How to Make Shampoo at Home: 8 Natural Recipes

The evidence for homemade shampoo’s effectiveness is mostly anecdotal. There is little clinical research, so we can’t truly know whether it’s safer or better for your hair than store-bought shampoo.

However, if you’re looking for alternative ways to keep your scalp and hair clean, you can learn plenty about making your own shampoo from scratch.

When it comes to DIY shampoo, hair care specialist Aaron Wallace explains that it’s not necessarily better or worse than commercially made shampoos. Both have pros and cons and important factors to consider.

“When you make shampoos at home, you are able to use higher concentrations of ingredients, and the measurement process is not as accurate,” says Wallace. “This could lead to products that are out of balance and could end up causing more harm than good.”

Commercial shampoos are produced in highly controlled environments and must meet strict safety standards set by the government.

Wallace explains that he’d “still vote for commercial shampoos that are natural over homemade, because of the testing process that they would have gone through.”

Shampoo bar recipes are a bit more in-depth than liquid shampoo recipes, but if you love the idea of shampoo bars for environmental or travel reasons, there are plenty of recipes to try. Many use lye, but the following recipe is lye-free.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup castile melt-and-pour soap
• 1 teaspoon (tsp.) olive oil
• ½ tsp. castor oil
• ½ tsp. black molasses
• 15 drops vanilla essential oil
• 15 drops patchouli essential oil
• 10 drops rosemary essential oil
• 1 soap mold

Directions:

1. Cut the melt-and-pour soap base into small cubes.
2. Add to a double boiler (aluminum bowl in a pan half-filled with warm water) on low to medium heat. Water should be simmering, not boiling.
3. Stir continuously until the soap base is melted.
4. Add oils and black molasses, then mix well.
5. Take the bowl off the heat and wait a few minutes until slightly cooled.
6. Add essential oils and mix well.
7. Pour into mold and let sit for 24 hours.

While research suggests there are health benefits, the FDA doesn’t monitor or regulate the purity or quality of essential oils. It’s important to talk with a healthcare professional before you begin using essential oils and be sure to research the quality of a brand’s products. Always do a patch test before trying a new essential oil.

Clarifying shampoos are made for deep cleaning and are typically used sparingly, usually once per week. They remove product buildup caused by hairspray, hair mousse, and other products and chemicals. This recipe works as a gentle clarifying shampoo.

Ingredients:

Directions:

1. Pour all ingredients into a 16-ounce (oz.) bottle.
2. Gently shake to combine ingredients.

Not everyone believes in the power of castile soap, despite its rise in popularity as a home and beauty product in recent years.

One of the main reasons some people may avoid using castile soap is that it has a high pH (8–9), while hair’s natural pH level is around 4–5.

This pH-balanced shampoo recipe may help if you want a recipe free of castile soap.

Ingredients:

• 1 can full-fat coconut milk (13.5 oz.)
• 2 tbsp. raw honey
• 1 tsp. jojoba oil
• 1 tsp. castor oil
• 2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp. essential oils of choice

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients.
2. Whisk until smooth.
3. Shake well before each use.

While there isn’t much research behind homemade shampoo, there is research behind ingredients you can add to your shampoo recipe. For instance, a 2014 study found that peppermint oil promotes hair growth without signs of toxicity. Other natural ingredients may also support hair regrowth.

Green tea and honey recipe

This green tea and honey recipe may help with hair growth. Green tea helps get rid of dandruff (which can cause hair loss), and honey can moisturize dry hair.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp. honey
• 1 tsp. olive oil
• ½ cup green tea
• ¼ cup castile soap
• 1 tsp. lime juice or aloe vera
• 5–10 drops of peppermint and lavender essential oils

Directions:

1. Brew green tea leaves (or tea bags).
2. Combine green tea with other ingredients and mix well.

Carrot and maple recipe

Another possible hair growth recipe is this carrot and maple DIY shampoo. According to this 2016 study, carrot seed oil has natural antifungal properties and stimulates hair growth, while maple syrup may have antibacterial properties, prevent dandruff, and nourish hair.

Ingredients:

Directions:

Combine all ingredients until smooth.

Aloe vera recipe

If your hair is dry and brittle, you can try this aloe vera DIY shampoo recipe. Aloe vera helps balance the pH level of your scalp to lessen hair loss, while almond oil soothes scalp irritation.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup castile soap
• ½ cup water
• ⅓ cup aloe vera
• 4 tbsp. almond oil

Directions:

Combine all ingredients.

You can also buy natural shampoos to help with hair loss.

According to board certified dermatologist Kavita Mariwalla, MD, FAAD, homemade shampoo with ingredients such as olive oil can worsen dandruff.

“And depending on what is in the shampoo, it can throw off the natural balance of the skin and give you dandruff or even bacterial growth, which leads to folliculitis, which appears like small pimples on the scalp,” she adds.

You can also try the above carrot and maple recipe for dandruff.

You can also find commercial shampoos specifically formulated for dandruff.

Try to keep the following in mind when switching to homemade shampoo:

Switching shampoos

Your hair is probably accustomed to commercial shampoo and has, therefore, adapted to match its ingredients. It can take some time for your hair to adjust to the new recipe. Just like when swapping to a ‘no poo’ method, it will adjust, but it will likely take time.

Hair and scalp conditions

If you have pre-existing hair and scalp conditions, you should consult a dermatologist before changing your routine.

“You need to be especially cautious about what you use and how,” explains Wallace. “The risk with homemade shampoos is that they are rarely made by formulation experts who understand the delicate balances of these ingredients and the correct way to mix and use them.

“The life cycle of homemade shampoos and their ingredients will be hard to measure, and so you are at risk of using out-of-date products without knowing or overusing ingredients unintentionally.”

pH levels

Lastly, you may want to be careful about the pH level of your shampoo. As mentioned, castile soap has a high pH level. Mariwalla doesn’t think it’s an ideal choice for individuals with color-treated hair or issues with seborrheic dermatitis.

If you’re using ingredients you have never used before, do a patch test of the product on your inner arm. If there’s no reaction after 24 hours, then the ingredient is likely safe for you to use.