Shampoo, a necessary product for proper hair care, cleans the hair and scalp by loosening dirt and oils, allowing them to be rinsed away. Although supermarket shelves are lined with expensive and exotic formulas, homemade herbal shampoos can be just as effective, and they can even provide additional benefits. Customize your homemade shampoo by using herbs and essential oils that benefit your particular hair type or condition or that highlight your hair color. Always make small batches of shampoo with herbs, however, to ensure maximum freshness.
Step 1
Bring the water to a rolling boil in a small saucepan. Place the dried or fresh herbs in a heat-proof container.
Step 2
Pour the boiling water over the herbs, cover, and allow the mixture to steep for at least 20 minutes.
Step 3
Strain the herbs from the liquid, and discard. Add the gelatin to the warm herbal tea, and stir until completely dissolved. This gives the shampoo extra body and thickness, and promotes a texture more like commercial shampoos.
Step 4
Mix the herbal tea and gelatin mixture with the liquid castile soap in a small mixing bowl. Stir until well-combined. Work quickly before the gelatin begins to thicken, which makes stirring more difficult.
Step 5
Add the liquid vegetable glycerin to the herbal shampoo mixture, and stir well to combine. Glycerin acts as a humectant, or substance that draws moisture from the air and locks it into the hair.
Step 6
Add the essential oil to the shampoo mixture last, stirring well to combine. Use an essential oil that benefits your hair type for the best results.
Step 7
Transfer your herbal shampoo to a plastic squeeze bottle, and allow it to sit overnight to thicken. Store in the shower, shake well before each use, and use within two weeks before discarding any unused portion.
Tips and Warnings
- For best results, use herbs that complement your hair type or color. In her book "The Complete Book of Herbs and Spices," Sarah Garland recommends burdock for preventing dandruff, catnip to encourage growth, chamomile for blond highlights, horsetail for weak or damaged hair, calendula for red highlights, parsley to increase luster, rosemary for dark hair, and stinging nettle for dry or brittle hair. If liquid castile soap is not available, use unscented baby shampoo or liquid shampoo base instead. Although the gelatin increases the body and thickness of the shampoo, it may be omitted; the shampoo will still cleanse the hair and scalp. The mixture will simply have a thinner viscosity. In her book "Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art," Kathi Keville recommends using chamomile or rosewood essential oils for dry hair, cypress or lemon for oily hair, geranium or tea tree for dandruff, and peppermint or rosemary for hair loss. Homemade shampoo lacks an added foaming agent. Don't expect the same amount of suds you get from commercial shampoos. Herbal shampoo cleans gently without foaming.
Things You'll Need
- 1/2 cup spring or distilled water
- Small saucepan
- 2 tsp. dried herbs or 1/3 cup fresh herbs
- Heat-proof container
- 2 tbsp. plain powdered gelatin
- 1/2 cup liquid castile soap
- Small mixing bowl
- 2 tbsp. liquid vegetable glycerin
- 25 drops essential oil
- Plastic squeeze bottle
References
- Mountain Rose Herbs: Shimmer and Shine With Homemade Herbal Shampoos
- "Home Made Best Made: Hundreds of Ways to Make All Kinds of Useful Things"; Reader's Digest; 1998
- "Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art"; Kathi Keville, Mindy Green; 2008
- "The Complete Book of Herbs and Spices"; Sarah Garland; 2004
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