How to Make Natural Shampoo

Saffron71

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posted on 15 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Finding good, natural shampoos can be difficult, and when you do find them, they are often too expensive. Whether you can't afford expensive, natural shampoos, or want to delve into the realm of making your own both products, you can easily make your own shampoo at home with a few ingredients.

Steps

Using Honey and Lemon Juice

Boil some water and pour it into a mug.

Add a bag of Chamomile tea, and let it steep for two to three minutes. Once the tea is done steeping, put out the tea bag and discard it.

Stir in 1 tablespoon of honey and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. The lemon juice will help clean and brighten your hair, while the honey will help hydrate it.

Wait for the "tea" to reach a comfortable temperature. You will be pouring this mixture over your hair, so you don't want it to be too hot. Most people find that their hair looks best after using lukewarm water; however, if the water is too hot it may cause frizz.

Use the shampoo. Step into the shower and get your hair wet. Tilt your head back, and pour the mixture over your head. Massage it into your scalp, then rinse it out.

Follow up with your regular conditioner. While this shampoo is great for cleaning your hair, it is not so great for conditioning it. When you are done washing your hair, choose your favorite conditioner, and massage it through your hair. Rinse it out well.

Using Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar

Fill two jars with 1 cup (240 milliliters) of cold water each. One jar will be for the "shampoo" mixture, and the other cup will be for the "conditioner" mixture.

Add 1 tablespoon of baking soda in the first jar. Stir the baking soda until it dissolves completely. The baking soda will help clean your hair. This will be your "shampoo."

Add 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to the second jar. The vinegar will help restore your hair's natural pH and get rid of any buildup from hair products. It will also help soften your hair and make it shiny again. This is an important follow-up to the baking soda shampoo. It will act as a conditioner. If you have very light hair, or have a sensitive nose, use white vinegar instead. It will be less likely to tint your hair, and it won't smell as bad.

Use the baking soda shampoo first. Get into the shower and dampen your hair. Tilt your head back and power the baking soda water over your hair. Gently massage your hair, then rinse it out.

Use the apple cider vinegar conditioner next. Once you have gotten the baking soda water out, tilt your head back again and pour the vinegar water back over your hair. Be very careful not to get it into your eyes — it will sting. Rinse the apple cider vinegar out.

Consider finishing off with a cold water rinse on your hair. This will help seal the hair follicles and make your hair appear even shinier. Don't worry if your hair smells a little bit like vinegar. The smell will go away by the time your hair dries.

Using Castile Soap and Coconut Milk

Choose a Castile soap. Unlike other types of soap, Castile soap is natural and free of harmful parabens, sulfates, and silicones, all of which can damage your hair. This soap is gentle enough to be used on hair. You can use a scented Castile soap or an unscented one. If you choose an unscented one, you can make up your own scent by adding some essential oils.

Fill a plastic bottle with 1/3 cup (80 milliliters) of Castile soap. Try using an old shampoo bottle, or an old soap dispenser. This shampoo will be thick, so you want to be able to squeeze or squirt the shampoo out.

Add ¼ cup (60 milliliters) of coconut milk. Coconut milk is incredible for hair. It helps soften and replenish it, and acts very much like a conditioner. Make sure that you are using the unsweetened kind, as the sweetened coconut milk will have too many additives. Coconut milk may separate in the can. Give the can a shake before you open it.

Consider adding a little bit of honey or olive oil if you have dry hair. Not only will honey make the shampoo smell nice, but it will also help soften your hair. Olive oil is also a good option.

Consider adding 10 to 20 drops of essential oil. Choose your favorite scent, and add it to the bottle. Great scents for shampoos include tea tree, eucalyptus, rosemary, lavender, and rose.