Homemade All-Natural Shampoo
Do you want to make your own shampoo? You can! It's not difficult, plus making shampoo yourself lets you customize the scent of your shampoo or avoid all scents and synthetic chemicals altogether, if that is what you want. You can make an all-natural product, plus get the sense of accomplishment that comes from doing it yourself. Are you ready? Let's get started.
photo: Old Shampoo circa 1909-1932 (Library of Congress)
photo: Old Shampoo circa 1909-1932 (Library of Congress)
Homemade Shampoo Overview
Modern commercial shampoos are detergents, but shampoo used to be liquid soap to which moisturizers were added so that the shampoo didn't strip natural oils from your hair and scalp. I've got a few different recipes for you in this lens. One starts from scratch, where you make your own soap and go from there. Personally, I don't like going back to basics quite that far, so I also get into how you can take a natural vegetable-based soap and use it to make a shampoo.
Shampoo Ingredients
... if you're doing it from scratch
These are the ingredients for the start-from-scratch shampoo:
2 lb 10 oz olive oil
1 lb 7 oz of solid-type vegetable shortening
1 lb coconut oil
10-1/4 oz lye (sodium hydroxide)
2 pints water
1-1/2 oz glycerine (also known as glycerin or glycerol)
1/2 oz vodka
1-1/2 oz castor oil
essential oils (optional), such as peppermint, rosemary, lavender, etc.
coloring (optional)
Read the safety precautions on the lye and follow them! Choose a well-ventilated area to make your shampoo. While kids can help make shampoo if you start with soap, this particular recipe is adult-only. Keep the lye away from kids and pets.
2 lb 10 oz olive oil
1 lb 7 oz of solid-type vegetable shortening
1 lb coconut oil
10-1/4 oz lye (sodium hydroxide)
2 pints water
1-1/2 oz glycerine (also known as glycerin or glycerol)
1/2 oz vodka
1-1/2 oz castor oil
essential oils (optional), such as peppermint, rosemary, lavender, etc.
coloring (optional)
Read the safety precautions on the lye and follow them! Choose a well-ventilated area to make your shampoo. While kids can help make shampoo if you start with soap, this particular recipe is adult-only. Keep the lye away from kids and pets.
Find Shampoo Ingredients Online
You may be able to find the ingredients to make your own shampoo at a health and beauty store or a craft store. If not, you can find them online. Feel free to add products to this list or to vote them up/down according to your preferences.
Dr Bronner's Organic Pure-Castille Liquid Soap - Unscented - 4 oz
As organic as soap gets. Renowned for their quali more...1 point
Rosemary Oil 100% Pure Essential Oil Undiluted 4oz
Botanical Name: Rosmarinus Officinalis Plant Part more...1 point
High Grade Sodium Hydroxide Lye Micro Beads, 2 Lbs.
High grade sodium hydroxide / Lye. Used for biodie more...0 points
Make Shampoo from Scratch
Mix together the olive oil, shortening, and coconut oil in a large glass or enameled pan.
Mix the lye and water in a glass or enameled pan. Heat will be produced by the reaction.
Warm the oils to 95°F-98°F and allow the lye solution to cool to the same temperature. One of the easiest ways to get the ingredients at the same temperature is to set the containers in a sink or tub full of water that is at the correct temperature.
When the mixtures are at the proper temperature, stir the lye solution into the oil mixture.
When the ingredients are integrated, the mixture should sort of resemble sour cream. Stir in the glycerine, alcohol, castor oil, and any fragrance oils or colorants that you want.
If you want solid shampoo, you can pour the shampoo into soap molds and allow it to harden. Use this shampoo by lathering it with your hands and working it into your hair or else you can shave flakes into hot water to prepare bottles of shampoo as you need it
If you want liquid shampoo, just add more water to the shampoo mixture, bottle the preparation, and use it the usual way.
Mix the lye and water in a glass or enameled pan. Heat will be produced by the reaction.
Warm the oils to 95°F-98°F and allow the lye solution to cool to the same temperature. One of the easiest ways to get the ingredients at the same temperature is to set the containers in a sink or tub full of water that is at the correct temperature.
When the mixtures are at the proper temperature, stir the lye solution into the oil mixture.
When the ingredients are integrated, the mixture should sort of resemble sour cream. Stir in the glycerine, alcohol, castor oil, and any fragrance oils or colorants that you want.
If you want solid shampoo, you can pour the shampoo into soap molds and allow it to harden. Use this shampoo by lathering it with your hands and working it into your hair or else you can shave flakes into hot water to prepare bottles of shampoo as you need it
If you want liquid shampoo, just add more water to the shampoo mixture, bottle the preparation, and use it the usual way.
Dry Shampoo
Shampoo is meant to remove excess oil and help lift away any flakes or grime. If you can't get wet, this is your best bet:
2 tablespoons corn meal
1 tablespoon ground almonds
1-1/2 tablespoons orrisroot
Mix the ingredients together. To use this shampoo, massage a teaspoon of the mixture into your scalp and brush it through and out of your hair. Repeat the process if necessary.
2 tablespoons corn meal
1 tablespoon ground almonds
1-1/2 tablespoons orrisroot
Mix the ingredients together. To use this shampoo, massage a teaspoon of the mixture into your scalp and brush it through and out of your hair. Repeat the process if necessary.
About Dry Shampoo
Another dry shampoo option is to brush baking soda through your hair. I don't really recommend this, because the pH of baking soda is such that it can weaken hair's protein, keratin. It's a decent dry shampoo for dogs, though.
Video Showing How to Make Shampoo
Here's a video that discusses making your own shampoo.
curated content from YouTube
Make Shampoo from Soap
This recipe makes a shampoo base that can be customized for different types of hair and different fragrances.
1/4 cup of grated vegetable-based soap (castile soap)
1/4 cup water
1/2 tsp olive oil
Dissolve the soap in hot water to dissolve it. Stir in the vegetable oil. Feel free to double, triple, etc. this recipe.
You can use the base shampoo by mixing it with glycerine and essential oils or other herbal ingredients.
1/2 cup base shampoo
2 tablespoons glycerine
~5 drops essential oil
1/4 cup of grated vegetable-based soap (castile soap)
1/4 cup water
1/2 tsp olive oil
Dissolve the soap in hot water to dissolve it. Stir in the vegetable oil. Feel free to double, triple, etc. this recipe.
You can use the base shampoo by mixing it with glycerine and essential oils or other herbal ingredients.
1/2 cup base shampoo
2 tablespoons glycerine
~5 drops essential oil
Special Shampoo Recipes
Using the Base Shampoo Recipe
Herbal Shampoo for Oily Hair
2 tablespoon dry peppermint
2 tablespoon dry spearmint
1 tablespoon dry sage
1 cup water
1/2 cup shampoo base
Bring the herbs and water to a boil in a saucepan. Remove the saucepan from heat and allow the mixture to steep for 20 minutes. Strain out the herbs. Mix the herbal water with the shampoo base.
Herbal Shampoo for Dry Hair
1 tablespoon dry comfrey root
1 tablespoon dry rosemary
1 tablespoon dry chamomile
1 cup water
1/2 cup shampoo base
1 beaten egg
1/3 cup milk
Bring the herbs and water to a boil in a saucepan. Remove the pan from heat and allow the mixture to steep for 20 minutes. Separate out the herbs with a strainer. Mix the herbal water with the shampoo base, egg, and milk. This shampoo is perishable so refrigerate any portion that isn't used right away.
Conditioning Shampoo
1 beaten egg
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 cup water
1/2 cup shampoo base
essential oils (optional)
Mix the ingredients together. This shampoo helps give your hair body (egg is a natural conditioner) and shine (lemon juice makes the shampoo slightly acidic, helping to seal the hair shaft).
2 tablespoon dry peppermint
2 tablespoon dry spearmint
1 tablespoon dry sage
1 cup water
1/2 cup shampoo base
Bring the herbs and water to a boil in a saucepan. Remove the saucepan from heat and allow the mixture to steep for 20 minutes. Strain out the herbs. Mix the herbal water with the shampoo base.
Herbal Shampoo for Dry Hair
1 tablespoon dry comfrey root
1 tablespoon dry rosemary
1 tablespoon dry chamomile
1 cup water
1/2 cup shampoo base
1 beaten egg
1/3 cup milk
Bring the herbs and water to a boil in a saucepan. Remove the pan from heat and allow the mixture to steep for 20 minutes. Separate out the herbs with a strainer. Mix the herbal water with the shampoo base, egg, and milk. This shampoo is perishable so refrigerate any portion that isn't used right away.
Conditioning Shampoo
1 beaten egg
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 cup water
1/2 cup shampoo base
essential oils (optional)
Mix the ingredients together. This shampoo helps give your hair body (egg is a natural conditioner) and shine (lemon juice makes the shampoo slightly acidic, helping to seal the hair shaft).
Books with Shampoo Recipes
Return to Beauty: Old-World Recipes for Great Radiant Skin
Amazon Price: $16.50 (as of 11/23/2009) 
The Holistic Beauty Book: Over 100 Natural Recipes for Gorgeous Healthy Skin
Amazon Price: $16.50 (as of 11/23/2009)
Organic Body Care Recipes
Amazon Price: $12.32 (as of 11/23/2009)
Take the Poll!
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Make Your Own Conditioner
Now that you have made your own shampoo, how about trying to make conditioner, too?-
Make Your Own Hair Conditioner
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I bet you have the ingredients for a great hair conditioner in your home right this minute! There are many natural products that can give your hair body and shine, detangle it, and help protect it from damage. The big difference between commercial ha...
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Got questions or comments about making your own shampoo?
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Reply
- April April Aug 26, 2009 @ 1:22 pm
- I just finished making this shampoo base with the glycerin and essential oil (Lavender). I grated my own handmade 100% olive oil soap bar for this recipe. I have just used the shampoo and rinsed off with apple cider vinegar and water. My hair is still wet so I have no feedback yet. However, I know there is a transition period. I find it difficult to find a shampoo without SLS or detergents (or a gazillion ingredients). I really hope that it works out. I have psoriasis and I believe that the commercial shampoo is either a contributor or, at best, not contributing to healing.
I know that my husband will use this shampoo because he refuses to use any commerial shampoo that I have ever purchased. He seemed quite interested when I showed it to him. He also liked the gentle Lavender scent.
I'll check back after a few shampoos to let you know how well I have transitioned or whether my hair has adapted.
Thank you for the recipe.
April
P.S. Wow, and what a difference in price!
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Reply
- Azareal Azareal May 14, 2009 @ 10:34 pm
- I would think if you refrigerate it, it should be good for a couple of weeks.
[in reply to Aurora]
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Reply
- Aurora Aurora May 14, 2009 @ 10:31 pm
- I have been testing out different versions of the castille based shampoo, but I don't like how squeaky clean it leaves my hair. Like literally, when it's wet and I run my fingers through it, it squeaks. So I'm trying to find a conditioning shampoo. I like the recipe with the egg but I'm wondering how long that lasts, or is it like a one time thing? Thanks!
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Reply
- Tim Tim Mar 31, 2009 @ 12:40 pm
- Thanks for the recipes. I am going to try the Herbal Shampoo for Dry Hair. Just need to figure out where to get comfrey root...
Cheers,
Tim
Homemade Shampoo Blog
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