How to Make Homemade Botanical Shampoo

Nettle and rosemary botanical shampoo is a simple, natural alternative to the expensive shampoos that line retail store shelves throughout the world. Making your own shampoo can do more than save you money; it can also limit your exposure to chemicals, preservatives and additives found in many commercial skin, hair and cosmetics products. Store the nettle and rosemary botanical shampoo in a cool, dark place between uses for maximum shelf life. This recipe makes enough shampoo for about 10 days of daily use.

Things You'll Need

• ½ cup distilled water
• 1 tbsp. dried nettle
• 1 tbsp. dried rosemary
• ½ cup unscented castile soap
• 2 tbsp. liquid glycerin

Instructions

1. Bring the distilled water to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Add the dried nettle and rosemary and remove the saucepan from heat. Let the herbs steep for one hour.

2. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve, reserving the liquid in a small mixing bowl. Discard the herbs.

3. Add the unscented castile soap and liquid glycerin to the reserved water. Stir with a wooden spoon or glass stirrer to combine.

4. Transfer the nettle and rosemary botanical shampoo to a plastic squeeze bottle.

References

• The Green Beauty Guide; Gabriel, Julie; 2008
• Organic Body Care Recipes; Tourles, Stephanie; 2007
• Natural Beauty Basics; Byers, Dorie; 2001

Resources

• All Natural Beauty: Homemade Beauty Recipes
• Planet Green: Homemade Beaauty Products
• My Beauty Recipes: Homemade Beauty Recipes