Looking to go more natural? There’s a shampoo for that! We’ll teach you how to make shampoo at home with just a few easy-to-find ingredients. Many commercially made beauty products strip your hair of its natural oils, but using a natural, clean shampoo works to keep them in balance.

Fair warning: transitioning to natural shampoo can be a journey for some. If your hair is used to store-bought shampoos- whether filled with toxic chemicals or considered organic- it will take some time to adjust. You’ll find that after the adjustment period, you will have to wash your hair less frequently! 2-4 times a week is a standard frequency.

The Basics: Essentials

Castille Soap- The most readily available is Dr. Bronner’s, but any pure Castille soap will do. You can choose from unscented or naturally scented varieties. It’s important to be aware of the fact that the pH of Castille soap is around 8 while your hair’s natural pH level rests at around 5. It might not be an ideal ingredient for someone with treated hair. I recommend following up this shampoo with an apple cider vinegar rinse to help balance out the pH.

Oil- My favorite oil to use is jojoba, but you can experiment with oils such as argan, castor, avocado, or coconut. The varying consistency of coconut oil in different temperatures can make it tricky to work with, and for some hair types it might actually dry out the hair.

Optional Ingredients:

Some faults people have found with this basic recipe include that it is too thin, doesn’t have a long shelf life, or doesn’t emulsify well. Here are some options for solving these issues.

Use a natural emulsifier. Oil and water don’t naturally mix, so to avoid vigorous shaking before every use of your shampoo, use an emulsifier that will help blend and stabilize the molecules. Emulsifying waxes such as this one are excellent for this. Make sure you are choosing an option that is naturally derived and following the directions for what percentage to use in the recipe.

Use additional natural preservatives. This is an excellent article on natural preservatives that would be options for your shampoo. Antioxidants like Vitamin E oil and Rosemary oil aren’t considered true preservatives by purists, but they will help extend the shelf life.

Use a natural thickening agent. Using an emulsifying wax will help thicken your shampoo, but you can also try using a thickening agent such as cornstarch. A little goes a long way here.

Essential Oils- While technically optional, the addition of essential oils will not only create a lovely fragrance element to your shampoo but also benefit the health of your hair and scalp.

Essential Oils

If you’re new to using essential oils, welcome. It’s an expansive world with countless uses and benefits. Adding these natural extracts into your haircare routine will boost your overall hair health. Gently massaging the shampoo into your scalp and allowing it to sit for at least a minute will ensure that the essential oils can work their magic.

Do your own research before using essential oils on small children.

Second Fair Warning

Different hair types react differently to different ingredients. You might find that a particular oil doesn’t suit your hair or that Castille soap isn’t leaving your hair the consistency you desire. Don’t be afraid to experiment to find the natural shampoo that works for you.

There’s another great recipe for a more pH-balanced shampoo that calls for 1 can of full fat coconut milk, 2 TBSP raw liquid honey, 2 tsp jojoba oil, 2 TBSP apple cider vinegar, and drops of essential oil. The major drawback of this one is that you have to store it in the fridge and either make it frequently or freeze it in portions in ice cube trays to be thawed out in the fridge.

Using and Storing Shampoo

If you haven’t added a thickening agent, your homemade shampoo will be much thinner than the shampoo you’re used to buying. But, don’t let that scare you away. Your homemade shampoo also won’t lather like the commercially produced ones. But, it will do the job regardless.

If you haven’t added an emulsifying agent, be sure to shake your shampoo before each use. You can pour a small bit on your hands and rub them together before massaging it into your hair.

Store your shampoo in a glass container. Make sure it is clean before adding your shampoo because cleanliness is the key to extending your shampoo’s shelf life. Using a darker glass and storing it in a darker location will help protect it from oxidation. The safest storage location is in the refrigerator, but we have no problems storing a small batch of ours in the bathroom.

Remember that we’re trying to avoid excess moisture and any other harborers of bacteria from entering our shampoo. Try to refrain from touching the inside of the bottle or its contents with unsanitized hands.

Natural Shampoo Recipe

A simple DIY shampoo recipe using only clean, natural ingredients. Get into a haircare routine that keeps your hair strong, healthy, and with its natural oils doing the work.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Ingredients

  

• ¼ c distilled water
• ¼ c castille soap
• ½ tsp jojoba oil (other options include castor, avocado, or argan)
• 12 drops essential oils* optional
• emulsifying wax optional, see post
• natural preservative optional, see post
• cornstarch optional, see post

Instructions

 

• Add ingredients to a glass bowl and mix thoroughly.
• Use a funnel to transfer your shampoo to a small glass jar.

Notes

• *My favorite essential oil combinations are tea tree/peppermint, lavender/rosemary, and rosemary/lemongrass. See the blog post for other options and specificities.
• The blog post contains information on adding an emulsifier or natural preservative to your shampoo.
• See the blog post for details on using & storing your homemade shampoo.

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