Seems like everyone has their own process.. I learned how to make seasoning salt using Ramp leaf, and my process is listed on my profile. I don't do any dehydration of the peppers or leaf when I do it.. Anymore than maybe letting it sit out in the air a little after rinsing and spinning it.
I cut the product into small strips and lay it on a bed of almost 2 cups coarse salt, reserving some to cover the material. I usually get the salt hot first, now, putting it in the oven on Low heat(varying depending on the finish I'm looking for).. Then I just let it sit in there until it's dry. Sometimes this can take 6 hours or more, depending on how you prepare the add-ins. I have learned not to mix it up now, as it works better to just let it sit till dry.. Mixing will cause the damp materials to stick to the pan, instead of infusing the salt. Higher heat will toast it more, burning it if too high. I run anywhere between 170F and 220F.. 220 requires a lot more tending, whereas 170-180 you can be easy. For me a lot of it depends on what other things I'm juggling while doing this, as I can't seem to do ONE thing at a time. I prefer the less smoky versions, but others who enjoy my salts prefer it dark.
I have experimented with the other ways, drying the product and then putting it in the salt, blending the ingredients first(what a mess).. But for Peppers and Ramp leaf, at least, this produces an inferior product to the method I described. Reggie's method is also good, but I don't feel there is much difference in partially dehydrated or not, when you put it in, except you might have more clumping, initially. This isn't just limited to the flavor either.. When you get the juices pulled into the salt, you often get some nice color with it. If I had more examples of the variants I'd picture them for you.. I promise it's a completely different look.
The blending actually isn't bad for the end product, but you will work a lot harder to get there and end up with something really similar anyway.. And you will absolutely have to regrind that, where they other methods you might get away with not, depending on what you want in the end.
For me, this is the way.
If there is any dry spices I want to add to the salt, I wait until after the 'drying' process is over, but I haven't experimented yet with adding it to it while it's still hot, as opposed to waiting till it cools.
My cleanup is a cutting board, knife(or shears), glass pan, plastic scraper, and a measuring cup. The grinder too, if I use it after.