We’ve had 3 snow days this year. The first two were fantastic. We stocked up on treats and wore our coziest clothes all day and stayed inside and read and played games. It was like something out of Gilmore Girls.
Well.
Our third snow day was not so perfect. I had one sick kid, a toddler in a terrible mood, and the third just bouncing off the walls. I was tired and sore from working out and we were all just kind of off a notch or two.
Turns out all we needed to make two of the three happy (the third needed Sprite and saltines) was making this play dough. I used to make this way back in my babysitting days and it was just as fun as I remembered it. We have a plethora of unused beauty and personal grooming products from my husband’s work, plus a plethora of cornstarch from that time I waaaay overestimated how much cornstarch I was going to need for a recipe (plus a plethora of piñatas, but that’s irrelevant here), so we had everything we needed.
Let’s make some cornstarch conditioner play dough!
You’re going to need some hair conditioner and cornstarch.
There’s no need to use anything other than the cheapest (or free-est) stuff–save your Bumble & Bumble for your hair. But I would use something that smells good to you because this play dough will have a strong scent and it will stay on your hands.
Place the cornstarch in a large bowl and add your conditioner.
As I should know by now (and as you guys may have noticed), I perpetually underestimate how large my mixing bowls should be and I end up transferring them to a larger bowl later on. It works wonders for my dirty dish workload. So use a bigger bowl than you think you’ll need, and don’t think that only a Pyrex measuring cup will do the trick, because it won’t. Mix in the conditioner with your hands–it will just start coming together and it will be pliable and very, very smooth. You may need to add more conditioner as you go).
Use food coloring to color as desired. Keep in mind that food coloring may discolor skin, which is troublesome to some people. It’s non-toxic and will come off soon, but you might want to be mindful of it when deciding to add color or how much color you want to add.
Keep covered when not in use.
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Print2-Ingredient Silky Smooth Play Dough
Description
This silky-smooth 2-ingredient play dough can be made in just a few minutes with stuff you already have in your house–hair conditioner and cornstarch!
Ingredients
- 2 cups cornstarch
- About 1 cup inexpensive hair conditioner
- Food coloring (optional)
Instructions
- Place the cornstarch in a large bowl.
- Mix in the hair conditioner with your hands–it will just start coming together and it will be pliable and very, very smooth. If desired, add a drop or two or food coloring.
- You may need to add more conditioner as you go. Use food coloring to color as desired. Keep covered when not in use.
Notes
- Don’t use the expensive hair condition or lotion, but I do recommend something that is either scent-free or a scent that you/your kids like.
What if it’s more like shaving cream texture? Does that mean I need more cornstarch?
Yes most likely!
I really enjoyed making this recipe! I did have to add more cornstarch and conditioner to get the correct consistency I was wanting. I can’t wait for my toddler to play with this!
Awesome recipe, I love the way it feels and it’s so easy to make. It dried out so I added more conditioner and went back to nornal
Thank you! I couldn’t remember what the ratio of conditioner to corn starch was.
This was wonderful ! It left our classroom smell so clean and fresh!
I used Crayola paint instead of food coloring
If you add a little flour to this after you mix the cornstarch, and conditioner, it leaves you with the perfect, non sticky playdough texture!????
Can this recipe be used for crafts? That is to say, I want a nice fluffy smooth dough to make ornaments etc that I can leave to dry out once they are cut out and formed.
I’m not sure- I’ve never tried that before!
CAN I USE BODY WASH INSTEAD OF HAIR CONDISTIONER
No, you cannot
pro tip: if yall keep finding your DIY play dough dried out or in crumbles a day after you make it, try flour instead of cornstarch! 🙂
Made blue…pink n purple.. was so easy n the kid has been playing for hours with it.
When i added food coloring i put latex gloves on til was completely mixed. No skin color transfers lol
Me and my twins made this is was AWESOME!!! Came out perfect, we just followed the recipe. Our new favorite, easy recipe.