How to Make Deep Cleansing Shampoo for Kids

Make your own deep cleaning shampoo.

Children need their hair shampooed regularly to keep it clean and neat, and a deep cleaning shampoo will take out all the grease and dirt. But they cry when the shampoo ends up in their eyes, so you have to be careful. A shampoo that doesn’t create the suds found in commercial shampoos can be the answer. With less suds there’s less eye irritation, yet it still cleans thoroughly.

Things You'll Need

• Water
• Saucepan
• Castile soap flakes -- available at health food stores
• Mixing bowl
• Wooden spoon
• Plastic bottle
• Teaspoon
• Essential oils
• Rubbing alcohol
• Rosemary
• Chamomile
• Burdock root
• Comfrey leaves
• Nettles
• Sieve
• Olive oil

Instructions

Making Basic Shampoo

1. Put one quart cold water in a saucepan. Turn on the heat and bring to a boil.

2. Measure out 4 oz. of castile soap flakes, and place in a heatproof mixing bowl. Use a bowl you won’t need again for cooking.

3. Pour the boiling water over the soap flakes, and stir with a wooden spoon until they dissolve. Let the mixture cool thoroughly. Then decant into a plastic bottle.

Enhancing the Shampoo

1. Add scent to the shampoo by using essential oils. This doesn’t alter the cleansing power of the shampoo at all, but makes it smell nicer.

2. Measure out 1 tsp. of rubbing alcohol, add a few drops of the essential oil of your choice and mix well. Add the mixture to the shampoo after the soap flakes have dissolved but before the liquid cools. Stir until it's mixed thoroughly.

3. Use various essential oils in different batches of shampoo, and see how each one affects you. Lavender, for instance, should have a calming effect, while citrus is good in the morning to perk you up.

Making Herbal Shampoo

1. Add different herbs to the water before pouring it over the shampoo. Boil the water, turn off the heat and add 1/2 oz. of the herbs to make an infusion. Let it steep for 20 minutes, then boil the water again.

2. Pour the water through a sieve -- to catch the herbs -- and over the soap flakes. Use a mix of rosemary with nettles, comfrey leaves and burdock root to create a shampoo that can put both dry and oily hair back in balance.

3. Add 1/4 cup olive oil to 1 cup shampoo for a formula that will restore shine to dry hair and protect it, especially if you’ve had long exposure to the sun or have been swimming.

References

• Happy Living: How To Make Your Own Shampoo, by Susan Pitman
• Craftbits.com: Home Made Herbal Shampoo