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

Castile Shampoo Recipe

I use this and am very pleased with the outcome.

Shampoo Recipe

Ingredients:

* water – ¼ of a cup
* liquid castile soap – 1/4 cup
* 1/2 teaspoon of sunflower or any mild vegetable oil of your choice

Directions:

Place all the ingredients for your liquid soap in a hollow container and mix well. Place the finished mixture in an empty bottle to store. Make sure that you rinse your hair well before and after shampooing.

Moisturizing Honey Body Wash with Essential Oils Information

This is a wonderful and easy body wash that leaves your skin feeling great and gives you lots of suds.  I make mine and store in a repurposed body wash bottle with pump.

Ingredients:

• ⅔ cup liquid castile soap 
• ¼ cup raw, unfiltered honey 
• 2 teaspoons oil – grapeseed, jojoba, sweet almond, sesame, or olive (find it here
• 1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil 
• 50 – 60 drops essential oils - see suggestions below

Directions:

Measure out all ingredients and combine in a bottle with a squirt top, shaking to mix. Shake gently before each use. To use, squirt onto a washcloth, bath pouf, or directly onto body.

Since this recipe doesn’t contain water, it has a long shelf life of up to a year.

Essential oils for skin

When making your body wash, keep your particular skin type in mind and find a scent you enjoy. If you’re using this body wash for your baby, you may want to omit the essential oils altogether, or just add a few drops of chamomile or lavender essential oil. If children will be using the body wash, use half the suggested amount of essential oils.

Here are some suggestions:

Chamomile (German and Roman) – Great for dry and sensitive skin, acne, eczema, and dermatitis.

Geranium – Great for oily complexions, acne, mature skin, eczema, dermatitis, and other problematic skin conditions. It also brightens and revitalizes dull skin.

Grapefruit – This essential oil tones the skin and is extremely cleansing for oily skin. If using the amount suggested in the above recipe, there is no phototoxic concern.

Lavender – Very gentle and good for all skin types, including very sensitive skin. Perfect for mature skin, acne, eczema, and psoriasis. Effective in soothing itchy skin.

Palmarosa – Stimulates new cell growth, moisturizes skin, and regulates oil production. This makes it a valuable essential oil for use in any DIY skin products.

Patchouli – Antimicrobial, astringent, fungicidal, and deodorant. Great for acne, cracked and chapped skin, eczema, oily skin, and mature skin.

Peppermint –  Since peppermint is very strong, use only half the amount recommended in the recipe (or less). Cooling, refreshing, and stimulating. Has astringent properties, making it perfect for acneic skin. (Note: Avoid during first 4 months of pregnancy.)

Rosemary – Rosemary is stimulating and restorative. Useful for acne, eczema, and dermatitis. (Note: Avoid during pregnancy. Do not use if you are epileptic or have high blood pressure.)

Sandalwood – Useful for acne, dry, cracked, and chapped skin. Also great for wrinkles and mature skin.

Sweet orange – One of the only citrus essential oils that is not phototoxic, sweet orange is helpful for dull or oily skin.

Tea tree – This antibacterial oil can be nicely blended with others like lavender and peppermint. May be useful for acne, oily skin, rashes, and inflamed skin. Using too much may actually create a drying effect. You may need to experiment a little to find the right amount for your skin.

Ylang ylang – Great for general skin care, irritated skin, oily skin, or acne. Since this oil is a strong scent, add a few drops at a time until the desired aroma is achieved. (You will need much less than the amount suggested in the above recipe.)

Make it your own

Don’t limit yourself to the essential oils or ingredients recommended in this recipe.

Experiment with your favorite ingredients, and be sure to let us know how it turns out!

Laundry Detergent

I just love this recipe.  It is easy to make, cheaper than other detergents and does a wonderful job on my family's clothes.

Laundry Detergent

Ingredients:

3 bars of Fels-Naptha

1 box of Borax

1 box of Super Washing Soda

1 Value Size Box of Baking Soda

Directions:

Grate the bars of Fels-Naptha and then mix all ingredients together.  I leave mine like this but you can run everything through the food processor to make the soap more fine.  I store mine in repurposed coffee cans.  

For each load, I use a little less than 1/4 cup.

Coconut Oil Deodorant

I am very pleased with the outcome of this deodorant, and it is so easy.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/4 cup baking soda

1/4 cup coconut oil - melted

10-20 drops of essential oils

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together.  

I do not use an old deodorant container, I pour mine into cupcake papers in a cupcake pan and allow it to harden.  I then just use the discs. 

Coconut Oil Toothpaste

I have spent a lot of time lately trying to get as many chemicals out of my life as much as possible.  So I have started on focusing on health and beauty aids.  Since I have begun using this toothpaste, I no longer have sensitive teeth which is something I have battled with for many years.  I make mine plain but you can add any essential oil for which ever flavor you desire.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup coconut oi - slightly softened or melted
1/4 cup baking soda
Optional:  10-20 drops of essential oils

Directions:

Mix oil and baking soda together until smooth.  Add oils and mix well.  I keep mine in a small mason jar.  I also mix often as the mixture is cooling and starting to harden because the baking soda tends to fall to the bottom of the jar.