This DIY homemade herbal shampoo is a great choice for those looking for a more natural hair care alternative. You can choose to make it completely from scratch, or start with a natural base soap for a simpler recipe.
Making your own natural, everyday, hair care and skin care products is about self reliance.
At least it is for me.
It allows me to quickly whip up a batch of whatever I need, whenever I need it. Plus, I know exactly what’s in the product so I don’t have to struggle with those long, hard-to-pronounce words on the back of labels. Even some of the ‘natural’ products you pay high prices for don’t really end up being all that natural after all.
When it comes to hair and skin care, I try to keep the products I use to a minimum (mainly because I don’t like spending too much time getting ready in the mornings). I make my own body butter for winter to help with dry skin, a natural moisturiser for everyday use, as well as herbal lip balms and salves for cuts and scrapes.
Nourishing oils are usually enough for cleansing my skin, and beyond that, I keep an all-natural simple liquid castile soap for everything else. There’s not a whole lot I buy from the beauty care aisle at the shops…except for shampoo.
I’ve read posts about others who’ve raved about giving up shampoo and who love the “no-poo” method for their hair, but with my naturally oily hair, and my previous experience dabbling in this method, it just hasn’t worked for me. I’ve tried it, and several weeks in my hair was still slicked back with oil and glued down to my head…really not a great look.
For the past few years, I’ve been using a natural shampoo bar that I buy from the store that I really like, but the only problem is it’s pretty expensive. I’ve been searching for quite a while, looking for an alternative to switch this last commercial product out of my bathroom and transition to all homemade.
When I discovered this natural herbal shampoo recipe, I thought I’d just trial it out and see how effective it would be on my hair. It ended up doing wonders and I loved how customisable it was, and how I could change up the herbs depending on the benefits I wanted for my hair.
This herbal shampoo recipe is non-toxic, moisturising, smells and feels great, and is super easy to make.
I prefer to store the shampoo in the fridge between uses, as, with no preservatives added to this recipe to make the shampoo shelf stable, I don’t like to risk it going off too quickly (especially as I live in quite a warm climate). So to maximize its freshness, I keep it cold. It stores well for one month or more in the refrigerator.
Ingredients for Herbal Shampoo
The base for this herbal shampoo recipe is a simple liquid castile soap. I like to buy either Dr Bronner’s unscented liquid castile soap or this one, as it infuses beautifully with the herbs and is thin and easy to strain.
To this simple soap base, I add a bit of infused coconut milk and a herbal tea made from chamomile, nettle, rosemary, and calendula. This tea blend is completely customisable, so you can choose the herbs that suit your particular skin or hair type best, but the herbs I’ve included are great choices for most hair types. Each herb will come with its own benefits.
Rosemary
Rosemary is a wonderful herb for hair growth as it can inhibit hormonal changes that may lead to hair loss, improve blood circulation to the hair follicles, and decrease inflammation on the scalp. It also adds a beautiful scent to this herbal shampoo.
Nettle
This extraordinary herb is fantastic for hair nourishment and remineralisation. The high levels of sulphur and silica found in nettle have been shown to improve hair health by strengthening the hair shaft.
Chamomile
Chamomile is a great hair brightener, lightening hair naturally overtime. It’s also a wonderful anti-itch remedy for the scalp, helping those suffering from a persistent dandruff problem to find great relief and soothing properties from this herb. Chamomile also helps increase hair shine and boost hair growth.
Calendula
Calendula is a great all-around herb for nourishing the skin on your scalp, helping to naturally condition it and prevent dry skin. This wonderful herb can also help to stimulate hair follicles and promote the growth of strong, thick, and silky hair.
Argan Oil
A very small amount of either argan oil or jojoba oil is also included in this herbal shampoo recipe, as both are perfect for conditioning hair without leaving it looking oily or feeling greasy. Unlike other oils, argan oil doesn’t leave a greasy residue which makes it an excellent choice for hair and skin care. Jojoba oil is another option if you don’t have argan oil in the house. This oil is actually a plant wax and is the closest natural oil to our body’s sebum, so it won’t leave a greasy feel, either.
Before we get started in learning how to make this DIY herbal shampoo – if you like what you’re seeing, subscribe to my email newsletter at the bottom of the page to keep up to date on the latest recipes, DIYs, gardening and health tips I share!
Homemade Herbal Shampoo
The coconut milk does not have to be infused for this shampoo recipe to work. The herbs are just an added bonus, and give this shampoo recipe a little something extra!
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp dried chamomile
- 2 tbsp dried rosemary
- 2 tbsp dried nettle
- 2 tbsp dried calendula
- 1 cup filtered water
- 2 cups organic coconut milk
- 2/3 cup dried lemongrass (or other herb(s) of choice)
- 1/2 cup liquid castile soap
- 1/4 tsp argan oil or jojoba oil (optional)
To make:
- Place the chamomile, calendula, nettle, and rosemary into a medium-size saucepan along with the one cup of water, and stir to combine. Bring the water to a boil then remove the pan from heat and allow the tea to steep, covered, until the mixture reaches room temperature (around 20 to 30 minutes).
- Strain out the tea using a fine mesh sieve or nut milk bag, and compost the herbs.
- Add the coconut milk and lemongrass to a small saucepan and gently heat on medium-low temperature for 20 minutes, covered.
- Remove the coconut milk concoction from heat and allow it to cool to room temperature (which may take around 20 to 30 minutes, also).
- Strain out the lemongrass from the coconut milk using a nut milk bag or cheesecloth, then compost the herbs.
- In a large glass pump bottle that you’ll be using to dispense the shampoo, add the infused coconut milk, herbal tea, castile soap, and argan oil (if using), then cap the lid and shake the bottle gently to combine the ingredients.
- Store this herbal shampoo in an airtight container for up to one month in the fridge. This shampoo may thicken a little in the cool temperature. If so, simply let it warm up in the hot water of the shower before using. Shake the bottle well before each use as the ingredients can separate.
I am sure this is going to become a staple in your herbal hair care routine.
It is in mine.
Homemade Herbal Shampoo Recipe Tutorial
As always, none of these statements have been evaluated by the FDA and is not meant to diagnose, cure, or treat any condition. This is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor before trying or using any new products. I am not a doctor. All opinions expressed are my own personal thoughts and feelings of the products mentioned. Check with your doctor or health practitioner if you are uncertain about trying out any of the products, recipes or tips mentioned in this post.
Have you made a homemade shampoo before? How was it? Share in the comments below.
Lots of love,
🖤 Vanessa