Shampoo Recipes

Have you ever wondered how to make your own shampoo? Homemade shampoo recipes are quick, easy, and very beneficial to your hair and your budget. Most homemade shampoos do not contain sudsing agents; so don't be surprised when bubbles don't form as you are washing.

A thick lather does not equate to a great shampoo...homemade shampoos are designed to clean just as effectively as commercial products. You can personalize them with ingredients to treat your specific hair type or with essential oils to create your favorite fragrance. Here are a few examples to get you started:

Basic Shampoo

Ingredients:

  • 4 ounces of Castile Soap Flakes
  • 1 quart of distilled water
  1. Bring water to a boil.
  2. Pour boiled water over soap flakes.
  3. Stir mixture until soap flakes are completely dissolved.
  4. Once the mixture has cooled, it is ready for use. Store shampoo in a plastic bottle.

Essential oils can also be put into shampoo for added scent and treatment. Mix 4 to 8 drops of the oil with one teaspoon of rubbing alcohol. Stir this into the soap mixture just after all the soap flakes have dissolved. Lavender, citrus or other fruit oils are great options which smell good and also help to hydrate the hair.

Herbal Shampoo Recipe #1

Ingredients:

  • 4 ounces of Castile Soap Flakes
  • 1 quart of distilled water
  • 1/2 ounce of dried herbs (i.e.; rosemary, mint)
  1. Bring water to a boil.
  2. Turn off heat and add herbs.
  3. Let infuse for 20 minutes.
  4. Pour herbal infused water over soap flakes.
  5. Stir mixture until soap flakes are completely dissolved.
  6. Once the mixture has cooled, it is ready for use. Store shampoo in a plastic bottle.

Herbal Shampoo Recipe #2

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons Dried Soap Wart Root (chopped)
  • 2 teaspoons lemon verbena
  • 2 cups distilled water
  1. Bring water to a boil.
  2. Add Soap Wart Root.
  3. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes
  4. Remove from heat, add lemon verbena and allow mixture to cool.
  5. Strain mixture, keeping the liquid.
  6. Pour liquid into a bottle and store in a cool dark place. (Must be used within 8-10 days)

Herbal Shampoo Recipe #3

Ingredients:

  • 4 ounces of Castile Soap (plain, peppermint, or eucalyptus)
  • 2 cups distilled water
  • 1/2 ounce rosemary - stimulates the hair follicles and helps prevent premature baldness
  • 1/2 ounce sage - contains antioxidants
  • 1/2 ounce nettles - contains a large source of nutrients for hair growth
  • 1/2 ounce lavender - controls the production of sebaceous gland oil and reduces itchy/flaky scalp conditions

*Note: Substitute any of the above herbs with your own favorites!

  1. Mix all of the herbs together in a jar.
  2. Boil 2 cups of distilled water.
  3. Add mixed herbs to the boiling water.
  4. Let mixture cool.
  5. Pour the herbal mix into a plastic bottle and add the 4 ounces Castile Soap. Cap the bottle and shake to mix the ingredients.

Dry or powdered shampoos are designed to work without water. They are typically made with powders such as starch or talc and are intended to absorb excess sebum from the hair before being brushed out. These products are good to use when camping, when you are sick, or in the winter when you don't want to get your hair wet. Dry or powdered shampoos also work great for extremely oily hair.

Dry Shampoo Recipe #1

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon cornmeal
  • 1 tablespoon powdered orris root
  • 1 tablespoon finely ground almonds
  1. Mix all ingredients together into a dry paste.
  2. Brush hair well from the roots to the tips.
  3. Rub the mixture into your scalp.
  4. Brush hair again, focusing on getting the paste on the hair. Excess paste left in your hair will simply absorb the sebum that is secreted from the hair.

Dry Shampoo Recipe #2

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  1. Sprinkle the cornstarch in your hair.
  2. Let absorb for a few minutes.
  3. Brush out.

Chamomile Shampoo Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 4 bags of Chamomile Tea (or 1 handful of fresh Chamomile flowers)
  • 4 tablespoons Pure Soap Flakes
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons glycerin
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  1. Let tea bags steep in boiled water for 10 minutes.
  2. Remove the tea bags and add soap flakes to the water.
  3. Let stand until the soap softens.
  4. Stir in glycerin until mixture is smooth.
  5. Pour into a bottle and store in a cool, dark place.

Conditioner Recipe #1

Ingredients:

  • 1 small jar of real mayonnaise
  • 1/2 of an avocado
  1. Combine ingredients and mush together until a green paste is formed.
  2. Smooth it into hair from the roots to the tips.
  3. Put on a shower cap or wrap your head with saran wrap.
  4. Let sit for 20 minutes then rinse.

Tropical Conditioner Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1 avocado (peeled and mashed)
  • 1 cup coconut milk
  1. Combine the mashed avocado with the coconut milk.
  2. Mix together until smooth.
  3. Comb it through the hair and let sit for 10 -15 minutes then rinse.

Egg Conditioner Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1 teaspoon baby oil
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 cup water
  1. Beat the egg yolk until frothy, add baby oil and beat again.
  2. Add mixture to water and massage into the scalp and throughout hair.
  3. Rinse thoroughly.