Stoked for this one, friends. As you know, I love tinkering in the kitchen with ingredients and making hair products that actually work really well. Here is DIY hair product success story.

Every so often, a game-changing hair product graces my hands. The first one was a thickening spray for blondes by…….I can’t even remember the brand. It is discontinued anyway. Then Vain had their own product brand and they made a shine spray called Glass Blower. It blew my mind into shards of glass.

Then, there was the B&B curl creme. Then Aveda anti-humectant pomade. Then Cusco-Murphy Alley paste (discontinued because Kusco and Murphy broke up) then, Deva Curl Set it free spray. Most of these products I still use to this day on clients, although many of them have been reformulated into slightly less great versions of their original selves.

As a consumer, re-formulation can be a real bitch because essentially you end up paying the same amount of money for a product that is no longer what you expected it to be. We fall in love with products because they are what they are and once in a while they are perfect for our unique hair. Until they get reformulated. Then they become something else. And no one tells you. You just start to notice that it doesn’t work like it used to.

One day, Murphy of Aussie product line Cusco Murphy started a line called KM. They launched with several products, one of them called Gritty Business.

Gritty business was the perfect blend of gritty sandy mud that gave the hair perfect dry texture and matte finish and never got greasy or too heavy. For short hair and textured styles, It worked like fine concrete dust works in the hair of Engllish brick-layers. Thick, gritty, perfection. And it smelled all earthy and great like Nag Champa.

Then one day, out of the blue, it smelled like dish detergent and felt oily and made the hair limp and sad. And I shed an internal tear for short fine hair everywhere. (At least we still have Pine Tar! Check it out:)

So I decided to figure out how to make Gritty Business myself. And I tried several different times. And then, I nailed it.

Now, I use it on my newly-short haired man and my fine haired kids and for mustache taming. No not my own! Although I’m almost 30 and I am growing one all of a sudden. This mud is the perfect all purpose product for making too-clean hair look a bit dirty but not in a greasy way. Think dry matte finish clay-wax. You are gonna love it.

Here is how to make the mud.

Rough it Up Hair Mud!

Here is what you need to get started.

A small container with a lid. You can use a small squatty jar of any kind. For this recipe, you will need at least a 3 oz container.

A tablespoon.

A pan to double-boil in.

A fine strainer.

You will need the following ingredients which can be purchased online or at your local Apothecary or natural foods store. These ingredients are great to have in your DIY hair apothecary so they are definitely worth the investment……..

At least 2 oz of raw Shea Butter

A chunk of beeswax ( We use about a tablespoon.)

Essential oil scent of your choice. ( I use Nag Champa oil)

A tablespoon of Myrrh Gum Powder
. ( A tacky resinous coarse natural powder )

A teaspoon of Arrowroot Powder
.

A teaspoon of 100% Pure Bentonite clay.

A teaspoon of Baking Soda.

Directions.

1. Assemble your ingredients.

2. Combine your powders and set aside.

3. Grab your strainer

4. Combine about an 2 ounces of Shea Butter with a tablespoon-ish chunk or scoop of Beeswax in a double boiler.

5. Slowly melt them together.

6. Slowly stir them as they melt into one smooth golden liquid.

7. Put the strainer over your liquid and pour your powder mixture into it. Slowly sift powder into liquid.

8. Use a fork to stir in powder until it is smoothly blended.

9. Add a couple drops of your scent and stir in.

Now, pour your mixture into your container and set aside to cool. It will be dark and muddy with a smoothly blended but grainy texture and a heavenly smell.

Let it sit in the fridge overnight to harden. Now, use a little finger scoop of it any time you need some texture.

Please try this one and share it. It is a really great natural hair product! YAY!

Want more DIY hair remedy inspiration? Check out Liquid gold curl butter, Sea Spray, Honey silk and shine, and Babe Air vinegar rinses!

XO, HTHG