How to Make Shampoo Naturally

You can easily make natural shampoos that allow you to enjoy your own customized “artisan” natural shampoos, to go green and organic, or simply to save money buy purchasing base products in bulk to have on hand for making shampoo from scratch. This eHow article shows how to make natural shampoos from a basic shampoo recipe that perform various functions: restore gray hair color, make hair shine, eliminate dandruff, bring out blonde highlights, stimulate hair growth, or simply smell wonderful. The main ingredient, liquid castile soap, is an inexpensive traditional base ingredient for washing hair made from olive oil, which is one of the best soap oils for the hair.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Make the basic recipe. Mix one fourth cup of distilled water, one fourth cup of liquid castile soap (often sold at natural food stores), and a half teaspoon of jojoba oil (also sold at natural foods stores.) From this base, you can make many more natural shampoos.

2. Make shampoo to eliminate dandruff. Add 10 drops of tea tree oil (found at natural food stores) to the basic shampoo recipe. Tea tree oil is know for eliminating the bacteria, fungus and yeast associated with causing dandruff. Used over time as an ingredient in natural shampoos, in about four weeks it’s been shown to eliminate all three of these causes.

3. Make shampoo to bring out blonde highlights. Add one tablespoon of lemon juice concentrate to the basic recipe, and trade the water for one fourth cup of strong chamomile tea sweetened with a teaspoon of real honey. Lemon, chamomile and honey are all known to brighten blonde hair and have been added to natural shampoos for quite some time. Add three drops of grape seed extract to help preserve the chamomile in this recipe.

4. Make shampoo to lighten hair gradually. Blend four tablespoons of baking soda in with the one fourth cup of water used for the basic recipe. Makes hair very bouncy and clean, and is especially good for oily hair. Those with dry hair may want to use the baking soda with the shampoo recipe in step five. Natural shampoos with baking soda used to be more common.

5. Make shampoo for dry hair. Trade the jojoba oil for avocado oil, and add one tablespoon of clear liquid honey to the basic shampoo recipe. Honey and avocado are well known for moisturizing hair and are popular ingredients in natural shampoos. Though not necessary, add a drop of true essential rose oil (quite expensive) for even more moisturizing and a delicious scent. Or, trade the one fourth cup of distilled water for rosewater (less expensive).

6. Make shampoo for oily hair. Add six drops of lavender essential oil and two tablespoons of witch hazel to the basic recipe – both of which are available at natural foods stores and make great additions to natural shampoos for oily hair.

7. Make shampoo to stimulate hair growth. Add five drops of rosemary essential oil and five drops of tea tree essential oils to the basic shampoo recipe. Both are used in natural shampoos and are known to sink deep into the scalp and revive circulation and hair follicles.

Tips & Warnings

• Most of these homemade natural shampoos can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature. Be a little more cautious with shampoos made from herbs brewed in water, using them quickly, or storing in the refrigerator if keeping them for a long time.

[nadinola]

on 8/26/2009 awesome. cool article!! 5* and recommended

[edieness]

on 6/14/2009 Impressive article on how to make shampoo.

[yellowstar2000]

on 6/9/2009 love your article!!