you're out in the wilderness for several days, personal hygiene can go by the wayside in favor of more primitive methods like taking a dip in chilly lakes, using body wipes, or just going all-natural, but if you're a stickler for feeling fresh on the trail like me, then this simple dry shampoo recipe is just the thing you're looking for.
Pair it with one of the best smelling forest-infused essential oils I've ever had the pleasure of smelling, and you'll not only smell amazing but feel amazing too! Like a true being of the forest.
Camper's Cascade Forest Dry Shampoo Recipe
One of my biggest pet-peeves while on the trail is keeping my hair clean. If you know me at all, then you know that I have insufferably oily hair that can look dirty less than 24 hours after washing it.
A while back, I tried the no-poo method for a good few months, but my hair never came out of the transition stage which was really frustrating, to say the least. So, I sort of fell off the wagon and started using natural shampoo again, though I do try to wash my hair less often.
In between washes, I use a very simple dry shampoo that helps curb oil production and add a fresh scent to my hair and scalp. Overall, it has worked out really nicely!
Today, I want to share this "recipe" with you so that you can enjoy cleaner feeling (and smelling) hair while on the trail, while camping, and on all manner of backpacking trips.
The essential oil I chose for this batch comes from Juniper Ridge - one of the best companies I've come across for naturally made body care products that use sustainably wildcrafted ingredients.
When I say their essential oils smell like you've been transported to the forest, I'm not kidding in the slightest. How they manage to get that breath of resin, the scent of sunbaked forest loam and pine needles, the crispness of mountain air, and the spicy undertones desert lavender in one bottle, I'll never know.
But I'm hooked. Hooked beyond reason. I hope they never stop making them.
And what better way to use them than when out in nature.
Hence this cascade forest dry shampoo.
Here's what you need to make it:
• A container to hold the dry shampoo (this will depend on your needs as a backpacker, but since this shampoo is my "luxury item" I decided to reuse a dry shampoo bottle I had laying around. You can get a similar bottle here or use whatever container you fancy)
• 1oz cornstarch (can sub arrowroot powder)
• ¼ teaspoon calcium carbonate (this really sucks up oil!)
• 3 drops cascade forest essential oil (can sub with pine, cedarwood, balsam fir, etc.)
You can add these ingredients to a coffee grinder used for DIY purposes to blend the ingredients together, or you can simply whisk everything together in a glass bowl.
I use only a small amount of essential oil in order to keep the shampoo dry enough to use in the container I chose, otherwise it would clog the nozzle.
If you use a different container, you may be able to add more drops of essential oil, so play around with it and see what works best for you.
Also, if you have dark hair, consider swapping out some of the cornstarch with cacao powder to darken the shampoo.
Once everything is mixed thoroughly, pour the dry shampoo into your container and you're done!
To Use
Simple spray, shake, or dab a small amount of dry shampoo to oily roots and brush it through your hair using your fingers or a small boar bristle brush. I have one that made for beards and it's the perfect size to bring with me on the trail.
What has been your favorite dry shampoo recipe? What about your must-have luxury item on the trail? Please share in the comments below!
You may also enjoy reading:
DIY Dry Shampoo Spray for Oily Hair!
DIY Dry Shampoo Recipe
Essential Oils for Dry Hair
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