How to make homemade shampoo

I have made natural body wash alternatives, dry shampoo, and other hair care products, but homemade shampoo was much more difficult. After many (failed) experiments, I finally came up with a homemade moisturizing shampoo recipe. It uses natural ingredients and leaves my hair feeling soft and silky!

DIY shampoo

I wanted to get away from store bought shampoos that were full of unhealthy preservatives, synthetic chemicals and artificial fragrances. Many commercial shampoos are simply not that great for your hair and scalp.

I tried The “no-poo” method which has great results for some, but it didn't work at all for me (and I have some terrible Christmas pictures to prove it!). If you have thick hair that tends to dry out, this method might be great for you! I have oilier baby hair and it didn't work for me.

If you're not familiar with no-poo, it usually involves rubbing baking soda water on your scalp as a shampoo alternative. Many people follow it up with an acv rinse (apple cider vinegar rinse) and maybe some coconut oil in the hair to finish as a conditioner. Some people find it works great, while others report an itchy scalp, hair loss, and heavy build-up in the hair follicles. Over time, it can also strip the hair of its natural oils.

Don't want to do it?

When I'm traveling or don't have time to do it myself, I've been using some organic shampoos that have worked really well. My favorites are:

• Wellness shampoo – I co-founded this company and helped formulate the recipes. It uses ingredients that are not only non-toxic, but have proven health benefits. There is even an option for curly hair!
• Raw and natural organic shampoo with the Morrocco method – this doesn't lather like normal shampoo, but it has been amazing on my hair and has helped strengthen it over time.

A different homemade shampoo

I missed the foaming aspect of shampoo (I know… the “foam” in regular shampoo is made from synthetic chemicals and detergents…).

I first tried making homemade shampoo simple liquid castile soap, which left me with frizzy hair and a mess. Then I tried a bunch of homemade recipes that didn't work at all. Finally, with the inspiration of a natural coconut milk shampoo (scented) that I love, I finally found a recipe I'm happy with that doesn't leave my hair tangled, greasy, or both.

It also works on children's hair. This is a photo of my daughter's freshly washed hair (not tear free though, so watch your eyes!). It's kind of like a conventional shampoo and you can customize it according to your needs.

It's such a simple natural shampoo recipe that I can't believe it took me this long to think of…

Secret Ingredient: Coconut milk!

What you need for homemade shampoo

• Coconut milk – Coconut milk helps soften and adds natural oils. (UPDATE: some readers mentioned that the canned stuff didn't work well for them, but homemade coconut milk it worked great… Depending on your hair type, homemade might be better for you).
• Liquid castile soap (like Dr. Bronners)
• Selected essential oils (I used peppermint, lavender, rosemary and orange or combinations thereof). Or you can skip them for an unscented version.
• Carrier oil – If your hair is drier, you can add a nourishing hair oil. I usually use olive oil, but castor oil, avocado oil, or jojoba oil also work well. Castor oil also helps in hair growth.

Other homemade shampoos call for ingredients like raw honey, vitamin E, aloe vera gel, or glycerin. Feel free to experiment until you find what works for your hair! Another great and cost-effective option is that make shampoo bars (like soap for your hair).

Essential oils for hair

Adding a few drops of essential oils adds more than just a nice scent. They can also improve scalp and hair health to help thicken hair, prevent breakage, and fight dandruff. Here are some different options and what they do. I have written more extensively about essential oils for hair here.

• Tea tree oil – Useful for dandruff and itchy scalp. It also treats head lice!
• Rosemary – Reduces itchy scalp and flaking, restores hair's natural oil balance and can help prevent split ends.
• lavender – Studies show that it increases the number of hair follicles for better hair growth.
• menthol – Increases hair growth, thickness and length and deepens hair follicles for stronger hair.

Tips for solving problems

How well this shampoo works depends on your hair type and also your water. Some people with really hard water find that it doesn't fight the extra minerals in their water very well.

Which coconut milk you use can also make a difference. Some have noted that canned coconut milk didn't work for them, but homemade did. Keep in mind that homemade coconut milk has a shorter shelf life than canned.

If you find that your hair is really greasy and unmanageable after using this, try doubling the castile soap to 2 parts soap to 1 part coconut milk.

Natural conditioner for hair

Now that you have a natural shampoo, what about conditioner? Since coconut oil (and optional carrier oil) are already moisturizing, you may not need to use any conditioner. Here are a few different options if you want to try them out!

• A chamomile tea rinse at the end of every shower (leave it in!) will produce smooth, silky hair and naturally lighter hair over time.
• Some people find that a 50:50 mixture of apple cider vinegar and water used as a rinse helps to clean hair and increase shine. You can also put it in a spray bottle for easier application.
• it Recipes for home conditioner contains hair nourishing oils, glycerin and essential oils.

But… Don't wash your hair every day!

I can't leave out one of my biggest discoveries about healthy hair. Hair is happier when you don't wash it every day! Read this post to find out why experts say how you wash your hair is just as important as what you wash it with!

Have you ever made your own shampoo? Has it gone “no-poo?” how did it go Share below!