Homemade Herbal Shampoo

I love making my own health and beauty products. I feel that it adds an extra glow to my features knowing that I can make a quality product, that doesn't negatively effect my health and costs pennies to make. Who says that beauty has to come with a high price tag?

The recipe I am making today is easy to make and can be tailored to your own personal needs, using different base oils, essential oils and herbs. The recipe I use is based off of one out of Rosemary Gladstar’s book “The Family Herbal.” This is my favorite book to suggest to individuals that are just getting started in herbs because it provides a number of herbal recipes for so many different issues. I have tweaked a few thing that I feel make the recipe better for my personal use.

The recipe is as follows:

• 12 ounces of distilled water
• 1 ounce of herbs (combination selected from the list below)
• 3 ounces of liquid castile soap
• ¼ teaspoon oil (type selected from the list below)
• 25 drops of essential oil (type selected from the list below)

Directions:

• Bring the water to a boil and then add the herbs. I suggest using 3 or 4 different herbs at equal parts. Cover the pot and let the herbs simmer for 5-10 minutes. Cool and then strain.
• Mix the other ingredients together and store in a shower safe container. I like to rinse out an empty shampoo container and fill it with my homemade mix. Make sure it is well labeled.
• Shake well before using.

Normal Hair

Herbs: Comfrey, lavender, red clover

Essential Oils: Roman chamomile, geranium, lavender, mandarin, neroli, rose otto, clary sage, rose, ylang ylang

Base Oils: jojoba oil

Dry Hair

Herbs: Calendula, marsh mallow root, nettles, lavender, comfrey root

Essential Oils: Roman chamomile, lavender, rose otto, sandalwood, clary sage, myrrh, peppermint

Base Oils: olive oil

Oily Hair

Herbs: rosemary leaf, witch hazel bark, yarrow leaf and flower, lemongrass

Essential Oils: Basil, patchouli, rosemary, tea tree, bergamot, cedarwood, grapefruit, clary sage, lemon
Base Oils: sweet almond oil

Dark Color Hair

Herbs: Sage, black walnut, comfrey leaf

Essential Oils: Clary sage, rose

Light Color Hair

Herbs: Calendula, chamomile, comfrey

Essential Oils: Chamomile, clary sage, lemon

 

I will give a warning that this shampoo doesn’t foam up as much as normal shampoo. If you feel that you need more suds, add more castile soap to the mix. I like to rotate my homemade blend with a store bought shampoo. I hope your hair likes this shampoo as much as mine does. 

Sources:

Battaglia, S. (2003). The complete guide to aromatherapy (2nd ed.). Brisbane:

International Centre of Holistic Aromatherapy.

Gladstar, R. (2001). Rosemary Gladstar's family herbal: a guide to living life with

energy, health, and vitality. North Adams, Mass.: Storey Books.

Wildwood, C. (1996). The encyclopedia of aromatherapy. Rochester, Vt.: Healing Arts

Press.