush
Measure out each ingredient into a small mixing bowl, then whisk together to fully blend. You can store this in a glass jar or even a food storage container, or pretty much anything that can seal shut.
Step 1: Mix
Once your mixture is fully blended, use a makeup brush to apply the powder to your roots. Apply throughout your hair, not just on the top section, for best results.
Step 2: Put It On
Use your fingers to rub the product into your hair and scalp. Pro tip: It helps to flip your head upside down to let any excess powder fall onto the floor and not on your shirt.
Step 3: Blend It In
Use a fine-tooth comb or a bristle brush to brush the powder into your hair. This step will blend the powder in better so that there is no line of demarcation (you know, like when your roots grow out and look kind of the way my roots looked in the beginning of this post).
Step 4: Comb It Through
I was not initially convinced that this was going to be that awesome. I was nervous about the smell, the texture and the overall performance. But I have to say I was completely sold on this mixture. For one, it smells delicious! Like cake, and I reeeeeally don’t mind that now I smell like cake too :) The texture is actually less gritty than other powder dry shampoos I have tried, which is a nice little bonus, and best of all, IT WORKED! Not only did a little potion totally camouflage my roots, I also was able to go three days without washing my hair (which is a dream of mine!)
Does It Work?
Absolutely! I actually used this for a few weeks to make sure I was as into it for the long-haul as much as I was out the gate. I have the same batch I made in this post at home in my cabinet and I use it all the time. It works to absorb oils in my hair when it is getting dirty, and adds texture and volume to clean hair that is too soft and unmanageable. Plus, it totally doubles as a dark hair color root touch-up quick fix! Need I say more?!
