Many commercial shampoos contain sodium lauryl sulfate, which can cause dandruff.
Herbal shampoos are both a great way to save money and a great way to save your hair from harsh chemicals. Plus, they're easy to make right in your own kitchen, with just a little time and effort. You can even customize them to address the issues specific to your hair and get just what your hair needs without having to pay for expensive chemicals. By starting with one basic shampoo formula, everyone in your home can create a simple, customized and natural shampoo.
Instructions
1. Making a good herbal shampoo begins with choosing your herbs. Some herbs work better with dry hair, some with oily hair and some are good no matter what kind of hair you have. Rosemary and lavender flowers are good for any kind of hair. For dry hair, try orange blossoms or elder flowers, and for oily hair try tea tree leaves or lemongrass. Feel free to experiment with your herb mixture to find what's just right for your hair.
2. Put your herb mixture in a 10 ounce glass jar with a lid. Leave some room at the top, but only a half inch or so.
3. Bring the water to a boil and pour it into the jar, over the herbs. Cover with the lid and let it steep for about twenty minutes.
4. Strain the liquid either through a strainer with fine holes or through cheesecloth. If you use the cheesecloth you can squeeze out the last of the liquid by hand, but if you use the strainer, you'll want to use a metal spoon to press out the last of the liquid.
5. Add in the castile soap and almond oil and mix it until it's thoroughly combined. You can use other oils if you choose. For example, apricot kernel oil makes another good base, as does jojoba oil or sesame oil. Olive oil is generally too heavy, especially if you have fine or oily hair to start with.
6. Mix in a few drops of your essential oil--whatever kind you like, as it's mostly for scent. Essential oils are very strong, so just mix in a few drops, smell your shampoo and if you want the smell stronger add a few more.
7. Store you shampoo in a plastic bottle with some kind of spout. Colored plastic is especially good for this as it will help the essential oils in your shampoo retain their potency.
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