Everyone associates cacao powder with baking or beverages, but it has so many more uses most people don’t think of. 

Cacao powder can bring depth to savory dishes, provide natural color to handmade products, and serve as beauty ingredients. 


Cacao Powder as a Dry Shampoo for Brunettes

One of the most unusual but practical uses for cacao powder is as a tinting ingredient in DIY dry shampoo for brunettes.

The idea is simple: oil-absorbing powders like arrowroot or cornstarch can reduce the grease from roots, while cacao powder helps darken the blend so it does not leave a white cast on brown or black hair. Dry shampoo works by absorbing sebum and reducing the shine between washes, so starches are usually used. Ideally, you’d want to choose our Alkalized 10/12 cacao powder for this option, since it’s low fat and a bit less aromatic and darker than the natural one.

A basic brunette dry shampoo blend can be:

  • 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder or cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon cacao powder
  • optional: a drop of essential oil for smell 

Regular aerosol dry shampoo sprays usually contain benzene (a carcinogen contaminant), butane/propane/isobutane (propellants linked to respiratory issues), and talc (potential asbestos contamination). They can also have formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, synthetic fragrances containing phthalates, and drying alcohols that could irritate the scalp. Since there is a growing interest in non-toxic products, this is a great one to offer customers. 


Natural Tint for Brunette Roots

Because cacao powder is brown, it can also be used as a temporary visual tint for dark roots. It is not a hair dye, and will not chemically bind to the hair, but it can cover a few gray strands when brushed lightly onto roots, or at least reduce the contrast. 

Of course, it should not be used before rain, sweating, or white clothing. 



Natural Coloring for Handmade Soap

Cacao powder can be used as a natural colorant in handmade soap.

It gives soap a warm brown color without the need of synthetic dyes. It also adds a subtle cacao scent, although this usually fades depending on the formula and process.

This works best in:

  • cold-process soap
  • melt-and-pour soap
  • natural brown-toned bars
  • coffee, vanilla, spice, or cacao-themed products

It is best used as a color accent rather than a major structural ingredient.



Cacao powder in savory cooking

Again, using cacao powder for things other than chocolate can seem strange at first, but once you try this it’s hard to go back. 

In savory cooking, cacao powder is used in small amounts to add bitterness, acidity, depth, and color.

Cacao has a long relationship with savory cooking, especially in Mexican mole-style sauces, chili recipes, and meat rubs. Culinary sources describe chocolate or cacao in savory dishes as something used in small amounts to add richness, depth, and complexity. 

Good savory uses include:

  • Chili
  • Mole-style sauces
  • Spice rubs
  • Marinades
  • Braised meats
  • Bean dishes
  • Bolognese sauces

In chili, 1–2 teaspoons of cacao powder can deepen the base without making the dish taste anything like chocolate. It works especially well with tomato, cumin, chili pepper, garlic, onion, and smoked spices.

In meat rubs, cacao powder pairs well with:

  • Coffee
  • Chili powder
  • Smoked paprika
  • Cinnamon
  • Black pepper
  • Salt

The goal is subtle bitterness and earthiness.



Body Scrubs

Cacao powder can also be used in body scrubs, usually combined with ingredients like sugar or coffee grounds and a fat source such as coconut oil. Cacao has long been used in the natural skincare world due to its high antioxidant properties. 



Natural Bronzing and Tinting

Because of its natural brown pigment, cacao powder can be used as a temporary bronzer or tint for light-to-medium skin tones. 

As with any other product applied to skin, it should be used sparingly and avoided on sensitive or acne-prone areas unless tested first.



More than Chocolate

Cacao powder is more flexible than most people think, since it’s a concentrated, bitter, aromatic ingredient with color, texture, and character. 

Most people associate only cacao butter for cosmetic uses, but when used intelligently, cacao powder can definitely play an important role in handmade beauty products, natural soap, and even the occasional brunette dry shampoo. 

If you’re exploring the wellness industry and would like to expand your catalog of non-toxic natural products, it’s important to choose the highest quality ingredients. We offer both conventional and organic certified products, always tested for purity.

 

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