How to Make Homemade Shampoo
Modern shampoos contain all kinds of chemicals that are bad for your health. They irritate the scalp and leave your hair dull and brittle. The preservatives, colours and artificial fragrances in these shampoos are absorbed into the bloodstream and many of the chemicals are carcinogenic. This is why it is a great idea to make your own shampoo using natural ingredients. Read on to learn how to create your own healthy homemade shampoo.
Baking soda shampoo
One of the best recipes for homemade shampoo can be made using vinegar and baking soda. These two ingredients should already be in your cupboard and if you use the organic version of both, you will have a top quality organic shampoo that can be used daily. Apple cider vinegar and baking soda are wonderful cleansers that are kind and gentle to the hair and scalp. Here is how to make this healthy shampoo:
Mix the baking soda with warm water until it is dissolved. Pour the solution into a bottle, an empty shampoo bottle is ideal, and if you have particularly oily hair you can add a touch more baking soda for stronger cleansing power. The more baking soda in relation to water, the harsher the shampoo: so only add as much as you need.
Apple cider vinegar conditioner
In a separate bottle, mix the apple cider vinegar with some warm water. The drier your hair, the more vinegar you should add to the mixture as this works wonders as a gentle hair conditioner.
To apply both these lotions, first saturate your hair with water and apply the baking soda shampoo. Work it into your scalp well with a gentle massage action then rinse out with warm water. Afterwards, massage the apple cider vinegar conditioner into your hair, making sure to work it well into the ends where hair tends to get drier. The conditioning step balances the PH of your hair.
It may take a few uses of this new shampoo and conditioner for your hair and scalp to get used to it and to begin with you may feel your hair is drier. However, if you persevere, your hair will quickly get used to the new routine and become healthier as its natural shield is restored.
Many people like to add various essential oils to a homemade shampoo and conditioner to give it a pleasant smell and disguise the vinegar scent which some people find rather strong. Use tea tree oil for an excellent anti-dandruff option. This oil is anti-bacterial and is excellent for greasy hair. Rosemary is another good choice for weak hair, while lavender is a soothing oil which relaxes the scalp and cares for skin.
Aloe vera shampoo
Another homemade shampoo recipe that has many fans is made with aloe vera. This plant is a miracle-worker due to its softening properties and soothing effect. This shampoo is a little more complicated than the baking soda shampoo and uses four ingredients: vegetable glycerine (5ml), aloe vera gel (1 tablespoon), liquid castile soap (60ml) and vegetable oil (1ml).
To make the mixture, mix all the ingredients together to create a paste. This can be done with a spoon or a blender to create around 120ml of shampoo. Add a few drops of essential oil to give the mixture a fragrance and address any special needs, such as oily scalp, weak hair, dry ends or dandruff. You can use this shampoo every day as it is so gentle, but make sure to shake the bottle well before use as the ingredients can settle apart when stood still for a few hours.
Chamomile shampoo
Chamomile is a great choice for blonde hair as it brings out the shine. This recipe is the most complex of these recipes but is still easy to make. The ingredients for a chamomile shampoo are: sodium lauryl ether sulfate (1 litre), purified water (1 cup), chamomile (4 bags of tea), and a quarter teaspoon of olive oil and cetyl alcohol.
Simply heat the water with chamomile tea bags to infuse, then add the cetyl alcohol and the olive oil. Pour the sodium sulphate into a container and add the mixture, then add the rest of the sulphate and pour the mixture into the plastic bottle using a funnel. This beautiful shampoo is gentle and softening for all hair types.
