Natural homemade shampoo is safe to use, healthy, amazingly budget-friendly or, in short, everything our standard store-bought shampoo isn’t which, you will agree, does make for a pretty good reason to give DIY shampoos a go. And with so many fantastic natural ingredients just waiting to be used in all those modern and traditional natural shampoo recipes and a list of 18 fantastic DIY shampoos, it’s time to go DIY or go home!
First on my list of natural homemade shampoos is a recipe I’ve promised to one of our readers some time ago then shuffled through a whole lot of old notebooks only to realize I don’t have it anymore. Luckily, there are ladies out there who still had it and although it took some time, I finally managed to get my hands on it!
Ingredients:
Organic Nettle Shampoo (500ml)
1-2 Table Spoons Panthenol Solution
Stinging Nettle Extract (25ml)
2-3 Vials Vitamin B Complex
Castor Oil (50ml)
Pro Tip: Combine the ingredients together and store in a glass jar to avoid interaction with the herbs. Use this shampoo to improve the condition of your hair and prevent thinning. First results (new growth) should be visible after about a month and you should continue to use it over the course of next 3-4 months. Due to the properties of Panthenol (which acts as a natural silicone, coating the hair shaft making it feel stiffer than usual), a clarifying treatment might be a good one to throw in once in a while or, you can choose not to add Panthenol at all and apply it separately instead to roots only (which will reduce oiliness).
To make this stinging nettle shampoo, simply mix the organic nettle shampoo base with the other ingredients listed. The nettle extract is known for promoting scalp health and encouraging hair growth, while the vitamin B complex and castor oil nourish the scalp and strengthen hair. Be aware that the shampoo has a distinct herbal scent, which is a small price for the potential benefits. Patience is key; give it time to work its magic. With consistent use, not only could you see an improvement in hair growth, but also in overall hair health. Remember, natural remedies work in tune with your body's rhythms.
Awesome for removing buildup, dandruff and excess sebum, baking soda shampoo is yet another great DIY shampoo to try out! I’ve tested this one just a few days ago and I can’t believe I’m actually going to say this but my hair felt and looked clean for four days straight (after which I had to wash it, not because it looked dirty but because of this little voice in my head which kept throwing in nasty comments). All you’ll have to do is mix a tablespoon of baking soda with a cup or two of water (I made a stronger solution and did my best to really massage it well into my scalp) and use it like you would use your regular shampoo! Now, I don’t know about you but this is definitely one of those natural shampoo recipes I’ll be using again!
Cleansing properties of lemons and nourishing properties of cucumber put together can help you go natural, take a break from regular shampoos and even find a cure for your poor dry scalp! And guess what? The instruction on how to make this shampoo is even easier than the first one! Simply peel (yes –peel!) one lemon and one cucumber put them into a food processor and process until you get a smooth runny paste to apply as a shampoo. Scrub, scrub, scrub then rinse reaaaally well (this is the tricky part because bits of lemon tend to cling horribly) and voila!
The potent antibacterial and antifungal properties of lemon effectively combat dandruff while cucumber's high silica content promotes hair growth and luster. Your hair not only gets cleaned but also receives a refreshing infusion of vitamins and minerals. If the bits of lemon are giving you trouble, simply strain the mixture with a cheesecloth before applying. For added benefit, you can also throw in a bit of aloe vera gel for its soothing hydration. Give your tresses the spa treatment they deserve with this morning-fresh shampoo!
Why spend all those $$$ on dry shampoos when you can get the same effect by using something as natural, harmless and budget-friendly as cornstarch? And guess what? Using this organic hair product doesn’t even require a set of DIY skills! Simply purchase this powder, choose a package that suits your needs best (a spare compact would be ideal) and use on your roots whenever they start looking oily. Dab-dab-wait-brush out…how simpler could it be!
Speaking about cornstarch and all those fantastic DIY stuff you can use it for – how about taking a chance with yet another interesting natural homemade shampoo? Simply mix one tablespoon of baking soda and a cup of water, add cornstarch until it reaches desired thickness and use on your hair instead of your regular shampoo to get more volume and thickness!
Cornstarch Thickening Shampoo is a simple, natural homemade shampoo alternative that can help give your hair more volume and thickness. To make it, mix one tablespoon of baking soda and a cup of water and then add cornstarch until it reaches the desired thickness. This shampoo is a great choice for those looking for a natural and affordable way to add body to their hair. It's also free of harsh chemicals, making it an excellent choice for those with sensitive skin. With regular use, you'll notice your hair feeling softer and fuller. Plus, it's easy to make and use, so you can enjoy a luxurious hair care experience without breaking the bank.
Having dry hair often means spending a lot of cash on various shampoos, conditioners, deep conditioning mumbo jumbo and whatnot which, although can help to restore softness and shine, often do it only temporary. Well, here’s a neat natural shampoo recipe you ought to try out and the best thing about it is that it’s actually a shampoo and a conditioner which means you’re going natural all the way doubling your savings in the process!
Ingredients:
Organic Castile Soap - Liquid (1 cup)
Apple Cider Vinegar (2 Tablespoons)
Tea Tree Oil (1 Tablespoon)
Water (1/4 Cup)
Instructions:
Mix all the ingredients together, pour into a spray bottle and add a few drops of your favorite essential oil.
Feeling especially creative today? Well, good, because I have more natural shampoo recipes to share! And this one is also perfect for dry hair, so great you might even feel like skipping conditioner altogether! And here’s what you’ll need:
Ingredients:
Coconut Milk (1/4 Cup)
Extra Mild Organic Shampoo (1/3 Cup)
Almond Oil (1 tablespoon)
Essential oil(s) of choice (10 Drops)
Instructions:
Mix the ingredients together (in no particular order), shake well and voila!
Coconut milk is a great natural ingredient to use in shampoos, as it is rich in vitamins and minerals that nourish the hair. It also helps to reduce dryness and restore softness and shine. It is especially beneficial for those with dry hair, as it helps to moisturize and condition the scalp and hair.
Almond oil is another great natural ingredient to use in shampoos. It helps to nourish the scalp and hair, as it is rich in fatty acids and vitamins. It helps to reduce dryness, frizz and breakage. It also helps to add shine and softness to the hair.
Essential oils can also be added to homemade shampoos to provide additional benefits. They can be used to help improve the scent of the shampoo and to help promote healthy hair growth. Essential oils such as lavender, rosemary, and peppermint are all great choices.
Organic shampoos are also beneficial, as they are free from harsh chemicals and synthetic ingredients. They are also more gentle on the hair and scalp, and can help to provide a more natural, healthy look.
You’ve probably heard of Cognac and Egg hair mask and have even explored enough to know that this liquor does amazing things to hair and scalp! But did you know that you can also use Cognac to make a fantastic DIY shampoo for normal hair? Simply mix a half a cup of organic baby shampoo with a tablespoon of honey and a small glass of this liquor, apply on your hair, allow it 5 minutes to work its magic and rinse.
Looking forward to spending your summer getting to know every corner of your favorite swimming pool? Well, this just might be one of those natural shampoo recipes you’ll want to take a look at even if you’re not interesting in ditching traditional shampoos. It’s quite simple to make, you’ll only need to use it once every week or two which leaves you plenty of time to enjoy your other store-bough products and even a bit of spare cash you’d normally spend on a pricy swimmer’s shampoo! No need to go green – Go DIY and let all others experiment with that particular unpleasant shade whenever they take a look at your gorgeous tresses!
Ingredients:
Water (1/4 gallon or 1 liter)
Castile Flakes (4 ounces or roughly 120 grams)
Avocado, Olive or Almond Oil (1/4 cup)
Instructions:
Boil water, pour it over the flakes and stir until the mixture has cooled after which you’ll add your oil of choice and pour your newly made organic hair product into a bottle.
Next on my list of great natural homemade shampoos you really ought to check out in case you’re trying to find a natural way to get rid of dandruff is a recipe that may require a bit more ingredients and hard work, but will be such a pleasure to use making you instantly forget that bit of extra trouble!
Ingredients:
Distilled Water (1/4 cup)
Castile Soap Liquid (1/4 cup)
Grapeseed or Jojoba Oil (1/2 cup)
Apple Cider Vinegar (1 tbsp)
Fresh Apple Juice (3 tbsps)
Garlic Cloves (6, finely processed)
Instructions:
Combine all of you ingredients in a food processor, switch on low and process until smooth! Now’s the time to give this shampoo a go!
Still wondering how to make a natural shampoo able to do something even commercial brands keep promising but rarely deliver? Like, making your hair really, really shiny? Well, this is the ideal recipe to try this summer as it will not only kick up the shine factor but really show you the true meaning of freshness!
Ingredients:
Distilled Water (1/4 cup)
Castile Soap, Liquid (1/4 cup)
Dried Rosemary (2 tablespoons)
Almond Oil (2 tablespoons)
Lemon Essential Oil (1/2 Teaspoon)
Instructions: Make a rosemary infusion by boiling distilled water pouring it over dried Rosemary leaves and steeping it until half cooled. Strain then use this liquid as a base in which you’ll add the rest of the ingredients. Voila! Now all you have to do is find a bottle to keep your shampoo in and remember to use it, of course!
Aloe Vera is known for its fantastic soothing and nurturing properties and is actually quite a popular ingredient of many skincare and hair care products. Pricy skincare and hair care products, if I may add! And again, there is a way to get around the whole “pay up” thing by taking matters into your own hands…literally! Don’t worry, though, as this shampoo is actually a piece of cake and all you’ll have to do is “spice up” a half a cup of some of your favorite organic hair products (natural shampoos) or plain liquid castile soap with two tbsps of freshly squeezed lemon juice and a teaspoon of aloe vera gel.
Throwing apple cider vinegar into your DIY equation is the best way to get rid of that waxy, bit dirtyish feeling some people experience during the first few weeks of transitioning. And although a standard rinse is the best way to get that squeaky clean hair, you can also choose to go a step further and mix up this nurturing DIY shampoo that won’t only leave your hair feeling clean but soft and nurtured as well.
Ingredients:
1 egg
Fresh Lemon Juice (two tablespoons)
Apple Cider Vinegar (1 teaspoon)
Olive Oil (30 ml)
Instructions:
Throw all of your ingredients into a food processor (ah, don’t you just love the simplicity of it?) and blend until smooth then apply to your hair and scalp massaging for a few minutes before rinsing out with lukewarm water.
In case you like the idea of giving baking soda a go and are hoping for more tips on what to mix it with in order to come up with a shampoo that neutralizes oily roots while nurturing your hair, definitely take a peek at the following recipe:
Ingredients:
1 Ripe Avocado (Peeled, Pitted and Pureed)
Baking Soda (2 tsps)
Distilled Water (1/4 cup, preferably warm)
Instructions:
Blend the ingredients well until you get a smooth paste and…well… that’s pretty much it! Hope you’ll enjoy this fantastic natural shampoo recipe.
Eggs, baking soda, lemon juice and olive oil do mix more than well and doing so will produce a moisturizing shampoo good for all hair types. Oh, and no need to go shopping for any special ingredients because I’m sure you already have everything needed to make this cool natural homemade shampoo!
Ingredients:
Two eggs
Baking Soda (3 tsps)
Olive Oil (2 tsps)
Lemon Juice (2 tsps)
Instructions:
Beat two eggs before adding the other ingredients then continue to stir until your mixture is nice and smooth. Apply it on your scalp giving it a gentle scrub then rinse thoroughly.
Popular ingredient of many folk remedies as well as many praised hair and skincare detergents in Ayrvedic medicine, soap nuts are a perfect natural substitute for shampoo! Their anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties make them worth checking out and the same can be said for Shikakai, an ingredient of many traditional Indian shampoos.
Ingredients:
Soap Nuts/ Reetha (100 grams)
Shikakai Powder (1-2 teaspoons)
Instructions: Soak soap beans in water and leave them overnight then pour the contents of your bowl into a blender, add Shikakai powder and blend until smooth.
Okay, ladies, I have one more 100% natural homemade shampoo to share before I let you go through these recipes one more time to decide which to use. You might want to take notes of this one here and now because I found it browsing through an Indian blog and judging from the photo of the woman who uses this recipe on regular basis I can only say this – SOOOO worth a shot!
Ingredients:
Shikakai (500 grams)
Fenugreek (250 grams)
Mung Beans/Greem Gram (250 grams)
Curry Leaves (One package/bunch)
Basil/Tulsi Leaves (One package/bunch)
Soap Beans (100grams)
Instructions:
Spread all of your ingredients onto a piece of cloth or paper and sun-dry two days or 12 hours total. In case some of your ingredients are already bought dried even better, dry fresh ones until they’re nice and crispy then grind them all into a fine powder which you can store in a jar for quite a few months taking small amounts to mix with water for each shampoo.
Honey is great for your health in numerous ways, as most of you probably know. I've used it for years as a beauty remedy though, instead of in my food, because along with being tasty, it's also so healing to the skin in many ways. Honey is also great for your hair as well. Try this DIY Shampoo which uses honey. It is simple to make and it makes your hair smell amazing. This shampoo treats dandruff, moisturizes your hair, fights frizz and also helps with dryness to soften it.
Ingredients:
2 tbsp. raw honey (non-raw versions are actually cut with corn syrup to thicken them)
6 tbsp. warm water
Optional- any essential oils you enjoy for scent purposes such as lavender, peppermint, chamomile, etc. *Carrot seed oil is especially nourishing to the hair*
Directions:
Heat the water and honey together over very low heat just until melted. Stir to combine and immediately remove from the heat. You can also heat a bowl first with the water in it, then stir in the honey, or blend it after heating the water so you preserve more of the nutrients in the honey. Add any oils you wish and then use on your hair. The mixture is supposed to be watery, so don't be alarmed when this happens. Pour into a small jar and keep it in your shower. You can multiply the ratios to make more than a serving at one time. The ratio is 1 tbsp honey to 3 tbsp. water.
Source: empoweredsustenance.com
I use African black soap as an everyday cleansing soap bar, and truly love how healing and natural it is. I've been using it for years after learning about how nourishing it is to the skin and hair in so many ways. African black soap is a handmade soap from the leaves of the palm tree. Palm leaves are blended with cocoa pod ash, plantain skin ash, palm kernel oil, and usually shea butter. This wonderful soap can easily be combined with a few other ingredients to create a shampoo that prevents and treats dandruff, helps dry hair and scalp, prevents frizz and tangles, and can extend the life of your hair in between washes.
Ingredients:
4 tbsp. African Black Soap crumbled into pieces.
1 cup of hot water
2 tbsp. raw honey
3 tbsp. grapeseed oil
Directions:
Mix all the ingredients together in a glass jar with a lid, or a plastic bottle. Shake well and allow it to cool a little before you use it. This shouldn't take long, but the hot water will cause the mixture to be pretty warm, and as it cools, the mixture will thicken and be easier to apply, as well as easier on your hair. Use half the mixture to wash your hair and save the rest for your next wash.
Go ahead, ladies, give a natural shampoo a shot! Do have in mind that hair needs time to get used to the transition which means the results might not exactly prove to be satisfying at first. No need to worry though, you can always follow up with a vinegar rinse to ensure squeaky clean hair! But, tell me – do you have some interesting natural shampoo recipes to share?