Make Your Own Shampoo and Conditioner

Make your own home-made shampoo and conditioner

Have you ever wondered what’s in your shampoo? Here is a short list of basic ingredients in most shampoos:

Water (aqua), sodium laureth sulfate, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, cocamidopropyl betaine, cocamide mea, polysorbate 20, peg-150 distearate, oleth-3, propylene glycol, cinnamidopropyltrimonium chloride, glycol stearate, fragrance (parfum), disodium edta, panthenol, allantoin, sodium pca, benzophenone-4, hydroxypropyl guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, peg-120 methyl glucose dioleate, phospholipids, hydrolyzed oat protein, phosphorus, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, calcium pantothenate, magnesium salicylate, zinc gluconate, saccharomyces/zinc ferment, saccharomyces/copper ferment, saccharomyces/magnesium ferment, saccharomyces/iron ferment, saccharomyces/silicon ferment, methylparaben, propylparaben, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone.


Did you know that you only need two basic ingredients to wash and condition your hair? Baking soda and apple cider vinegar!

Create a paste with baking soda and water and wash the grit, grease and dirt out of your hair, rinse thoroughly then, rinse with vinegar, then rinse again. This ancient recipe is great and leaves hair clean and silky, the only problem with this old recipe is that a person ends up smelling like a salad. Therefore, you may want to consider using the following recipe to make a natural shampoo that leaves your hair silky and smooth and lathers up a bit.

(If camping, in cold or hot weather, you can always use baking soda as a dry shampoo, just pour some into your hair, and brush out all the filth, no muss, no fuss, no stink).

Homemade shampoos are easy to make and results are sometimes better than with expensive commerical shampoo and you can actually pronounce the ingredients in the bottle. Here are some homemade shampo ditioner recipes:

Soap flakes

Time required: Less than 30 minutes (a bar of pure soap or ivory soap) if you’ve purchased homemade soaps at fairs these could work well for shampoos

Here’s how:

1. Place a cheese grater over a few paper towels or paper plate (something bendable to catch the shavings).

2. Grate soap on a medium size so that the shavings are about the size of a grain of rice.

3. Pour shavings into the container you wish to store them in.

4. Store in a cool dry place in an air tight container until you are ready to use.

When ready, pour a quart of hot water to 4 oz of soap flakes, into a bowl. Add scents or herbal teas to it if you want. Let the mixture cool completely before putting into a bottle. It may be thicker than regular shampoo and has a rich lather.

Shampoo made from liquid Castile soap

For normal hair, or as a base to add your own scents, use

• 1/4 cup distilled water

• 1/4 cup liquid Castile Soap - I use unscented, but you can choose your favorite

• 1/2 teaspoon jojoba, grapeseed, or other light vegetable oil

Mix together all the ingredients. Store in a bottle. Shake before use.

This mixture isn’t as thick as commercial shampoos - you’ll need to just tilt the bottle over your head.

I am really impressed with how much lather I get from it though!

Egg Hair Conditioner

This is an old fashioned home remedy which really works, although a little smelly.

• 2 eggs which have been beaten.

After shampooing your hair take the eggs and massage into your scalp and hair making sure the roots are covered. Leave the eggs on for half an hour then shampoo using warm water. Don’t be tempted to use hot water to rinse the eggs out otherwise they may cook!

Beer Recipe

This is another old-fashioned homemade hair conditioner which we still use today because it really works

• 1 cup of beer, which has been warmed slightly.

• 2 teaspoons of olive oil

Mix the above together the best you can. Massage into your hair and scalp and leave for 30 minutes before washing out.

Coconut Conditioner Recipe

This hair conditioner has the nicest smell of all and is my favorite. Take a book and relax while you wait for it to work. Dream you are on a tropical beach!

Massage half a cup of coconut oil into your hair and scalp and leave for at least 30 minutes or overnight if preferred. Rinse out with warm water.

Banana Homemade Hair Conditioner Recipe

• 1 banana

• 2 tablespoons of runny honey

Mash the banana up before adding the honey. Massage the mixture into your hair covering from the scalp to the roots. Leave on for 30 minutes before washing off with warm water.

Avocado

Take an avocado and mash it to a pulp. Massage the pulp into your hair. Take a comb and comb through to the roots. Wrap a towel round your hair and relax for 30 minutes before washing off with warm water.