Because the United States does not regulate natural products, choosing a shampoo or soap that is made from minimally processed plant- and nature-derived ingredients can be difficult. You may find yourself paying large amounts of money for a "natural" product that contains synthetic chemicals such as sodium lauryl sulfate or polyethylene glycol, or PEG. Save money and guarantee that your soap contains only wholesome ingredients with this quick, simple recipe for herbal shampoo, adapted from Janice Cox's "Natural Beauty at Home."
Step 1
Bring 1 cup spring water to a boil.
Step 2
Place 2 tbsp. loose lavender, chamomile or rosemary herb in a mesh tea ball, muslin ba or other tea-infusing device. Steep in 1 cup of boiling spring water for at least 20 minutes to make a strong tea.
Step 3
Allow tea to cool to room temperature.
Step 4
Pour cooled tea into an empty shampoo bottle. Add 1/2 cup liquid castile soap. For dry or normal hair, add 1 tsp. light olive oil and/or 2 tbsp. vegetable glycerin.
Step 5
Mix the shampoo by shaking gently. Let the mixture sit overnight, and store it in the refrigerator.
Tips and Warnings
- In "Natural Beauty at Home," Janice Cox suggests using chamomile for light-colored hair and lavender or rosemary for dark-colored hair. Use the shampoo to double as a hand or body soap. Glycerin, which increases moisture to the hair, tends to cut the sudsing effect of the shampoo. For a thicker lather, omit glycerin.
- According to Cox, chamomile has a mild bleaching effect on the hair.
Things You'll Need
- 2 tbsp. loose dried chamomile, lavender or rosemary
- 1 mesh tea ball or other tea-infusing apparatus
- 1 cup spring water
- 1 empty shampoo bottle
- 1/2 cup liquid castile soap
- 1 tsp. light olive oil (optional)
- 2 tbsp. vegetable glycerin (optional)
References
- "Natural Beauty at Home (Second Edition)"; Janice Cox; 2002
- "A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients (Sixth Edition)"; Ruth Winter, M.S.; 2005
- "The Green Beauty Guide"; Julie Gabriel; 2008
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