Homemade Herbal Shampoo

I haven't made this yet, but I will for my next batch of shampoo.  Thank you Nerdy Farm Wife for the recipe.

Customizable DIY Herbal Shampoo Recipe:

• 2 ounces Dr. Bronner’s Unscented Baby Mild Pure Castile Soap
• 4 to 5 ounces of water, infused with herbs (see suggestions below)
• 1/4 teaspoon carrier oil – more for dry hair, less for oily (options below)
• 20 to 40 drops essential oil (suggestions below)

First, make your herbal infusion by placing a teaspoon, or pinch, of each type of herb you wish to use in a heat proof jar or glass, pour one cup of simmering hot water over the herbs, cap with a saucer and let steep for several hours. Strain and set aside 4 to 5 ounces. Any leftover infusion can be used in your bathwater or diluted with vinegar to use as a hair rinse.

Add the castile soap, carrier oil and essential oils to the water. Gently stir until mixed. Try to avoid whipping up any bubbles, as much as possible. Pour into an easy to dispense container. You can recycle an old shampoo bottle for this.

Make small batches at a time and store this in your refrigerator. Shelf life will be up to a few weeks, but check for spoilage before each use.

Shake or swirl gently before each use. If at all possible, follow with either a rinse or spritzing of vinegar and water. More on this below.

Okay, so now that we know the basic recipe, let’s talk about how to customize this shampoo in order to make it your own.

Herbs to try in your infusion:

These can be fresh or dry or a combination of both types.

Chamomile is traditionally used for light hair and rosemary for dark hair, but feel free to mix and match as you please. You can make a lovely floral shampoo, using roses, violets, lavender and other flowers with matching essential oils or create a more medicinal one with rosemary, thyme and tea tree oil.

Comfrey and calendula are great for scalp conditions and rosemary is said to prevent thinning hair. Lavender may help a dry, itchy scalp. These are just a few suggestions.

Peruse through the listings of available bulk herbs at Mountain Rose Herbs and see which names catch your eye. Each herb has a little link under its name that you can click for more information that will let you know what it’s useful for.

You can also invest in a great herbal reference book. My favorite is Making Plant Medicineby Richo Cech.

• Calendula
• Chamomile
• Comfrey
• Lavender
• Lemon or Orange Peel
• Nettle Leaf
• Oregano
• Plantain
• Rose Petals and/or Leaves
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Thyme
• Violet Flowers and/or Leaves