Homemade Shampoos

If you really want to protect your hair from toxic chemicals used in the hair products sold in the market then better opt for the homemade shampoos which can be prepared easily at home without using the ingredients that cause side effects. In fact, homemade shampoo gives you a refreshing change and you can both protect your hair and save money as well.

But before starting to prepare your own shampoo, first ensure which herbs suit your hair. The herbs are cheaper than the expensive chemicals used in the store-brought shampoo. You can buy the herbs in bulk from the nearby herbal store but require just few tablespoons in a shampoo. So you can store the remaining herbs for further use.

Types of hair

Normal: Having normal hair means you can use most of the herbs and other natural ingredients. The most recommended herbs for this type of hair are horsetail, red clover, chamomile and marigold. If you are blonde, crushed lavender flowers and rosemary are helpful in hair growth.

Dry: This type of hair need not be washed everyday. The most recommended herbs for dry hair are comfrey root or leaf, red clover, crushed orange flowers, crushed lavender flowers, elder flowers, chamomile flowers and marigold.

Oily: The oily hair is mostly caused by pollution in the environment or due to poor diet. Sometimes it is hereditary. The most recommended herbs for oily hair nettle leaves, rosemary leaves, peppermint leaves, burdock leaves, tea tree leaves, orris root and lemongrass.

Black or coarse/curly: This type of hair need special care. The most recommended herbs are nettle leaves, rosemary leaves, sage, crushed lavender flowers, indigo root, comfrey leaves and jojoba oil added to the shampoo base.

Precautions before using homemade shampoo

Precaution is better than cure. So it’s better to take precaution before using homemade shampoo and you must test the products first. Although the ingredients used in these shampoos would be natural but some might cause allergy or adverse reaction to your skin. Hence, test the products on the inside of your elbow or wrist before your hair. If there is any redness or irritation, go for other option.

Types of homemade shampoos

Your search really ends after preparing homemade shampoos that contain all the qualities. These shampoos not only clean the excess oil, dandruff and falling hair but also smell like a pure herbal essence. And above everything, you can make your own brand by making changes in the ingredients that suit your hair. Given below are the types of homemade shampoos you can prepare at your ease.

Chamomile Fields shampoo

Ingredients

4 bags of Chamomile tea (or 1 handful of fresh Chamomile flowers)

4 tablespoons pure soap flakes

1 1/2 tablespoons glycerin

Method: Steep tea bags in one and a half cup of boiled water for about 10 minutes. Add soap flakes to it after removing the tea bags. Wait till the soap softens. Then add glycerin to the mixture and stir well. Now store the shampoo into a bottle and keep it in a dark, cool place. This is one of the best shampoos.

Soapwort shampoo

Ingredients

2 cups distilled water

1 1/2 tablespoons dried soapwort root (chopped)

2 teaspoons Lemon Verbena or 2 teaspoons Catnip

Method: Add soapwort to the boiled water and wait for 20 minutes. Remove it from the heat and then add lemon verbena or 2 teaspoons catnip. Cool the mixture and strain keeping the liquid. Store the liquid into a bottle in a cool dark place. This shampoo is enough to use for at least 6-7 times but must be applied to the scalp within 8-10 days. Both soapwort and lemon verbena are suitable for all types of hair. Soapwort contains saponin which is similar to soap. It lathers when agitated. Similarly, lemon verbena is used for citrus fragrance and catnip for healthy hair growth.

Truly homemade shampoo

Ingredients

2 lb. 10 oz. olive oil

1 lb. 7 oz of solid-type vegetable shortening

1 lb. coconut oil

10 1/4 oz. lye

2 pt. water

Method: Mix all the oils; pour the mixture in a container and heat it. Take lye solution and pour it into a container of 2 pints of cold water and stir continuously. Then pour cool lye solution into a glass container. Pour the lye solution to the oils and stir continuously until the mixture turn opaque and brownish and then finally will lighten. This is one of the effective homemade shampoos.

Herbal shampoo for oily hair

Ingredients

2 tbsp dry peppermint

2 tbsp dry spearmint

1 tbsp dry sage

1 cup water

2/3 cup baby shampoo

Method: Mix herbs and water and boil. Remove the mixture from heat and let it cool for 20 minutes. The strain out the herbs and add baby shampoo with the herbal water. Store this mixture into a bottle in a cool and dark place. This is one of the useful herbal shampoo for oily hair.

Herbal shampoo for dry hair

Ingredients

1 tbsp dry comfrey root

1 tbsp dry rosemary

1 tbsp dry chamomile

1 cup water

2/3 cup baby shampoo

1 egg (beaten)

1/3 cup milk

Method: Boil the herbs mixed in water. Steep the mixture for 20 minutes after removing it from heat. Strain and then mix the herbal water with the baby shampoo, egg and milk. Pour it into a bottle in a cool and dark place.