How to Make All-Natural Shampoo

Homemade shampoo ingredients

If you're worried about harmful chemicals in personal-care products, you can make your own. With increasing access to organic and natural ingredients---such as castile soap and essential oils---creating your own products is easier than ever. Making your own natural shampoo allows you to personalize its scent by varying the essential oils and herbs. Homemade natural shampoo is more cost-effective than manufactured organic shampoos, and you can concoct your shampoo recipes to deliver aromatherapy benefits and suit your specific hair needs.

Things You'll Need

• Saucepan Distilled water Dried herbs or teabags Castile soap Vegetable oil Essential oils (optional) Airtight container Apple-cider vinegar (optional)

Instructions

1. In a saucepan, bring 1 cup of distilled water to a boil. If you do not have distilled water, you can use tap water; however, the additives in some regional water supplies will negatively affect the quality of your homemade shampoo.

2. 

   Add 2 tbsp. of dried herbs---such as chamomile---to the boiling water. If you do not have dried herbs, you can substitute 3 to 6 herbal tea bags.

3. Steep the herbs in water---removed from the heat source---until the mixture is lukewarm.

4. 

   Pour the herbal water through a strainer to remove the herbs from the liquid. Return the liquid to the saucepan.

5. 

   Add 2 tbsp. of castile soap to the cooled herbal infusion. Stir well.

6. 

   Add 1 tsp. of vegetable oil to the mixture. Stir well.

7. Add 10 to 15 drops of essential oil to the mixture. You can mix complimentary scents---such as sweet orange and lime---to form a desirable scent or combine herbal attributes.

8. Pour the mixture into an airtight container, such as a glass bottle or used plastic shampoo bottle.

9. 

   Following use of the shampoo, rinse your hair with equal parts apple-cider vinegar and water. This will naturally condition your hair and smooth your transition to natural shampoo (though it is an optional step).

Tips & Warnings

• Research the medicinal and aroma-therapeutic properties of herbs to personalize your shampoo to your needs. For example, the scent of eucalyptus oil will help clear sinus congestion. Store your shampoo in the refrigerator for later use. Add freshly harvested aloe vera gel to the shampoo to restore damaged hair.

• Some herbs and essential oils are irritants; therefore, thoroughly research all herbs prior to use. Your hair may go into "shock" from using all-natural shampoos. Hair that is accustomed to chemicals will tend to tangle severely when exposed to natural shampoos. Prepare to wait 1 to 2 weeks for your hair to adjust. Meanwhile, using the apple-cider-and-water rinse will condition the tangles. Your hair may feel slimy while rinsing, but this is a normal phenomenon and does not leave an oily residue. Use with caution near cats, as essential oils may cause feline kidney damage.

Resources

• Shampoo Recipes
• Match Herbs to Hair Type
• Aromatherapy Shampoo Recipes
• Essential Oil Guide