Make the Softest 2 Ingredient Play-Dough at Home!
Looking for a fun craft idea to keep kids busy?
If you’ve been wondering how to make play-dough at home, you’re in luck! By using just two common household ingredients, this fun activity results in a super soft dough you can mold… and the best part is there is no cooking required.
Playing with it is soothing and calming, and it just so happens to be a fun way to reduce stress and anxiety for all ages. Win win! 🙌
Hip tips for making your own play-dough:
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- You can make as much play-dough as you’d like by using the ratio of 1 part conditioner to 2 parts cornstarch.
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- Lotion works too instead of conditioner, so you could experiment with using that instead.
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- If you use a scented conditioner, your play-dough will smell great too! You can also add a couple of drops of essential oils if desired.
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- We didn’t notice much color transfer to our hands after adding a few drops of food coloring, but this step is completely optional and you could omit it altogether if you choose. A second option would be to try using soap dye, which is less likely to stain your skin.
2-Ingredient Play Dough
PrintSupplies Needed
- 1 cup conditioner
- 2 cups cornstarch
- food coloring (optional)
Directions
1
Mix the conditioner and cornstarch in a bowl, and manipulate it until dough forms. It helps to mix it well first with a spoon before using your hands.
2
Add a few drops of food coloring to the mixture if desired. You could also split up the batch of white dough to create different colors with the food coloring.
3
Manipulate and play with dough. Store it in a sealed baggie when finished playing, and it could last about a week.
Note: This amount makes enough for 2 kids.
You’ll love how soft and cloud-like this play-dough is!
Can you believe how easy it is to make your own play-dough?! Better yet, it’s inexpensive and really fun, too.
I love using play-dough as a calming activity for both kids and adults alike. It’s such a soothing way to provide a little sensory input for fidgety hands, and making your own play-dough couldn’t be easier! I really appreciate that it comes together with easy-to-find ingredients you probably already have on hand, too.
Take a few minutes to relax and enjoy this fun craft with your kiddos!
Love slime? Check out all of our easy slime recipes next!
Fun! Love the at home ideas. Now if only I didn’t throw away the cornstarch dwelling in my cupboard for years only a month ago. 😭
Oh darn! Ha
Thanks! We had already planned to make this today!
Oh yay! Enjoy 😉
I’ve done this one in the past and love it. I add epson salt to it and had the kids make bath bombs as a way to change it up.
Thank you! Just matches two batches and divided into 4 colors! Worked great! My kids love it!
Made*
Yay! That is fun to hear Allison – thanks for sharing!
We’ve done cornstarch “chalk” pain this week, so this is a similar and perfect next step. Thanks!
Oh yay – enjoy!
Does this last longer if you refrigerate it when not in use? Thanks!
Has anyone actually used lotion instead? I would like to try this with the kiddos today, but I want to make sure it turns out first.
Just made this slime with lotion and it worked wonderfully!!
Just did it with my kids for the “experiential” hour of our forced homeschooling. Technically it’s not forced, they have no requirements…but with no school for the remainder of the year, I’m attempting to do 1/2 day of learning, and 1/2 day of my normal work from home. This project was a total hit! And cheap, too – extra bonus!
Oh Hooray! I’m so glad and thanks for sharing!
we made this just the other day! My kids loved it and it turned out so well! We are planning to make more next week. So inexpensive and fun!
Has anyone used shampoo instead of conditioner?
I searched online for ya and found mixed results. Some say it’s a sticky mess, and some say it worked. Let us know if you try. 👍
It didn’t work for me. 🙁 any suggestions?
Can you use anything other than cornstarch.
Hi Mia! When searching online, here are some substitutions that were recommended – keep in mind that these might change the consistency of the slime. 💞
Baking soda combined with shaving cream
Flour
Potato starch or corn flour
Thank for telling me that I was going to use powdered sugar