When you buy shampoo, you expect to make your hair fresh, clean, and shiny. But the dirty little secret is that most shampoos fail to do that. Yes, at first glance, your hair will be pleasing.
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But one thing you probably don’t know is that all the ingredients that create the foaming action are the same ones used in various industries. In the car industry, for example, the same ingredients are used to remove grime and gunk from your car.
So, what can you do? A few years ago, I started using natural shampoo on my hair, and I’ve never looked back. For once, I know for sure that all the ingredients I put on my hair are natural and fresh. That being said, I would love to share with you what I know. And I have five recipes for natural shampoo that you can use.
Why use natural shampoos?
Before we get to the recipes, I would like to mention a few more reasons why you should use natural shampoos for your hair.
- Shampoo manufacturers do not have your best interests at heart. They care more about making a profit.
- You, on the other hand, care about your hair and your wallet. And that’s probably why you’re reading this—because you’re skeptical that shampoo manufacturers are doing their best for you.
Baking soda natural shampoo
The simplest homemade shampoo you can make is the baking soda shampoo. You need only baking soda and water. If you want to save money and make this shampoo even more of a bargain, buy baking soda in bulk. Believe me, you’ll find many uses for baking soda in your home.
One note: don’t use this shampoo on a daily basis, as baking soda is a bit abrasive. But you’ll find other shampoos in this list that can help you mix things up.
You need one tablespoon of baking soda and one cup of water. Mix the ingredients in a clean, repurposed shampoo bottle (but you can use any clean container). If you use a bigger container, double up on the ingredients until you fill it up.
Before using the shampoo, make sure to shake the bottle well. Apply the shampoo directly on your scalp and hair. Use gentle, circular movements to apply it thoroughly. Massage for a minute or two, and then rinse well. I suggest you apply some homemade conditioner afterwards.
Coconut oil natural shampoo
Coconut is one of the healthiest ingredients nowadays. The western world is finally catching up with coconut, and we are truly grateful. The best thing about coconut oil shampoo is that it works for both children and adults. Once you start using it, your tangled and oily hair will be a history.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup of coconut milk
- ¼ cup of liquid castile soap
- 20 drops of essential oils (you can use lavender, rosemary, orange, peppermint, mint, or anything else)
How to make it
- Combine all the ingredients in a repurposed, empty shampoo bottle. You can also mix them in a jar. Even pump soap dispensers work. Shake well to mix the ingredients.
Shake well before applying on your hair. Use about a teaspoon every time you need to wash your hair. After applying the shampoo, rinse with water or with a mixture of equal parts of apple cider vinegar and water to clean your hair thoroughly and make it shiny.
Note that if you have dry hair, you can add one more ingredient: a teaspoon of olive or almond oil. The addition of oil will give your dry hair all the nutrients it needs to be shiny and voluminous.
You can use the shampoo for only one month. After that, you should dispose it if you haven’t used it all, and then make a new batch.
Lemon and cucumber natural shampoo
Lemons and cucumbers are the two most commonly used ingredients in beauty treatments. Even the cosmetic industry has lemons and cucumbers in almost every product. The simple reason why is because they have potent cleansing and nourishing properties.
I suggest using this shampoo once in a while to spice things up when using other shampoos, e.g., the baking soda natural shampoo.
Ingredients
- 1 one lemon
- 1 cucumber
How to make it
- Peeling both the lemon and the cucumber.
- Put the ingredients in a food processor or blender, and blend until you get a smooth mixture.
Apply the mixture on your hair and massage it in. You need to rinse well because of the lemon bits that can get stuck in your hair. Rinse thoroughly two times, if needed.
Apple cider vinegar for dry hair natural shampoo
If you have dry hair, I assume you’ve spent a lot of money on conditioners, deep conditioning products, and shampoos. And the reality is that you can restore the softness of your hair and make it shiny with a lot less. That’s why I have a natural shampoo for you to try. You can use it as a shampoo and as a conditioner at the same time.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of organic liquid castile soap
- 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon of tea tree oil
- ¼ cup of water
How to make it
- Mix all the ingredients together in a spray bottle (if you like, you can add a few drops of essential oil). Shake well.
Apply the shampoo on your hair, gently massage your scalp, and then rinse.
You can use this as a conditioner and as a shampoo because the addition of the soap and the essential oil makes it a 2-in-1 product.
Alcoholic homemade shampoo
One of the most famous and commonly used hair masks is cognac and egg. Well, you can use cognac (hard liquor) to make a natural shampoo as well. Here is what you’ll need to prepare a fantastic shampoo for your hair and scalp.
Ingredients
- 1 small glass of cognac
- 1 tablespoon of honey
- ½ cup of organic baby shampoo
How to make it
- Mix all the ingredients in a bottle and shake well.
Apply the shampoo on your hair and allow the mixture to work its magic for five minutes. Rinse thoroughly afterwards.
Tips for oily hair
If you have oily hair, I suggest you try following these tips in addition to using a natural shampoo:
- Every now and then, mix 2 egg yolks and 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and apply as a hair mask.
- If you are trying the baking soda shampoo, shake vigorously to make sure all the baking soda is dissolved.
- Don’t expect immediate results when trying a natural shampoo. It will take two or three weeks before you’ll notice a significant change.
- Add few drops of citrus essential oil like lemon, lime, or orange to your shampoo.
Tips for controlling static
No matter which natural shampoo you use, you might notice some static during the chilly winter months. Here is what you need to do:
- Trim your ends every six or eight weeks.
- Shampoo your hair less often, e.g., once every two days or three times maximum per week.
- Massage a tablespoon of olive oil into your hair once a week.
- Try an avocado and lemon juice mask. Mix the ingredients and let them stay on your hair for 30 minutes before rinsing.
- Massage a teaspoon of coconut oil onto the ends of your hair. Avoid the scalp.
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