You know when you go to Target and you're just staring, staring at that wall of #shampoo options, and you're like "is my hair more curly or wavy?" and "do I need moisture or strength?" and "do I like the smell of passion fruit or blackberry vanilla?" and you have a brief fantasy of just not shampooing? You know that moment? It's the same one when you have a pile of laundry with all your favorite underwear in it and you think, maybe I should just throw this all out and buy a whole new wardrobe? But I digress.
Ok, so I wanted to cut out using any chemicals on my body and reduce my ecological impact. If you have read my other blog posts, then you know that I have never been a big product person, so this actually wasn't really a big deal for me. It's changing maybe a dozen things. I used "natural" hair products for years: Nature's Gate, OGX, EO, Avalon Organics, etc. And actually, some were great. But then I just got so sick with myself for all the plastic I was buying.
Let's Do Some Hair Care!
It's very simple to make natural, homemade shampoo and I bet once you do it, you'll be hooked. Not only is it easy to make, but it is MUCH more affordable and more #ecofriendly, and you will love the versatility of it- you can custom design your own scents and properties by changing up the essential oils.
Gather Your Supplies:
You will need the following items:
A receptacle (a glass pump bottle is great, but you can use old plastic shampoo bottles or whatever works for you!)
1/2 cup castile soap (I use Dr. Bronner's lavender, but feel free to use any brand and scent, or unscented)
1 1/2 cup Distilled water
3 tsp Natural oil (I use organic jojoba, but you can use coconut, argan, almond, avocado, apricot, etc.)
6-10 drops Essential oils (optional- I use rosemary and lavender)
Directions:
In your receptacle, pour in the castile soap and the water. Shake gently to mix. Add in the natural oil. If you are using, add in the Essential Oils. Mix.
How To Use The Shampoo:
At first, I was using this shampoo like I used my store-bought products- I would squirt about a quarter-size blob into my hand and then create a some lather and work it into my hair. BUT...I found that it didn't lather too well in my hands and I didn't like that.
So what works for me is to get my hair wet, gather it all up on the crown of my head, and then squirt my shampoo directly onto my scalp and hair. Then I can work up a really good lather.
Rinse with cool (cold, if you can stand it!) water. That's it! You are shampooed.
What About Conditioner Or Rinse?
For me, I found that I absolutely need a hair rinse to follow this shampoo. I LOVE this shampoo, but it can leave some build-up (that castile soap is hardy stuff). I tried many iterations of conditioners and masks, but found that a simple hair rinse works best for me. You can learn how to make that in my Hair Rinse blog.
Which Essential Oils Should I Use?
Essential Oils are such a fad and for years, I really avoided them. Not the oils, per se, but the whole cult following around them. But a good friend of mine, who I trust, helped get me into the practical aspects of EO's and I have come to really love them, especially now that I am making all these products!
Now, as you may know, each EO has its own properties and uses. For your specific hair needs, you can find the right EO or combination to help support your goals. Here is a VERY QUICK cheat sheet but please read more about EO's and learn what works best for you!
For dry hair or dandruff: lemongrass, tea tree, ylang-ylang
For greasy hair: grapefruit, sage, rosemary
For hair growth: lavender, peppermint, cedarwood, tea tree
Let Me Know How It Goes!
I love getting feedback! How did this shampoo work out for you?
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