How to Make Shampoo From the Aloe Vera Plant
A shampoo with aloe vera helps moisturize damaged hair. Harvesting gel from your own aloe vera plant makes this homemade shampoo more cost-effective and green than purchasing prepackaged aloe vera shampoo. Learn how to harvest the gel from a fresh plant and use the beneficial gel in your own shampoo.
Things You'll Need
- Castile soap
- Aloe vera
- Vegetable oil
- Glycerin
- Measuring cups
- Air-tight container
- Serrated knife
- Cutting board
Instructions
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1
Cut a large, wide leaf off an aloe vera plant.
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2
Hold the cut leaf right side up over a sink, allowing the dark, red resin to drain out.
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3
Place the leaf on a cutting board.
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4
Hold your knife parallel to the cutting board and slice away the top layer of the leaf.
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5
Slice away the right and left sides of the leaf.
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6
Carefully slice away the bottom layer of the leaf, separating the gel from the skin of the leaf. Place the aloe vera gel in a container.
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7
Combine 1/4 cup of the aloe vera gel, 1/4 cup liquid castile soap, 1/4 tsp. vegetable oil and 1 tsp. glycerin in a second air tight container.
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8
Mix the ingredients together. Seal the container if not using right away and store at room temperature.
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9
Apply to wet hair in the shower. Allow the shampoo to sit for a few minutes and rinse away.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Shake the container of shampoo before using.
Be very careful when slicing the aloe vera leaf. You don't want to cut yourself and you don't want to cut away too much of the beneficial gel.
