I’ve recently switched to making natural alternatives for a few beauty and household products I use most regularly at home to try and help minimise the toxin-load on my body.
Homemade shampoo has been my most recent switch.
In the past I’ve tried the “no-poo” method, which involved using baking soda as a wash and apple cider vinegar as a rinse. While this method works for some, it just didn’t work for my hair (and I have the photos to prove it).
If you have coarse hair that isn’t naturally oily, then the “no-poo” method may work for you.
I’ve tried all sorts of organic, all-natural shampoo recipes, but most left my hair greasy and waxy.
Not ideal.
Eventually I combined a few different ingredient ideas from a combination of recipes and found a shampoo that actually worked in cleaning my hair!
My hair no longer looks oily, but silky smooth and voluminous.
Why Switch to a Natural Shampoo?
First, conventional shampoos contain a lot of questionable ingredients; toxic surfactants such as sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, fragrances, palm oil (often hidden under names such as “vegetable oil”), and more.
Plus, most commercial shampoos strip the scalp of its natural oils. The body, trying to restore balance, then produces more oil to compensate. This of course results in hair that gets really greasy, really fast (one of the reasons why most people end up washing their hair almost every day).
By using a less harsh, more natural shampoo, as well as cutting back on how often you wash your hair, you can essentially “train” your body not to produce oils at such a fast rate.
Homemade Natural Shampoo
Now, because this natural homemade shampoo is soap-based rather than surfactant-based (which most conventional shampoos use), it’ll have a much higher pH level, which can leave hair looking dull and even oily (at the start particularly, while you’re transitioning over from chemical shampoos, to a natural one). Thankfully, it’s easy to restore your hair’s natural pH (along with its shine) by applying a shine-boosting rinse (see below).
Hair detoxing can also help with this process. It may take up to a few weeks, depending on the types of products previously used, to completely adjust to using a natural shampoo, and during the process, hair may feel dry and tangle easy.
But, as hair follicles shed their coating, they’ll be able to take in more moisture, restoring hair health.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup coconut milk or water (if the canned version doesn’t work for you, other’s have found success using homemade coconut milk)
- 1/4 cup liquid castile soap (I use Dr. Bronner’s unscented)
- 20 drops of essential oils of your choice (I use 7 drops wild orange, 5 drops lime, 4 drops bergamot, and 4 drops peppermint essential oil)
For Dry Hair:
- 1/2 tsp jojoba oil (for dry hair ONLY, optional)
To make:
- Combine all the ingredients together in a jar or old shampoo bottle (alternatively, pump soap dispensers work great, too).
- Shake well to mix the ingredients together.
- This shampoo keeps well in the shower for up to a month. Just ensure you shake it well before each use to make sure the ingredients haven’t separated.
- Shine-Boosting Rinse: Combine equal parts water and apple cider vinegar (or herbal tea) to hair after shampooing, using a spray or simply pouring over hair to saturate. Allow it to sit on hair for 2-3 minutes, then rinse using cool water (which is best because it helps the hair cuticle to close).
Note: This shampoo is thinner than conventional shampoos, but it does lather up! If you want to thicken the shampoo, add 1/2 teaspoon of arrowroot powder. If you’re looking for a natural conditioner to follow up with, this is a good one.
As always, 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 your own shampoo before? How was it? Share in the comments below.
Lots of love,
🖤 Vanessa
Sources:
Wells, Katie. (December 8, 2018). How to Make Natural Homemade Shampoo. Wellness Mama. Retrieved from https://wellnessmama.com/3701/homemade-shampoo/
Dessinger, Heather. How To Detox Your Hair. mommypotamus. Retrieved from https://mommypotamus.com/hair-detox/
Miryam. (July 4, 2012). Homemade Coconut Shampoo. Eat Good 4 Life. Retrieved from https://www.eatgood4life.com/home-made-coconut-shampoo/
Konie, Robin. (February 2, 2021). All Natural DIY Shampoo. Thank Your Body. Retrieved from https://www.thankyourbody.com/all-natural-shampoo/
Jabs, Matt. Learn How To Make Homemade Natural Shampoo. DIY Natural. Retrieved from https://www.diynatural.com/homemade-shampoo/
Laura. How to Make All Natural Shampoo | Simple Recipe using Essential Oils. Our Oily House. Retrieved from https://www.ouroilyhouse.com/how-to-make-all-natural-shampoo-simple-recipe-using-essential-oils/
Nick, Jean. (July 31, 2017). How to Make Your Own Shampoo With Ingredients You Have in Your Kitchen. Good Housekeeping. Retrieved from https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/hair/a20705785/homemade-shampoo-conditioner-recipes/
