You can use various plants to make shampoo. Using natural substances is a good way to avoid the chemicals typically found in commercial shampoos. A variety of "soap plants" can be used to yield a natural shampoo.

To make a plant shampoo from the saponaria, or soapwort, plants: Boil 2 cups of ground saponaria in a quart of hot water for 20 to 30 minutes until the liquid is down to half its original level. Strain the liquid and use the saponoria plant shampoo with warm water to create lather. Work it through your hair.

Liquid made from soapwort plants can also be used as a laundry detergent, which is known to easily wash out grease.

Make an all-natural shampoo using yucca. Get a root of a yucca, peel off and discard the outer layer and cut the root into thin slices. Agitate the slices in warm water to create a lather and rub this all-natural shampoo through the hair.

Make natural shampoos using New Jersey tea soap plants. Rub a handful of young fruits, blossoms and the outer set of floral leaves of the New Jersey tea plant in a basin of warm water to work up a good lather and use it to wash the hair. A New Jersey tea plant shampoo works really well combined with saponaria and red clover.

Use soapnuts that come from the Chinese soap berry tree for natural shampoos. Place eight to 10 soapnuts in a cotton bag and close the opening by tying it closed. Place the bag of soapnuts in a saucepan with 3 cups of water and boil it for 12 to 15 minutes. Remove the bag and pour the liquid into an empty bottle. The mixture will be thin and does not create much lather. Be careful -- using a small amount will leave your hair clean, while using too much could result in dry hair.

Soapnuts can also be used in the laundry by placing a few soapnuts in a cotton bag or an old sock, tying off the opening and tossing it in the washing machine.