Making your own shampoo ensures you are not using chemicals present in conventional shampoos that can damage your hair and scalp. By making your own shampoo, you can experiment with herbs that will nourish and give vitality to your hair. The ingredients you will need are an herbal infusion, liquid castile soap, a carrier oil of choice and the essential oils, according to the book "Earthly Bodies and Heavenly Hair" by herbalist Dina Falconi, which has various recipes for making shampoos.
Herbal Infusion
An herbal infusion is the steeping of herbs in water to extract their medicinal benefits. Herbal infusions are best made with distilled water to avoid mineral residues that will harm your hair, according to the book "The Herbal Medicine-Maker's Handbook" by herbalist James Green.
Choose herbs that will benefit your specific hair needs. In her book "Family Herbal--A Guide to Living Life with Energy, Health and Vitality," herbalist Rosemary Gladstar recommends calendula and marsh mallow root for dry hair, rosemary and yarrow leaf for oily hair, garden sage leaf and black walnut for dark hair and chamomile to accentuate golden highlights in blond hair.
Liquid Castile Soap
Liquid castile soap helps remove grime and excess oil from the scalp. According to the Pharmaceutical Journal article "A Short History of Soap" by Dr. John Hunt, castile soap is originally from the Spanish region of Castile and is pharmacologically referred to as Sapo castilliensis. It is made from olive oil and does not contain harsh chemicals or animal fats. Hunt writes that in William Lewis's "The Experimental History of Materia Medica," castile soap was considered finest of the common soaps.
Carrier Oil
Carrier oils such as jojoba or almond oil will nourish and moisten the scalp. They also give consistency to the shampoo. Almond oil is light and odorless and helps treat oily hair due to its drying qualities, says Falconi. Jojoba oil is technically a wax that derives from the seeds of jojoba and is used to treat damaged and dry hair.
Essential Oils
As with the herbs for the herbal infusion, essential oils need to be chosen with your hair needs in mind. Essential oils such as rosemary, ylang ylang and clary sage can help treat dandruff. Others, such as basil and peppermint, can also promote growth. They will also add an aromatic quality to your shampoo.
References
- "Earthly Bodies and Heavenly Hair"; Dina Falconi; 1998
- "The Herbal Medicine-Maker's Handbook"; James Green; 2000
- "Family Herbal - A Guide to Living Life with Energy, Health, and Vitality"; Rosemary Gladstar; 2001
- The Pharmaceutical Journal: A Short History of Soap
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