How to Make Nontoxic Shampoo

With the concern about toxins in fragrances and many chemicals in common household and cosmetic products, here's at least one way to reduce the levels of harmful chemicals: make your own shampoo! By doing this you will help the environment in numerous ways: the energy required to make and transport shampoo; the reduction of toxins in the environment; the reduction of greenhouse gases which are a product of plant growth; and there are no shampoo bottles to be recycled, either!

Soapwort is so gentle that for hundreds of years museum conservators have used it to clean the most delicate fabrics in their collections. Yet it's easy to grow and harvest, and will make your hair gleam.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Ground or containers
• Seedlings or seeds of Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis)
• Pot
• Water
• Stove
• Bottle
• Label

1. Prepare the ground. Soapwort prefers full sun.

2. Plant seeds or seedlings of S. officinalis, which also goes by many folk names: Bouncing Bet (referring to the movement of washerwomen), Bruisewort, Farewell Summer, Fuller’s Herb (so-called because fullers used it to finish cloth), Joe-Run-by-the-Street, Hedge Pink, Dog’s Clove, Old Maid’s Pink, and Soaproot.

3. Wait for the soapwort to grow. It's very hardy, and is disease- and pest-free. When the plant is firmly established, proceed to the next step.

4. Dig up enough of the plant to provide you with two large double handfuls of roots, leaves, and stems. Don't worry, once it's firmly established it will regrow fast. Wash in cool water.

5. Heat a quart of water on the stove, but do not boil.

6. Add the soapwort and continue to heat twenty minutes.

7. Let cool. Strain the liquid into bottles.

8. Label the bottles (so that nobody drinks them) and refrigerate.

Tips & Warnings

• Soapwort will not lather like commercial shampoos. However, it will get your hair very clean.
• Use soapwort to launder delicate fabrics by hand.
• Do not drink soapwort--it can be toxic in large quantities.

[classicalgeek]

on 5/18/2009 I keep it in the fridge up to one month. Soapwort will clean fabrics very effectively and gently (museum conservators use it to clean centuries-old textiles). I don't know about using it from dried plants as here it's warm enough it doesn't die off, but my guess is it will be just as effective.

[laylastar]

on 4/17/2009 Great article!! :)How long can you keep it in the fridge? (Can you freeze it too, for winter months? Or make it from dry roots? Or can you keep roots/plants fresh in sand or heap of soil or woodpeelings?)Have you washed fabrics/clothes with it too,

[tokidoki]

on 4/13/2009 This is awesome! I haven't used regular shampoo in over 6 months (I use baking soda) but this sounds even gentler. I'm going to add this to my favs.

[TandLMommy28]

on 3/11/2009 Wow, that's a crazy but cool idea. I just might have to try making my own shampoo, thanks!

[Sidhartha]

on 3/11/2009 Great info didnt know you could make natural soap this way.