In a previous post I shared with you how to incorporate hair powder into your routine, whether to extend time between showers or (as in my case) in lieu of modern showers. History has shown that relying on methods that are compatible with your body’s ability to regulate itself are far healthier than reliance on modern drugstore beauty products. This contrast is highlighted in the example of Victorian-era women and their floor length hair compared to the hundreds of women today who struggle to grow their hair at all. This is also readily apparent with the Red Yao Women of China, not only of their famous haircare recipe but of the haircare practices that surround it (which I feel is something a lot of people overlook relative to the recipe).

Today I’d like to share with you how I use various plants and clays to wash my scalp and keep it healthy, allowing my skin and hair-roots to be calm and balanced, and to no longer experience the overproduction of oil as I used to whenever I had used shampoos. All of the ingredients I use for my hair rinse and hair powder recipes are as follows and are in no particular order:

• Clay: Bentonite Kaolin*
• Fruit: Amla
• Root: Maca, Ginger
• Grain: Rice, Corn
• Spice: Clove
• Rind: Orange

In a previous post about my hair-rinse recipe, I showed how I use the Amla, Maca, Ginger, Rice, Clove, and Orange to make a liquid that cleanses my scalp and provides nourishment and softness to my hair. When I go to make my hair powders I actually use a lot of the same ingredients because they’re just that good. I want to point out though that just because I make my own doesn’t mean I never use ones you can buy online. HandmadeHeroes Drop Dead Gorgeous (DDG) line of dry shampoos are excellent and I can’t recommend them enough as they’re clean, inexpensive, and effective while being easy to comb out of your hair and leave little buildup. This would be a great place to start if you aren’t yet ready to make the jump into crafting your own products.

Without getting too much into the science and herbalism, a lot of the ingredients I use are great at reducing inflammation, balancing the scalp, cleansing buildup, and providing healing benefits. The rice and bentonite clay in particular, as with corn and kaolin clay, are good at absorbing excess oils. WebMD and similar websites have a lot to say about each of these plants and I highly recommend doing some digging on them for yourself.

Before I go into my recipe, I want to point out that I have a different purpose for each powder I use. Mine is a powder I use for regular scalp maintenance if I want to alternate between this and the DDG, but more importantly it is a powder I can use to clean my head after I thoroughly oil both my hair and scalp with Jojoba (this being distinct from when I lightly oil just the hairs, which I do semi regularly). This is so I am not chewing through the DDG and I get to enjoy something I made myself. My recipe is intended to come out to be about 4 cups volume and it can be multiplied to higher quantities if so desired. Technically, measuring by volume isn’t as exact as measuring by weight, but I prefer doing it this way as it’s more convenient.

Hair Powder, for Daily Use and for Post Hair-Oiling:

• Bentonite clay (2 cups)
• Corn powder (1 cup)
• Amla fruit, powder (6 tbs)
• Maca root, powder (6 tbs )
• Ginger root, powder (4 tbs)

I don’t infuse my powders with any essential oils as I am sensitive to scents, so I just mix them up and place the final product into a Mason or Ball jar and it’s ready to go. Something to note: I also tweak the recipe at different times of the year so that my hair gets what it needs when humidity and temperature fluctuate with the seasons. Rice powder can also be a good substitute for the corn powder if you are looking to get more volume out of it. I don’t feel the need to do this swap because I currently alternate with the DDG I still have on hand, but this may change.

Remember, this is meant to be general guidelines and isn’t an absolute prescription that you must follow–rather, a starting place for you to take your long hair journey in the direction you prefer. Have fun customizing this recipe to suit your needs and your creative interests! Thanks for reading and take care 🙂

*Edit: April 2nd, 2026