DIY Dry Shampoo For Light AND Dark Hair

I recently stumbled on an amazing DIY for homemade dry shampoo. I found it on Wellness Mama and it has a recipe for shampoo for light hair, as well as one for dark hair. She even included a recipe for a Wet/ Dry Spray Shampoo for light and dark hair.

As someone with dark hair- I find it difficult to find a dry shampoo that I love. Most of them make me look like my roots are a whitish-grey colour (not really a sought-after look for me). I use Beyond The Zone's Rock On- dry shampoo for medium to dark hair at work on my bride's and bridal parties, but I find it lingers in the air and don't love using it at home for my boys to inhale.

But I DO love to use dry shampoo. Partly because I am a busy Mom of 3 and don't have time to wash/style my hair each day. 

Partly because I am a hairstylist and know that washing/styling your hair every day can be damaging for your hair- as well as causing your hair to OVER-produce oil if it is getting over-washed.  

Partly because after I had my 3rd baby, my hair has fallen out and become SO fine and gets greasy oh-so-quickly (I used to be able to go 5 days between washing- now I can make it 2 WITH dry shampoo).

Partly because I want to be 'greener' and use less water/ shampoo. And partly because well...laziness, I guess. ;)

That's why I was beyond elated to find these homemade dry shampoo recipes. 

DIY Dry Shampoo For Light Hair 

1/4 cup Arrowroot or Cornstarch

An old makeup brush or salt/sugar shaker

10 drops essential oil (optional)

Add the oil to the powder and store in a jar or shaker. Brush or sprinkle powder on roots and brush or comb through hair. Style as usual.

DIY Dry Shampoo For Dark Hair

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

2 tablespoons Arrowroot or Cornstarch

An old makeup brush or salt/sugar shaker

10 drops essential oil (optional)

Combine cocoa powder with arrowroot or cornstarch. Add the oil to the powder and store in a jar or shaker. Brush or sprinkle powder on roots and brush or comb through hair. Style as usual.

DIY Wet/ Dry Spray Shampoo For Light Or Dark Hair

1 cup warm water

1/4 cup Arrowroot or Cornstarch

1/4 cup vodka, rubbing alcohol or witch hazel

essential oils or a spritz of perfume to scent (optional)

Combine ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake to mix. Before each use, shake again and spritz on roots. Let dry and style as usual.

Tip from Wellness Mama: if you don't want to add the cocoa for dark hair (but seriously, who wouldn't want their hair to smell like chocolate, people???), add the mixture for light hair the night before or at least a couple of hours before leaving the home. That way, you won't walk out with grey roots.

Well, I for one can't wait to try these recipes. I hope you are excited to try one or two yourself.

Save time, money (homemade dry shampoo is about 95% less expensive than store-bought), and be green. Try some homemade dry shampoo!

Peace.

For The Home- Second-Hand Stuff In My New Kitchen

I recently bought my first home. Well, the first home that I own all. by. my. self.  

I'm quite proud of it, but it really does need work.

Some of the work I was able to do before I moved in, with the help of many friends.

Some of the work I continue to chip away at, when I can find some time....which is tough with 3 boys- let me tell you that! Like the work that I did on my Pretty Powder Room (I found pretty much everything I needed at the ReStore for that project).

In this post, I want to let you in on what I've done in my kitchen. So far, it's only cosmetic... I hope to paint out my cupboards and redo my counter tops (I'm considering concrete?!?), and install a 'real' back splash.

But for now, here is my kitchen/ dining area that I love.

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

For now, I've freshened up this space with a couple coats of paint, some blackboard paint next to the fridge (an area that the kids LOVE!), and a faux-brick wallpaper back splash (from this locally-owned wallpaper shop).

And I love the way this little sign looks above my stove that I picked up at Value Village a couple of years ago for $2.99. 

Before:

After:

 In my dining area I obviously painted, and changed out the light fixture. I absolutely fell in love with this Wagon-Wheel Chandelier that I found on kijiji for $50. My pantry I bought from a friend who needed the space for around $40, I believe. And my table and chairs I also snapped up on kijiji... post on that here. (Since this photo was taken, I have also put down some barn-wood-type flooring and painted out my trim white).

In my dining area I also found a new use for an old shutter that I used to have as a bulletin board here... it is now an extremely useful coat rack for my back door. I found these mis-matched-yet-match-ey door knob 'hooks' at The ReUse Center.

I wrote a blog post about other fabulous uses for old shutters here.

That's all for tonight, friends. Hope you were able to get some great ideas for using second-hand items in your own home.

Thanks for reading.

Blessings.