Homemade Shampoo

Your ultimate guide to homemade shampoo! Here are ten easy recipes you can use to find the perfect formula for your hair.

The benefits are that you can use all natural ingredients, avoid all of the fillers and irritants commercial makers use, scent it any way you want, and customize it to suit your hair's needs.
What more do I need to say?

I love my homemade shampoo. It smells great and leaves my hair feeling light and soft.

_{for those of you who are following my "made by me" thread, this is my first gift to give!}

Step 1BASIC

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For normal hair, or as a base to add your own scents, use

• ¹/₄ cup distilled water
• ¹/₄ cup liquid Castile Soap - I use unscented, but you can choose your favorite
• ¹/₂ teaspoon jojoba, grapeseed, or other light vegetable oil

Mix together all the ingredients. Store in a bottle. Shake before use.
This mixture isn't as thick as commercial shampoos - you'll need to just tilt the bottle over your head.
I am really impressed with how much lather I get from it though!

Step 2STIMULATE

To wake up your scalp and your senses, try tea tree and peppermint oil!
This one's my personal favorite, and the one I use daily. It's so refreshing!

Combine

• ¹/₄ cup distilled water
• ¹/₄ cup liquid Castile Soap - I use unscented, but you can choose your favorite
• 2 tsp jojoba oil
• ¹/₈ tsp peppermint ess oil
• ¹/₈ tsp tea tree ess. oil

Mix all ingredients, then add ¹/₄ cup distilled water
Store in a bottle. Use as you would any shampoo, rinse well.

Step 3QUENCH

For dry hair, try this:

• ¹/₄ cup distilled water
• ¹/₄ cup liquid Castile Soap - your favorite scent
• ¹/₄ cup aloe vera gel
• 1 teaspoon glycerin
• ¹/₄ teaspoon avocado oil or jojoba oil

Mix together all the ingredients. Store in a bottle and always shake well before using.

Apply to hair and allow to sit for a few mintues. Rinse well with cool water.

Step 4SOOTHE

Chamomile makes this 'poo a calming treat. Chamomile also has natural lightening properties, so combine this with lemon juice if you want to lighten your hair!

• 1 cup distilled water
• 1 cup castille soap - try Lavender!
• 6 chamomile tea bags
• 1 ¹/₂ tablespoons glycerin

Steep the teabags in 1 cup of boiled water for 20 minutes. Remove the tea bags and discard. Add castille soap to the tea. Stir in glycerin until well blended. Keep in a dark, cool place in a sealed bottle.

Step 5DE-FLAKE

Dandruff can affect many different people in every age group. Dandruff can manifest as either very dry and flaky scalp or very oily scalp with flakes. Contrary to popular belief, dandruff is not caused by a dry scalp or from improper hair care. It can be caused by increased oil production, hormonal fluctuations, stress, and illness.

To banish a flaky scalp, try this simple recipe:

• ¹/₄ cup distilled water
• ¹/₄ cup liquid Castile Soap
• ¹/₂ teaspoon jojoba, grapeseed, or other light vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 3 tablespoons apple juice
• 6 finely ground cloves

In a small grinder or blender, mix all ingredients on low for 30 seconds.

Wet the hair with warm water and shampoo the mixture into the hair well. Rinse with warm water.

Cover and refrigerate leftovers. Discard after 3 days!

Step 6SHINE

Fragrant and lively, try this recipe to add shine to your hair
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• ¹/₄ cup distilled water
• ¹/₄ cup liquid Castile Soap - try Lemon!
• 2 Tbsp dried rosemary
• 2 Tbps sweet almond oil
• ¹/₄ t lemon essential oil or fragrance oil

Boil distilled water, add rosemary and steep until fragrant.
Strain leaves and let cool. Mix all ingredients and add to water and stir well.
Store in a bottle. Use as you would any shampoo, rinse well.

Step 7REJUVENATE

This is a great shampoo for any hair type.

• ¹/₄ cup distilled water
• ¹/₄ cup liquid Castile Soap - I use unscented, but you can choose your favorite
• ¹/₂ teaspoon jojoba, grapeseed, or other light vegetable oil
• 3 tbsp rosemary
• 1 tbsp lemongrass
• 2 tsp tea tree oil
• ¹/₂ tsp vanilla extract

Boil distilled water, add rosemary and and lemongrass (in tea strainer if you have it) and steep until fragrant (about 20-30 minutes)..
Strain leaves and let cool. Mix all ingredients and add to water and stir well.

Mix the tea tree oil and vanilla into the water. Add soap.

Store in a bottle. Use as you would any shampoo, rinse well.

Let the shampoo cool, and then place the top on tightly.

Step 8YUMMY

I can't resist the alluring smell of this luxurious shampoo.

• ¹/₄ cup distilled water
• ¹/₄ cup liquid Castile Soap - I use unscented, but you can choose your favorite
• 2 tsp jojoba oil
• 10 drops vanilla fragrance oil
• 10 drops coconut fragrance oil

Mix together all the ingredients. Store in a bottle. Use as you would any shampoo, rinse well.
Dry not to drink this one. It smells tooooo good. . .

Step 9DRY

This is a great in-between treatment for hair, if you're helping someone who can't wash their hair on their own, or for removing dirt and oil from the hair when fresh water in unavailable

• ¹/₄ cup oatmeal
• 1 tsp crushed lavender or other fragrant herb
• 1 tsp baking soda

Grind these together with mortar and pestle, small grinder, or place in a baggie and crush with a rolling pin.

Sprinkle enough of the mixture to cover all hair, and massage for five minutes before it it brushed out

This could be made in bulk and stored in a cool, dry environment.

Step 10NO 'POO

Though there are already plenty of instructables that cover this topic, I thought my list wouldn't be complete without including the simplest way to get clean, healthy hair.

• 1 tsp Baking soda
• Apple cider vinegar
• 4 oz Water

Put 1 tsp baking soda in a cup or mug to take into the shower with you.
In another cup, pour about 1 oz (~¹/₈ cup) apple cider vinegar.

When you get into the shower, fill the baking soda cup with about ¹/₄ c water.
Apply this to your roots only; work it in and let it sit for a minute.

Then begin to gently scrub your scalp, stimulating blood flow and cleaning out your pores.
This will actually stimulate hair growth.

Lastly, scrub the back of your skull and your temples/sideburns. This will result in less grease and more growth.

Rinse!

Follow by adding about ¹/₄ c water to your vinegar cup.
Pour the apple cider vinegar over the ends of your hair, let it sit for a minute and then rinse it out.

No 'Poo Troubleshooting

There may be a transition period from two weeks to two months depending on the person. Here are a few tips:

" If your hair becomes frizzy, try using less baking soda or leaving it on for a shorter period of time. Adding honey may also help.
" If your hair becomes greasy, try using less apple cider vinegar, switching to lemon or lime juice, leaving out the honey, and/or using a comb instead of a brush. Also, make sure you re applying the apple cider vinegar just to the ends of your hair.
" If your scalp itches, try the following essential oils; tea tree, lavender, rosemary. If your hair becomes dry, try a tiny bit of oil (any oil, I use olive) smoothed on bottom of hair.

Have fun and enjoy!