Maybe I’m a little off my rocker, but when I take a shower I think about the chemicals washing over my skin as I rinse my hair. You know that phrase “Ignorance is bliss”? Well, I know exactly what they mean.
The more I know about various topics the more I question and want to change the way we live our lives, the products we consume, the choices we make. I have to take baby steps though. I want to accomplish my goals and make a permanent change. Last night I took another step forward. Here goes nothing! I made my own shampoo and conditioner!
Ingredients
- 1 cup pure liquid castile soap
- 1 cup green tea (brewed for 30 minutes)
- 1 tablespoon organic olive oil
- 1 teaspoon organic raw honey
Directions
- Brew green tea for 30 minutes.
- Add all other ingredients.
- Mix.
- Add essential oils.
You can use the shampoo as is, or depending upon your hair type, add essential oils to make it even better.
Want fuller, thicker hair? Consider adding Cedarwood, Rosemary, and Lavender to your shampoo! I would add 5-10 drops of each depending on the size of the bottle.
Dry, Itchy Scalp? Consider using Lemon, Lavender, Peppermint, and Rosemary. I would add 5-10 drops of each. The Peppermint gives you a nice tingly, refreshing feeling.
Got bugs? Consider Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree oil) as a preventative. I would add about 10 drops. Where I buy my essential oils.
For the natural conditioner I used the following recipe:
- 2.5 cups of hot water
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 bag of herbal tea, for fragrance (if not adding essential oils).
- To make your vinegar rinse, place the water in a container of your choice. Then, add the rest of the ingredients. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes. Use about 3/4 of a cup of the rinse each time you condition, shaking up the bottle prior.
- This works well! Only use it every couple of days. If you are using the homemade shampoo recipe I posted this is the perfect compliment to it.
Hey, Kara! I’m trying the shampoo mixture today – finally got all of the ingredients! I’m using sage tea instead of green tea. I also got some lavender oil to include since I love that smell.
I’ll let you know how it goes!
Awesome! I can’t wait to hear about it! I would like to add lavender oil. That sounds really good.
Okay! I finally have a minute to sit down and give you an update! (I’ve been trying for about 2 weeks! 🙂 )
First – I could only find peppermint or eucalyptus (I just spelled that correctly on the first try – wow!) castile soap…I got peppermint. Smells delightful, works wonderfully – but don’t use on kids…a little bit trickled down my cheek and got pretty close to my eye and was very “cold”! Sensitive skin doesn’t like that!
Second – at the Vitamin Shoppe, I found Baby Mild Dr. Bonner’s castile soap. Much better. I added some lavender essential oil, but apparently not enough because that smell has already kind of gone away. But I’ve used this on the kids just fine!
Third – I only made a half batch of the kids’ version because I wasn’t sure of the shelf life…do you know how long it will last? Will it spoil? I wasn’t sure.
Fourth – I have also been using it as a bodywash…why not?!? I LOVE IT! You know those little dry bumps you get on the back of your arms (well, I get them, anyway) – gone! And my skin doesn’t get as dry now all over! Hooray! I was thinking to add some more honey and olive oil to the mix to make it even more moisturizing. Have you tried that?
Fifth – I finally got all of the ingredients for the vinegar rinse, but haven’t tried it yet. Has it been working for you? I did try the coconut – didn’t like that. Too oily.
Thank you again for posting this wonderful “recipe”! I am so pleased with it, I will never buy commercial shampoo or body wash again! Yippee!
I’ve been using both since early January and I am VERY pleased. I made a double batch of the shampoo and it lasts a long time. I’m not sure about a shelf life on it but it has been about 5 weeks for me now and it is still working. Great to hear about the peppermint. I bought the baby mild and that is working well. I’m about to post my body scrub recipe. I’ve been experimenting for about a month and I LOVE the latest formula! Glad to hear things are going well! Thanks for the update.
Hi, Kara! I am a fellow CMOM! I stumbled on your blog via Facebook and I love it! I am going to try these recipes because I, too, have wanted to go more natural with our personal care products. I never did find what looked like a good shampoo/conditioner recipe but these look good. Very basic and easy to find ingredients.
Of course I am going to try all of this AFTER the Sale! LOL 🙂
Great to hear! I love CMOMs. The group provided amazing support for my husband and I as we tried to figure out what to do to prepare for the birth of twins AND what to do once we got them home! 🙂 I have many more recipes and ideas coming!
The best way to use coconut oil as a conditioner is this – massage into hair and scalp before shampooing. Leave in for 30 minutes or longer. Shampoo, rinse, you are done.
I have really course oily hair; switched 2 weeks ago to a shampoo bar but my hair feels like it has a film which is normal while transitioning but it is still oily. I have also tried plain dr.bronners but doesnt feel much better. Do you think this would work? Has anyone made there own liquid castile soap?
I have slightly oily hair and I find this recipe works very well on mine. I think the peppermint Dr. Bronner’s is a little more astringent than the baby mild, so you might try that. I also used sage tea , but you might try the yarrow.
I accidentally used too much olive oil once and it made my hair way too oily! So you might even try using a little less olive oil than what is in the original recipe.
You might also try a baking soda solution. I haven’t tried one but I’ve been reading about that as an option as well.
I have yet to try the vinegar rinse on myself, but the kids do not like it at all…it’s cold going on and they really dislike the smell. But at least the shampoo works!
Awesome! Glad it’s working for you!
Just responding to the baking soda option. I had been using a mixture of 2 tbsp. baking soda to 1 cup warm water for a couple of weeks, with an apple cider vinegar rinse (2 teaspoons to 1 cup water) with fantastic results. No flakes, and shiny manageable hair! Unfortunately, I had my hair colored recently, and the baking soda solution made my hair gritty and very difficult to brush through and style, so I definitely wouldn’t recommend it’s use after hair color.
That said, I am REALLY excited to try out the shampoo recipe in this blog! Thanks for all your trailblazing, Kara! 🙂
Not a problem! Loving it!
The shampoo mixed using the liquid as the shampoo recipe calls for doesn’t leave a film.
Hello! i was wondering where you purchased the container for the shampoo you made. It’s so nice and I would love to buy one. Thank you.
I couldn’t track down the exact one but this one is very similar!
There is no link for “this one” ….
Uh oh! I’ll check it and fix it. Thanks!
Do you know if this is safe for colored hair (henna) or would if make it fade faster? I wash my hair twice a week.
Thank you!!
My hair is colored with henna and I haven’t had a problem!
Hi wow these all sound great! I am wanting something to add to my shampoo that would help to thicken my hair, it is so very fine I have decided to try and let it grow long but it is so fine and I see it thinning out in the front,any suggestions for me thanks in advance !! : )
Cedarwood and Rosemary essential oils are two that people have had good results with for hair! http://www.lifesanity.com/how-to-buy-essential-oils/