Dogs need pampering too, and this Homemade Dry Shampoo for Dogs will help you do just that! If your dogs love going outside during the summer, this DIY will come in handy and help introduce your furry friends to essential oils.
Dogs can pick up random odors you don’t want in your home, but sometimes, time doesn’t allow for a soak with our all-natural dog shampoo. This dry shampoo will refresh your dog’s fur and leave them smelling clean. If you’re short on time, you’re going to love this simple hack!
Table of Contents:
- Essential Oils and Dogs
- Toxins Found in Traditional Dry Shampoo
- Natural Dog Shampoo Ingredient 101
- Make Homemade Dry Shampoo for Dogs
Essential Oils and Dogs
Did you know that your pets can benefit from essential oils too? It’s true! Exposing your beloved pooch to essential oils can help calm them, speed up wound healing, and improve their overall health. While most essential oils are safe to use on dogs, my friend Janet Roark says there are a few that you should avoid using:
- Melaleuca (Tea Tree)
- Birch
- Camphor
- Wintergreen
Dr. Roark also says you should be cautious when using “hot” essential oils like:
This list is small compared to all the essential oils you can use on your pet. Introduce them to new oils slowly, and never use them neat! You should also use essential oils in accordance with your dog’s size.
The smaller the dog, the more you want to dilute essential oils! As with humans, therapeutic grade essential oils are always best.
Toxins Found in Traditional Dry Shampoo
Our pets deserve the best care possible! Their bodies react poorly to toxins, much like humans. Speaking of humans, using natural products on your pets benefits you as well since you’re coming into contact with them.
Keep your pet healthy by going toxin-free with their products! Here are some chemicals commonly found in traditional dry shampoo for dogs.
Talc
Dry shampoos need a powdery substance to help soak up excess sebum. Talc is a commonly used absorbant in many dry shampoos for dogs.
In some forms, talc can contain asbestos (1), which can cause cancer. Other less severe (but still awful!) side effects of talc happen when it’s accidentally inhaled. When breathed in, talc can cause lung inflammation, which leads to coughing and difficulty breathing. There are much safer ways to absorb excess oils and dirt! In this recipe, we use cornstarch to make the dog’s fur look freshly washed.
Synthetic Fragrances
Manufacturers add synthetic fragrances to help neutralize odors. Synthetic fragrances are horrible for animals and people.
Research has shown that most people react badly to at least one component of artificial fragrance. These reactions manifest in migraines, skin rashes, eye infections, and more. Unfortunately, there isn’t much transparency because of a legal loophole (2).
This recipe uses essential oils to create a refreshing scent and baking soda to help neutralize tough odors. It works well, and there are no adverse effects!
Natural Dog Shampoo Ingredient 101
This simple DIY is full of delicious-smelling ingredients to make your dog smell amazing! Here’s what you’ll need for this recipe.
Baking Soda: Baking soda is a fantastic odor neutralizer. It has the unique ability to absorb nasty odors and leave spaces smelling fresh! It’s also highly cost-effective and easy to find. You may already have a box in your pantry.
Corn Starch or Arrowroot Powder: Instead of talc, which can contain asbestos, we use corn starch or arrowroot powder. These ingredients soak up excess sebum that can make the fur look oily. Sebum helps dogs keep their coats shiny and soft, so you don’t want to use harsh chemicals that totally strip it away!
Lemongrass Essential Oil: The fresh scent of lemongrass essential oil is just the beginning. It’s also anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, making it an excellent choice for animals who have skin infections (3) and can also help relieve upset stomachs in nervous dogs.
This oil is one of my favorites to use in cleaning DIYs because it leaves everything smelling perfectly clean.
Lavender Essential Oil: Lavender is the classic calming oil! It can help heal burns, allergic reactions, and other skin irritations (4). It’s antimicrobial and destroys infections caused by fungi, including yeast. Try this dry shampoo if you have a furry friend who struggles with nervousness! It might be just what they need.
Make Homemade Dry Shampoo for Dogs
This dry shampoo comes together in just a few minutes! We like to keep ours in a glass shaker bottle for easy application.
- ½ cup baking soda
- ½ cup corn starch or arrowroot powder
- 3 drops lemongrass essential oil
- 3 drops lavender essential oil
- Supplies:
- Glass jar with shaker lid
- Add the baking soda and corn starch to a glass jar.
- Pour the essential oils into the dry ingredients. Replace the lid and shake well.
- To use, sprinkle dry shampoo on your dog, starting at their neck. Avoid their eyes!
- Work your way down their entire body and rub the mixture into the fur.
Step One: Add Dry Ingredients
Add the baking soda and cornstarch or arrowroot powder to a glass jar. We prefer using one with a shaker lid.
Jars like this are usually called “cheese shakers.” If you don’t have one on hand, you can use a glass mason jar and poke holes in the lid.
Step Two: Add Essential Oils
Add the essential oils to the jar, replace the lid, and shake until there are no clumps.
Step Three: Sprinkle on Dog’s Fur
To use this dry shampoo for dogs, sprinkle it on your dog’s entire body from the neck down. Be careful not to get it in their eyes or nose!
Using your hands, work the dry shampoo into the dog’s fur. Rub it in well. Allow the dog to shake off the excess shampoo. This simple process is enough to get your pup looking good as new, but if you really want to level up, you can groom them using a dog brush. Enjoy your lovely smelling pet!
Mama Z Pro Tip: This dry shampoo can help repel insects and fleas! If you want your pet to have further protection in this area, try our flea and tick spray made with essential oils.
