All Natural Shampoo
2012
Over the past couple years, as my family has tried to cut back on toxic chemicals in our house, I have experimented with all sorts of organic and “all natural” shampoos. Sadly, all left me a little closer to broke and with greasy, waxy hair. Not good.
In an effort to seal my “crunchy” status, I even tried the whole ‘no poo thing hoping to rid myself completely of a need for any sort of “product.” After two months of trying, I learned that with my hard water it just wasn’t going to happen. (Sigh) I was beginning to think I was doomed to harsh chemicals and cleaners in order to feel like I could show my face (or head) in public again.
In one last attempt, I adapted a few recipes until I came up with this beautiful, homemade, DIY, all natural shampoo of GLORY! (Yes, I love it that much!)
Why get rid of your shampoo?
For starters, many shampoos have lots questionable ingredients (like carcinogens in baby shampoo). But if we move beyond the “toxic” discussion and just talk beauty, there is another reason to reconsider switching to a different approach.
2008 ad campaign from www.safecosmetics.org/ads
Most commercial shampoos strip the scalp of its natural oils. The body, in its infinite wisdom, tries to balance itself back out by producing more oil. This of course translates into hair that gets really greasy really fast — a reason why most people feel like they need to wash their hair every day or two. Because they do. Because our shampoos are destroying our natural balance. The product we need to feel less greasy is making us… well, more greasy.
This recipe below is a great alternative. It’s easy, smells good, lathers good (yes!), and is much less harsh on your head. I find I only need to wash about twice a week now and my hair doesn’t get NEARLY as gross as it used to (even by day 4). Of course everyone’s hair is different, and the water in your shower can also make a huge difference. Be sure to give your scalp at least two weeks to adjust before giving up. You’ll probably feel a little more greasy for the first couple of days while your body’s natural oil production balances back to normal.
All natural homemade shampoo recipe
½ cup distilled water
¼ cup liquid castile soap (I like Dr. Bronner’s unscented baby mild… I can use it on my baby, too!*)
2 tsp avocado oil
1/8 tsp peppermint essential oil
1/8 tsp tea tree essential oil
1 tsp vegetable glycerin (optional, gives the shampoo a little more “body”)
10 – 15 drops of essential oils* (optional, but makes it smell goooood!)
Put the above ingredients in a bottle (you could even reuse an old shampoo bottle). Shake well before each use. Pour a little over your head. Lather good. Gently massage in the scalp for a minute or two. Rinse completely.
You could easily double or triple this recipe. Just make sure you have a bottle large enough. You should be able to find all of these ingredients at your local health foods store or they are easily found online**.
You can do a quick ACV or lemon juice rinse to help balance the pH of your scalp. You may find that you want less or more ACV for your “perfect” hair conditioner. (ACV = Apple Cider Vinegar if you are new to the “crunchy” world of acronyms.)
The best part? This shampoo can also be used as a body wash!
A word about making the switch to natural shampoo:
You must be patient when it comes to switching your hair care from commercial to natural. There is often a “detox” period where you hair may feel stiff, sticky, oily, heavy, or dry. The myriad of synthetic products that are so often in our commercial shampoos and conditioners artificially coat the hair with plastic or protein polymers to make it look and feel undamaged. The more damaged the hair, the more porous it becomes; the more porous the hair, the more it absorbs these synthetic “protein” polymers (e.g. soy, wheat or oat proteins – that are NOT edible foods), plastic polymers such as PVP (petrochemical polyvinyl pyrrolidone) and gum coating agents.
Until the residues of protein and plastic polymers have been completely removed your hair will take some time to heal from all the chemicals… leaving it feeling a little less than “ideal.” But if you’re patient, the end result is worth the wait! As new hair grows in to replace old damaged hair, you’ll probably be amazed at the difference. Then again, for some folks with very chemically damaged hair, you may not like the way your hair feels after the detox, because this natural shampoo contains none of the vinyl or protein plastic polymers to coat their hair to make it feel or look undamaged. Just a heads up.
Give it a try and let me know how it goes!
Looking for more great all natural and toxic free recipes? Check out my book Toxic Free.
*If you are planning on using this recipe on young babies or toddlers you should skip the essential oils. Some essential oils are too strong for their sensitive bodies.
**The product links will take you to amazon. I am not affiliated with any of these companies, although I do receive a teeny portion of all amazon purchases through this site (but the price is the same for you!)
This is part of Monday Mania, Living Green Tuesday, Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways, Simply Natural Saturdays, Creative Juice Thursday, Eat, Make, Grow, Simple Lives Thursday, and Make Your Own Monday.
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What do you think about a store bought all natural shampoo? I bought one over the last few weeks and checked the ingredients before purchasing. My hair already feels a bit different.
I think with the cost of the ingredients you may be right about using a store brand.
You have to be careful – a lot of the “natural” shampoos in health food stores are not natural at all. They still contain the “Sodium Lauryl” crap. There are only a few brands that are truly natural. I was surprised to learn this a few months back while at a local whole foods.
Hey Jen,
If you find one that works for you hair, awesome! I definitely don’t have anything against a quality store-bought shampoo. I just never found one that worked well with my hair, and was sick of paying an arm and leg for it to boot.
Natural hair care has definitely been the trickiest thing for me. There are so many individual factors that it really is a try and experiment thing.
Natural hair care is really expensive! The one I am trying right now I bought as a test and it totally worked for my hair. Shampoo is such a hit or miss thing.
This looks like a great recipe. I’m going to give it a shot when I get the chance. Right now I’m using some Aubrey Organic shampoos and I’m pretty happy with them but I’m always looking for something new. My one question is, how long does this shampoo usually last or does it ‘go bad’ quickly?
Thanks for stopping by, Amy!
This recipe will last quite some time before going bad. All of the ingredients can be at room temperature for storage so I doubt it will go bad on you. The recipe above will last me a couple weeks (my husband goes through it a lot faster… he probably makes a new batch one every 1 or 2 weeks using it daily. He likes a good lather and uses it for a body wash as well.)
So, you mentioned you had hard water. I do too (and no water softener in our future…we do have a filtered shower head but it doesn’t totally solve the problem, just lessens it) and my previous attempts with castile soap have been disastrous. My hair ends up with horrible gunk in it and won’t rinse clean. Have you had trouble with this? I’ve been using a shampoo bar (Apple Valley Natural Soaps) instead with fairly good success, but it would be nice to have a liquid option that worked. Also, could the avocado oil be swapped out with others? I have jojoba and sweet almond right now and if those would work I’d be willing to make a small batch and give it another try. My hair has been so fickle lately (I’m pregnant) but I’m really trying to stay natural if I can.
Hey Krysta,
Hard water is such a tricky thing with hair care, isn’t it? I definitely know what you are talking about with the gunk left over. I have found that doing a little less castille soap helps, and I also sprinkle in a little baking soda once a week to help with build up. You could also try putting a little salt in the mixture to help soften the water a bit. And I definitely would recommend a ACV rinse. I find for both, a little goes a long way.
And yes, you can definitely switch out the oils. I’d probably go with the jojoba because it’s really great with hair.
Good luck! It really is a process of trial and error.
Just saw this reply re: the oils – I’m going to give it a go!
Thanks for the speedy reply – I’ll give it a go with less castille and see if I can make it work. I LOVE using ACV rinses – I add peppermint EO to mine and it is heavenly.
I mixed up a half batch (in one of those cheap travel-size bottles) to try after I went swimming and I was blown away! The oil makes all the difference – the previous castile or baking soda shampoos I tried making didn’t have any oil and seemed to dry my hair out even with the ACV. I used jojoba and my hair and skin LOVED it. I also added a dash of baking soda like you suggested (1/2 tsp?) and reduced the castile by at least half and didn’t end up with gunky hair this time. Obviously, I’ll have to see how my hair reacts over time and maybe tweak it, but if nothing else I am totally keeping this as a body wash. My arms and elbows were particularly dry today after the pool and they were nicely rehydrated when I got out of the shower. I added a few drops of lavender essential oil in addition to some extra peppermint so it smells awesome too.
I’m very happy I decided to give your recipe a try instead of giving up on castile forever. Thanks!
awesome!
thank you Robin… for creating this recipe and the idea of even making your own!!!
thanks to you, Krysta… for the idea of reducing the castile by half. so that’s what i did…
i made my first batch of this shampoo with Dr. Bronner’s liquid peppermint (which i use for just about *everything* including all our liquid hand soap in kitchen & baths) & added lavender EO.
used sesame oil since that’s what i had. (it’s my moisturizer, make-up remover and i actually ‘wash’ my face with it.) regular old organic sesame oil bought for cooking.
it made my hair incredibly soft and i used a lot since i loved the lather!! but my hair did end up kind of oily, quickly.
so i went back to my Aubrey Organic ‘poo. we also have very hard water… and i’d run out of AO’s clean rinse… so then i decided to try using a tiny amount of the homemade stuff as a clean rinse.
Voila!!! it’s a wonderful body wash… and clean rinse. i’ll mess with the proportions in my next batch and see if i can’t use it as shampoo again and keep this version for rinse. no ACV in this one… great discovery!!
just passing this idea along…
– S
Great idea! Thanks, Suz!
Krysta….have you tried making liquid soap out of your shampoo bar?
1 gallon of distilled water
1 8oz bar
2Tbsp of glycerin
put all in a dutch oven and warm it till the bar melts. Let cool for several hours and viola!
You may need to use a mixer on it if it clumps to smooth it out. I have been using this for liquid hand soap and bodywash. Just make sure you use clean utensils and clean water.
So EASY!
I’m going to try this! I have everything on-hand already except for the avocado oil. Do you think I could get away with a different oil, or is the avocado oil essential to the recipe?
Let me know how it works. And definitely feel free to use different oils. I use avocado because I tend to have dry hair. I think jojoba, almond, castor (for dry hair), and other oils would work, too. I’d stay away from coconut oil… it doesn’t come out very easily.
I have found that adding boiled fenugreek seeds helps detangle and condition hair, thanks to the protein and mucilage. It makes the hair feel more like it does when washed with traditional shampoo.
Also, I love the use of avocado oil in this. I use straight avocado oil as a face moisturizer.
ooh! Great idea. I will have to try that. Thanks for the tip!
I have read that boiling flaxseed will do the same thing, like a conditioner or a gel. Just google DIY Flaxseed hair gel.
do you add the fenugreek to the shampoo or use it as your rinse? thanks, Kitty
I’m really looking forward to trying this Robin. I just have a question about the ACV rinse. Can you please detail how you do it?
As i did ‘no poo’ for a while, I did use the ACV rinse, but always struggled with it. From memory I used about 1 tablespoon to 1 cup of cold water, and would pour it over my hair under cool water, then rinse. The vinegar smell would stay in my hair, which i definitely didn’t want. So many comments I’ve read on different forums of people saying the vinegar smell disappears when the hair dries, but not the case for me so I wonder if I’m doing something wrong!
Your feedback would be great!
Hi Jane,
The tricky thing with all this natural care stuff is that it is highly personalized through trial and error. I originally did the ACV rinse like you explained. Now, I find that for me (and my hair with my hard water) I do it a little differently and it seems to help. Here’s what I do:
I have a bottle that is half ACV, half distilled water. After doing my shampoo, I put my hair under the running water and then at the same time pour some of the rinse over my head. I really don’t use a lot, but I start at the roots and let it run down the shaft of the hair. I then massage my head a bit and feel my hair. It will usually feel a little more “sleek” in the places where the ACV rinsed. If it feels a bit waxy, I use a little more. But a little goes a long way, at least for me. (Although I have really short hair.) I then finish it all off with a good rinse of cold water. I never notice the smell once I rinse it out with cold water.
Hope that helps! Other people have had success with lemon juice or homemade apple sauce instead of the ACV. You just want something acidic to balance your hair/scalp.
Good luck!
I just bought Everyday Shea. But I’m totally trying this once I finish the shea. Thanks!!
Hope you like it! Good luck!
Lots of posts in the last two days about non-toxic hair care. Baking soda and ACV did not work for me and I suspect it’s because my water is very hard as well. Another blogger posted about African Black Soap but I think I will give this recipe a try first, especially since I already have all the ingredients for it.
Thank you…
One of the things I love about DIY natural products is how many of them use the same ingredients. It’s really liberating to make your own stuff. Hope this helps! Hair can be tricky, for sure.
Oh my goodness, this is fantastic! I’ve been experimenting with a very similar recipe but never thought to use tea tree oil. Makes sense that it’s clarifying properties would be very beneficial, though. Thank you, Robin!
Yes! I’ve found tea tree oil to be helpful for my dry scalp, too. Hope it helps!
I’m going to try to make this! Do you put the ACV rinse on your scalp or just on your ends? I was putting it just on my ends because when I put it on my scalp it seems to make my hair greasy looking when it dries.
Hi Raquel,
For me I found that doing a quick ACV rinse on my whole scalp helps balance the pH of my scalp. But everyone’s head/hair is different… so it may work better for you to just do it on the ends. (Could also depend on the length of your hair. I have really short hair.)
Good luck!
FYI to those of you using ACV rinse: do not attempt to color your hair at home or in a salon. The ACV changes the structure of your hair and the color will not take evenly, if at all. Just something to think about before you pour ACV on your hair.
Thanks for the tip, Laurie! This is really good to know. I haven’t died my hair since before my pregnancy so it didn’t cross my mind to mention.
Is there something you recommend for colored hair??
I use an ACV rinse once a week. I also color my hair and the only difference, it has made my highlights bright, longer. I love it!
Awesome! I think it’s important to remember that dealing with hair stuff is so individual. Always try new things on a small section of hair first, even the natural stuff.
Soapnuts, yucca root powders are also great alternatives to shampoo
Yes! I’ve been wanting to try soapnuts on my hair for a while. Thanks for the reminder.
I have peppermint castile soap. Do you think it is enough to not add the peppermint oil? Trying to make this as cheap as possible! Thanks for a great post!
Definitely! And remember that a little goes a long way with this (and for some people, they find diluting it a bit helps their hair).
Krysta, does your hair tend to be dry? I have quite dry, coarse hair that is curly. Thanks for your response, in advance.
My hair is is pretty coarse and dry as well. This has worked well for me.
I have been using this as a body wash for about a year now. I love it. I have use whatever oil I happen to have. I usually dont add any essential oils. My recipe lasts me a couple weeks. I use it for shampoo most of the time as well. My really short natural curly hair doesnt do well with it. Ill try the baking soda that might help. FYI I have switch to DIY everything. I love them all except dishwasher soap. I even use ACV for deodorant. Its all so quick and easy……mostly much more economical.
I often skip the essential oils too (out of laziness, although I like that it’s cheaper that way, too.) I love how many people are embracing the DIY natural approach. It really is easy and empowering to know that you can make your own stuff.
Thank you for your submission on Nourishing Treasures’ Make Your Own! Monday link-up.
Check back tomorrow when the new link-up is running to see if you were one of the top 3 featured posts!
Do you need to use distilled water or can you just use filtered water?
Hi Bonnie,
I started out using distilled water but eventually got lazy and used filtered. Haven’t noticed a difference.
How long, on average, does the adjustment period last? I also have very hard water. I’m asking because I work as a nurse, and it is frowned upon to appear as if I haven’t showered and have oily hair. I can’t hide it under a hat or scarf. I really want to try this, though!
Hi Mandi,
You know, it really depends. It depends on your hair texture, your water, and the type/amount of product that you are currently using. I think the biggest thing is the feel of the hair. If you are used to more commercial products your hair may always feel more oily or waxy in comparison… but really that’s just what hair feels like when it’s not coated with synthetics. I think most people probably feel more “oily” or “unshowered” than they actually look.
For me I never went through a phase where I felt so completely undone that I couldn’t show my face in public (and as a teacher I was often in front of people). Some days were definitely pony tail days, but for the most part the transition wasn’t nearly as bad as I had anticipated. I never had to wear a hat or scarf. But again, everyone is different. My bet is that only you will really notice a difference.
Good luck!
An idea I read somewhere (this may not be exact – it is from memory):
To transition from store bought to no poo (or possibly this shampoo), get a new bottle of your usual shampoo. Do one washing with it T replace that shampoo used with water. Repeat each time the hair is shampooed. Eventually the shampoo will be so diluted that it is mostly water but it was done gradually, giving the hair time to adjust.
Also, I think at some point it will be diluted enough that instead of adding water, it would be better to add the homemade mix.
Combining this with a dry shampoo (google dry shampoo for technique) of cornstarch (or maybe another starch) or cocoa powder for dark hair to help with excess oil may make it possible to transition without the oily looking hair.
I haven’t tried this – didn’t need to
So I have been doing this since Saturday! I am so excited about simplifying and using natural ingredients to treat me hair. Thanks for the recipe:)
Awesome, Jessica! Hope you and your beautiful family are well.
What conditioner recipe compliments this shampoo? I’d love to give it a try, but it doesn’t make sense to use the all natural shampoo and then finish up with store bought conditioner. I’ve never attempted to make shampoo or conditioner.
Thanks!
Hey Morgan! I use an Apple Cider Vinegar rinse. Simple put about 2 tablespoons of ACV in a bottle with about a cup of water. Shake it and then use a little as a rinse on your hair after you shampoo. I have short hair so I don’t need a lot, but even with long hair a little goes a long way. You may need to experiment with how much/little. It will balance out the pH of your hair. Easy!
Thanks for stopping by.
a good natural shampoo is using baking soda on wet hair rince it out and then dilute about 2 table spoons of apple cidar vinegar in water and pour that over your head rince for 1 min then your done
i very much like this but i will dry your hair out after more then like 5 uses.
thanks for the recipe!
Hi Elizabeth! I tried baking soda (because, let’s be honest, it’s cheap and super natural!) but it never quite worked with my super hard water. So sad. I never got to the “drying out” phase.
Thanks for the comment.
I have hard water too and have found that in order for the baking soda not to leave my hair feeling waxy, I have to rinse it out and make my mixtures with water I’ve boiled for a few minutes and added some salt to. That is the only way it works. It is a bit time-intensive, but sooooooo cheap!
Great tip, Coco. I love the inexpensive aspect especially.
Thanks for the recipe! I’m pinning this!
Hello! This is kind of off topic but I need some help
from an established blog. Is it very hard to set up your own blog?
I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty fast. I’m thinking about making
my own but I’m not sure where to start. Do you have any points or suggestions? Thank you
Depends. It’s really easy if you use a platform like blogger or wordpress. I’d start by checking out their features and seeing what you like. So much depends on what your goals are. Good luck!
Just as a suggestion to make the vinegar rinse a little easier and more evenly dispersed try using a spray bottle. Just spray your hair as you lightly ruffle your hair the same way you do when your rinsing out shampoo. You can spray as much or little as you need. It makes it easy to control the amount so you have less waste.
Also if you have issues with tangles here is a trick they taught us in beauty school. Do not wad or pile the hair up when you shampoo. Put the shampoo in the palm of your hand and rub your hands together. Now gently rub onto your hair roots with the palms of your hands. Then massage with the tips of your fingers into the scalp and roots of your hair. You don’t need to shampoo the body of the hair as the shampoo rinsing out will suffice. If your hair is especially dirty then gentle run your soapy fingers through the length a few times.
These are great suggestions! Thanks for sharing them. I love all the tips you guys bring to the table.
Sounds like a great natural shampoo! I’ll have to try this right away!
Hope you like it, Jacob.
Can I use olive oil instead of avocado oil? I have very oily hair and hate having to wash my hair everyday. Also I have a lot of essential oils , but no tea tree oil. Is there a good substitute or is that just the best choice?
You probably could… although I’d be careful as olive oil might make it feel more oily.
The tea tree oil is good for overall “cleansing,” but you can definitely play around with different ones. Good luck!
On the occasions when I’ve overdone the ACV rinse and I can still smell it after, I figured out a great trick. Maybe it will work for others too.
I waft an open jar of baking soda around my head a few times. Then the vinegar smell is gone.
Got the idea from a real estate agent who said a bowl of vinegar and a bowl of baking soda on opposite sides of the room will connect in the air for a great room freshener. Actually works.
That’s a great tip! Thanks, Lynda!
Howdy! I could have sworn I’ve been to this website before but after checking through some of the post I realized it’s new to me.
Anyways, I’m definitely glad I found it and I’ll be bookmarking and checking back frequently!
Love this blog. I’ve been a ACV user for 30 yrs. Swear by it. I also have found a good natural shampoo. Nature’s Gate – Tea Tree Oil Shampoo.
Awesome! Thanks, Madonna.
Hi, I was excited to try this and bought all the ingredients but I’m afraid it didn’t work well with my hair. After one use my hair came out much more greasy than it started and I have very dry hair.
I then tried the baking soda with apple cider vinegar and that seemed to suit my hair much better.
I have very soft water. I’m not sure if this makes a difference.
Hi Katherine,
So sorry it didn’t work for your hair. That’s some of the frustrations of natural hair care, sadly. It could be your soft water. I have really hard water myself. It could also be that your hair will need to take some time to adjust. But if the baking soda works for you (it didn’t with my hard water), I’d say go for that! It’s way easier and cheaper.
I love this shampoo- I just made my third recipe of it this morning. I ran out at the end of last week and had to use store bought shampoo – this is so much better, especially with the ACV rinse. My hair did not like the No-Poo method, I tried it for 6 weeks over the summer, so I felt like I gave it a good run, but it just wasn’t right for me – probably hard water issues. But this stuff is great and I know what is in it. I did add some baking soda to the second batch and I think that helped it a lot. I also think it gets better as it ages – so I double the batch and it lasts me about 6-8 weeks. Thank you so much for the recipe – I think it is a winner!
Oh I’m so glad it worked for you! Awesome.
Hi – I am liking this shampoo so far, but it does leave my hair looking a bit greasy. How much baking soda did you use? I was doing the BS/ACV for about 6 months before this, and just couldn’t get my hair to work with it (really dried out my scalp, flakiness, hair didn’t look great either). So while i’m reluctant to integrate baking soda again, i think if it’s just a little bit it might help… anyone have ideas?
Hi Marie,
Everyone will be different depending on their scalp, hair type, and water situation. For me, I found adding a small amount of baking soda into the mixture (I’ll just sprinkle some into my palm and then add the shampoo to that) helps scrub away some of the waxiness. I do this about once a week to keep my hair balanced. Unfortunately, the only real way to know what works is to do a little experimenting. You can always add more bs as you go, so I’d start with a small amount. Good luck!
Just be careful with Tea Tree Oil. Google “tea tree oil hormone disruptor” and you’ll see why I don’t use it much anymore. Lavender Oil is just as bad, especially for young males.
Thanks for the heads up, Martie. I do agree that we need to be really careful with essential oils as they are very potent stuff. It’s something everyone should consider carefully. I feel okay using the little bit of tree tea oil in this, but I don’t use it everyday or in many other products. Thanks for stopping by!
Hi. I am a hairdresser and just love shampoo lol. I am always trying new things and seeing whats out there. I tried this recipe and my hair was so gummy. I do have color treated hair. After blow drying I tried shampooing again because it was so awful I thought I didn’t rinse well enough.
I did follow with my store conditioner so I could get my comb through it. It was a little better but still greasy and somewhat gummy. I also omitted the glycerin the second time.
Any suggestions? I really don’t want to have to shampoo everyday. Do you shampoo daily? Thank you for your time.
Its me again lol. So I tried again this morning, without my conditioner. I even washed with the Bronners straight because I could feel the gumminess on my scalp and that it was not clean feeling. Not a lot of difference. I really want this to work. I have been using the oil cleansing method on my face and was hoping I could switch to natural shampooing also.
Is this something that goes away in time? Could it be from the castille soap and not the oils?
Hi Melanie-Dawn! Sorry for the delayed response. It’s been a crazy day.
Regarding the gumminess… it really depends. Did you try doing an Apple Cider Vinegar rinse after? That helps neutralize your scalp’s pH.
It may also take some time for your hair to adjust to a natural shampoo. If you have been using commercial products your hair will take some time to adjust to this more gentle approach. Commercial products strip your scalp’s natural oils so that your body actually produces more oils. It can take several weeks for your body to balance back.
Play around with how much of the shampoo and ACV rinse you use until you find something that works for you. If you want to get beyond shampooing every day you’re just going to have to hang in there for the couple of weeks of “yuck.” I only shampoo once or twice a week now.
Hope that helps! Good luck!
Thank you! No problem. What is the difference in apple cider vinegar vs wine vinegar or regular vinegar? I have also read aloe juice? works as a conditioner. Have you heard anything on this? Do you condition?
ACV is the most commonly used vinegar as a beauty product because it does so many great things for the hair and scalp. I’d look for a raw ACV (look for the phrase “with the mother”) as this is the best. I haven’t tired aloe juice, but it sounds like it might work. For me I only use vinegar as my conditioner. But I do have short hair… so keep that in mind.
I tried this. I lasted a week before I couldn’t stand it any longer and went back to commercial shampoos. My poor hair was so stripped it squeaked even when it was dry. Yet, at the same time it managed to look like I hadn’t washed it in weeks. It was like greasy straw. Horrible. I don’t know if it’s my water, or if I didn’t stick it out long enough, or if castile soap and ACV genuinely doesn’t work for my hair, and frankly I’m not too inclined to try again to find out.
I’m so sorry, Brianna. Natural hair care is SO tricky. Most people’s hair will generally balance out anywhere from 1 – 6 weeks (yes, it’s a huge range, I know.) I totally understand not wanting to try again. If you ever decide to give it another go, consider using baking soda in the shampoo to help with the grease factor. And possibly a shower filter will help, too.
I have been using only conditioner on my hair for about 12 years and at 62 years old I have thick hair well past my waist with no split ends. I first heard of this from a dermitologist who said that it could take 9 weeks for people with oily hair to adjust but my hair was always dry. I use at least two lots, one to wet the hair and one to clean. My scalp is also very healthy. I haven’t found anyone yet with oily hair who is prepared to hide for 9 weeks.
That’s so awesome, Judith! And it’s true… nine week is a long time. Some people can pull off that hat and scarf look, but it just didn’t work for me.
Ok, hoping those that have done the no-poo can help (if there is another spot on your blog I should redirect this comment to, please let me know). I have been doing the no-poo baking soda/acv since Fed/March of this year. Works very well, only needing to clean hair every 3-4days (depending on heat and how much I sweat). I have very long hair, to my lower back. Not necessarily thick hair as much as just a lot of it. I would used a Dixie cup of soda to about 30oz of water, pour over head,, scrub, rinse. Then use a shot glass (about 2oz) of ACV diluted to about the same amount of water (30oz). But within the past month, this equation is no longer working. I live in Seattle, btw. I am thinking maybe I need to decrease the amounts, as I am not as sweaty and hot since we are now in are stereotypical rainy season? What do you folks that did the no-poo think?
As soon as I find a bottle to make this natural shampoo with the diluted castile soap, I will definitely try it!!
Thanks!
Hi stacy,
I only did the no ‘poo thing for a couple of months and never had much success due to my hard water, but if it’s been working well for several months I would first start by changing the ratios a bit to see if it’s just a weather issue. So people even eventually get to the point where they can just wash with water… so maybe this is a “less is more” instance.
Good luck!
i actually use shielo’s hydrate line of shampoos (which are sulfate free) to wash my hair. It doesnt have any of those harmful ingredients. I used to have the worst hair, and now I ALWAYS get complements when using the shielo shampoo. Worth the price. . .
It’s always nice when you find something that works for you!
We have hard water and I’ve been successfully washing my hair with baking soda for the past 8 months or so… The trick is to boil the water before combining with the baking soda! My routine is 4 Tbs of baking soda dumped into a quart mason jar. I boil the water in our electric kettle and pour it in to half full – be careful! The boiling water reacts to the baking soda the same way vinegar would! Mix any leftover powder in, and leave to cool a bit. When I hop into the shower, if the water is still too hot, I top it up with tepid water from the tap.
If the water gets too cold, the baking soda no longer dissolves into the water and falls to the bottom of the jar/container.
Hope that helps!
Drat, that should read 4 TEASPOONS. Not tablespoons!
Thanks for the tip, Sarah!
I was wondering, I’m allergic to avocado’s and was wondering if i could replace it with another kind of oil, like sweet almond, or even hemp seed?
Yes! You could use any of those or jojoba would work, too.
Would it be possible to use another kind of oil besides the avocado? (I’m posting againg because im not sure if it posted the first time >.< and I really want to make my own shampoos and what not.
For sure, Christina.
I am SO excited to try this! I will prepare myself for the temporary greasy-ness. I think I’ll try my homemade goat milk soap, too!
Oh! I’d love to hear how the goat milk works.
I’ve been trying this shampoo for about a week (with addition of about 1/2 tsp baking soda) and ACV rinse. I can see my hair getting out of the ickiness, but I still have a LOT of static. It also appears quite greasy, so adding oil to combat the static doesn’t seem like it would work. Any ideas for natural static remedies? And should the static go away once it has adapted to the new shampoo?
I usually just use a TINY amount of coconut oil to deal with any static. I do remember that phase of feeling both greasy and having static hair. It does goes away! You could also try a dry shampoo, that may help. You can use a tablespoon or two of cornstarch or ground oats. Sprinkle on the roots. Then brush off.
do you have to use the tea tree and peppermint oil in the shampoo mixture or can you substitute other essential oils. i don’t care for the smell of tea tree and being pregnant you’re supposed to avoid peppermint oil as it can cause pre-mature labor.
Hi Shanna,
You can definitely use different essential oils, or skip them altogether. The tea tree is good for those with dandruff or dry scalp, but it’s not critical to the recipe. I usually get lazy and leave the essential oils out.
Hi, I am currently getting all of the ingredients together to make this shampoo and just read about not using the oils on toddlers. So just to be clear, the toddler batch will just be the water, glycerin and castile soap? If so, what would be the benefit of using this mix over just castile soap on a toddler’s hair. I used to just use the castile soap as shampoo but it makes their hair so dry and tangly. I’d love some feedback. Thanks.
PS for my 15 drops of essential oil, I ordered almond oil just because Iike it. I am reading up on it and one source sites it as being good for babies. Does that sound correct?
Almond oil should be fine.
Hi Jenny,
The almond oil is still okay to use for toddlers hair, but the tea tree and any other essential oils should probably be avoided. As far as making the hair dry and tangly… are you using any sort of acid rinse after (like Apple Cider Vinegar?) That may help. I use a castile/water only shampoo for my little girl and the ACV rinse helps a lot. Although everyone’s hair and water is different. I’d also try using more water than castile soap as it could just be a ratio thing.
Hope that helps!
Thanks, I’ll try it. Our water is crazy hard here!
Hi,
I’m definitely willing to give this a shot, but before I do I want to make sure that it is safe to use on natural red hair?
Yep.
Hi!
I’ve been using this for the past 3 weeks and I love it! Except for the ACV rinse, I hate the smell of ACV and even though I rinse well, the smell doesn’t totally go away. What else can I use? Have you tried any thing else?
You could tried a lemon juice rinse.
I totally understand the smell factor. I used to gag any time I got a small whiff of ACV. But it does get better. The smell doesn’t even bother me anymore. Yay!
Hi there,
Thanks so much for this recipe – I can’t wait to try it out. I live in Montana, where the water is also hard and no ‘poo is probably not going to work for me. I’ve read lots of suggestions about using distilled water but that sounds like a hassle to always have distilled water around to rinse my hair out!
Do you find that it washes out easily and doesn’t leave nasty, sticky white residue over time – even without the ACV rinse? I’m willing to do it if necessary of course – I’m just lazy.
When I lived in NC, I used diluted Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap as shampoo (and everything else) and didn’t even need conditioner. Moved to Montana and discovered this does not work. I miss soft water.
Hi Joan,
When you use the shampoo, only use a little as you can always add more… but a little goes a long way. I do find the rinse is really important for my own hair. But your hair and water may make things different. Unfortunately, the best thing to do is experiment. Good luck!
Hi Robin, I’m glad I found your site and the homemade mascara recipe! I love it. I have a burning question about homemade shampoo. Why is there in almost all the recipes oil in it? I tried some homemade shampoos with oil in but it always leave my hair oily. Also the amount of castile soap in recipes is really high in my opinion so yesterday I used a combination of green tea, a little castile soap, a little baking soda and a few drops of essential oil. It seems to work but I still don’t understand washing your hair with oil. The OCM works on my face though… I’d love to hear your idears about this. Thank you, Jackie from Holland
Hi Jackie,
Oil, like any fat, is a great cleansing agent. Castile soap is an oil based soap… most natural soaps are fat based. How long have you been trying using natural shampoo? It could be leaving your hair oil because your scalp is still adjusting back to its normal pH. Most commercial shampoos strip the scalp of oil but that triggers your scalp to produce MORE oil which is why you usually need to wash your hair every or every other day. Once your scalp balances back out (which can take 2 – 9 weeks of grossness), you’ll find that an oil based cleanser keeps your natural oil production under control. I only need to shampoo once or twice a week now. Also, be sure to use some sort of acidic rinse as a conditioner… either lemon juice or ACV. This will help the pH of your scalp. Finally, a little bit of the natural shampoo goes a long way. And you can always dilute it with more water if you find that works better for your hair.
Hope that helps! Good luck.
Hi Robin, thank you for helping me understand oil is a cleansing agent for hair too
I think I need to be more patient and find the right measurments and ingredients in shampoo customized to my hair. I did’nt wash my hair with regular shampoo for over 2 months now. When I wash my hair with a shampoo bar or with homemade shampoo with oil or castile soap in it, it leaves strings of my hair oily and the next day my scalp is oily too. Tonight I am going to try my new homemade shampoo. Thank you for posting your beautiful recipes and for replying!
Good luck! I wish natural hair care wasn’t so tricky… but hopefully you’ll find *your* perfect solution soon.
Hi Robin! How well would this natural shampoo help in dry itchy scalp? I have tried everything -moisturizing shampoo, shampoo with tea tree oil (which dries my scalp) all dandruff shampoos and nothing seems to work!
Also, I color my hair with henna. Would the acv or lemon juice rinse strip the color?
Thanks for any advice!
Hi Ann,
As someone who also deals with dry itchy scalp, I don’t think that this shampoo makes it any worse, but by itself it’s probably not enough. When my scalp gets bad I generally do a coconut oil treatment. I massage coconut oil into my scalp, put a shower cap on, and then let it sit for a couple of hours. Note: It’s hard to get out with with a natural shampoo. I usually will rinse my hair with lemon juice of ACV really well and then shampoo and rinse again. But if you have really long hair that may not be enough to get the oil out so be careful not to get the oil down the hair shaft.
I’ve also noticed that if I let the ACV sit on my scalp for a minute or two, massage it a bit, and then rinse that it helps with the dry scalp a lot.
As far as how an acidic rinse will affect your color, I have no idea! I’d probably do a little research before trying.
Good luck!
Hi. I just discovered your blog, so sorry for the late post. I’ve been trying to make the transition to natural body care, and I haven’t had much luck with homemade shampoos. I’m eager to give yours a try. I was wondering specifically about the ACV rinse, and if I could substitute some of my continuous brew kombucha. I always have kombucha brewing so it would be cheaper, and the smell, to me, is better than ACV. Do you think that it would achieve the same results or is there something specific about the ACV that makes it preferable?
Hi Trudy,
I’ve never thought to use kombucha, so I can’t say for sure. ACV and lemon juice are two popular rinses. The key is to use something acidic to balance out the pH of your hair. You can always give it a try and see how it goes if you are willing!
Hair has a pH of 4 to 5.5, so to not disrupt your acid mantle (sebum production on your scalp) you should only use pH balanced shampoos. I have done a lot of research on this, I have also attended beauty school so I can say this is true. Using highly alkaline solutions on your hair (baking soda, bronners soaps, etc.) though it feels soft and manageable that is really the disulfide bonds in your internal hair structure being weakened by the alkaline solution.The colors and perms that are performed use this method to work, they “open up” your hair to deposit the color or permanent, then a clarifying shampoo is used to “close” your hair and lock the color or permanent in. To then bring your hair down to it’s proper pH a acidic solution (apple cider vinegar) when using a alkalinic cleanser is used, this is called clarifying. This dual process is not healthy for your hair or your scalp. There is a great tutorial on youtube on your hair’s pH and why this rollercoaster up and down the pH scale is highly disruptive. The maker of these tutorials is a licensed salon owner and stylist. You can check her out at KimmayTube on youtube. Or, you can ask any stylist that you know. This is why so many shampoos on the market advertise that it is pH balanced. Because that is very important. So forcing your hair to go up to an 8 or 9 and then forcing it back down to a 4.5 in a short period of time is very damaging. If you would like to keep your hair in it’s proper pH, and love making homemade beauty products, then mix 1/4 cup of coconut milk (store bought or homemade both are fine) and 3 heaping tablespoons of aloe vera gel (lily of the desert), shake well, strain through cheesecloth to remove aloe fibers, and wallah! You have pH balanced shampoo that cleanses your hair, stimulates growth of your hair, and is edible! Food for your hair! Refrigerate after use, it generally has a 1 week shelf life. You can find this recipe on youtube as well. I find that if you pour it on your scalp only, and massage and let rest till you are done with your shower, then rinse, it is magic on your hair. Just google all the benefits of aloe vera, and you will see. Then google all the benefits of coconut milk, and you will see again. This shampoo has been so amazing, I can’t ever imagine using anything else ever again. Add some essential oils for aromatherapy, and if you have very dry hair or African American hair add some Vitamin E Oil, Jojoba Oil, or Sweet Almond Oil. Once you add the oils, it is no longer edible…but your probally not going to eat your shampoo anyways, right? ; )
Wow! What a thorough comment. Thank you. The homemade version you give here sounds great. I’ll give it a try.
I paid an obscene amount on my last bottle of natural shampoo so I’m ready to try this! Plus I have all the ingredients on hand. It’s like it was meant to be!
P.s. I really love your print button.
Thanks, Robin. I really like you name.
Thanks so much for sharing this recipe! I just tried some this morning, and I LOVE how my hair feels! And I didn’t need to use conditioner at all. We’ll see after a few days, but so far so good!
I just found this page through a blog talking about natural acne remedies. I would like to try this sometime but is it safe for colored hair? Since the ingredients are natural, I assume so, but I dye my hair red with semi-permanent dye every 4-6 weeks and I just don’t want the color to fade quicker than it already does.
Thanks!
Hi Liz,
I haven’t tried it on colored hair, but I would imagine it’d be okay. I’d start with a small patch test and wait 24 hours just to be sure.
Is it necessary to add peppermint and tea tree essential oils? Can I skip those and just add the ones I want to use, or are they necessary for the pH of the shampoo?
You don’t have to add them. The tea tree can be good for those with dandruff or dry scalp, but they aren’t essential to the actual cleansing process.
I’m on day two of the natural shampoo. I’m having a hard time with the texture of my hair. I don’t know how long I will be able to stick with this. However, this recipe does make a great body wash.
Try using less, as castile soap doesn’t require you use a lot. And give it at least a week or two. I wish I could say that it will FOR SURE work for everyone, but the truth it our hair and water are so different.
I’m wondering why there’s so much water…if there’s less water, wouldn’t it be a bit thicker and easier to massage in? And then you could just add shower water to it? Not trying to critique, just understand! My instinct would be to cut the water and make more of a ‘concentrate’ that I’d just add water to in the shower, so I’m wondering why it’s made this way? Would the concentrated form just be too harsh or oily or something?
Castile soap is pretty concentrated stuff. Too much of it and your hair will be a really weird texture. If you look at most shampoos you’ll see that the first ingredient is water. I suppose you could leave it out, but then you’d be dealing with a drop of shampoo which is harder to get in your hair.
Okay, that makes sense. I tried this recipe but totally messed up and added 2 TBSP of jojoba instead of 2 tsps. Oops! And I have oily hair anyway! So I scooped out some oil and put in quite a bit more castile to balance it, but then didn’t have room in the bottle for more water too. I’ve been trying it like this and was surprised that it lathers SO well…but my hair is a funky texture afterwords. And my roots are surprisingly not oily but the rest of my (long, thick) hair is gross. So I’m probably using WAY too much of it and need to add a lot more water. Thanks for the explanation!
Yeah, that would be my guess. A little goes a long way.
HELP, I have been using this homemade shampoo for 5 days and my hair feels disgusting! It feels like it is coated in wax. Is this all the build-up from my commercial shampoos or am I using too much of my homemade shampoo? I love making it lather and I have really long hair so I need a lot. The first 2 days I didn’t use enough and it didn’t lather at all. I’m also going to try the ACV rinse, I just need to find a large enough bottle. But I really hope this “wax” on my hair goes away soon, I’m embarassed to go to work with it like this.
Sorry, Kimperley. The transition can be rough. You don’t need a lot… the more you use the more waxy it will feel. If you are used to store bought stuff this will NOT lather that same way without using way too much. Lathering is just a psychological thing… so don’t worry too much about the lather. And definitely do the ACV rinse as it helps balance the scalp and rinses the hair. So yes, use less, do the rinse, and hopefully it will get better fast. And then hopefully it will be wonderful soon.
Hi Robin, I am interested in trying this. I once made baking soda shampoo but my thin, fine hair is so oily that I could not leave the house looking like that! I was wondering if your recipe will help my head be a little less greasy in the beginning as compared to baking soda? Is there anything that can be done to help the process for those of us with greasy hair? Thank you!!
First, make sure you don’t use a lot. A little goes a long way. This should be an easier transition than just baking soda… but there will still be a transition if you are using commercial shampoos. I can’t say for sure how long or bad… as it’s so individual. But usually with this it’s no more than 2 weeks (and often less). Wear some cute hats or ponytails until then.
Is this something I can use daily until my scalp gets used to it? Can I use it daily after I exercise? Also, I have tried the baking soda and my scalp has become even drier (while my hair is oilier) and having some major dandruff issues. How can I fix this?? On day 2 after using baking soda I feel very self concious and I’ve been using it for a month now with only some benefits. Looking forward to trying this and seeing if it works better on my poor, itchy, red scalp.
You could use it daily… although I’d probably start by using it every other day and just washing with water the other days as it could dry your scalp up….
Just want to thank you for this fantastic shampoo recipe!! Been using a while now and my hair gets happier as time goes on! Love that it can be so versatile too with diff eo’s and oils. THanks!
Oh yay! So glad to hear you like it.
Couple of questions…first, I just found out I am allergic to Tea Tree oil. Also, I swim everyday, and need a shampoo that will take out the chlorine and other pool chemicals. I’ve been using a swimmer’s shampoo, but just found out that I am allergic to half the stuff in it. Any suggestions?
You can easily skip the tea tree oil in this recipe. As for the chlorine…. hmmmm… I’d recommend getting a good shower head filter to start (something that takes out chlorine so you’re not adding to the problem). Maybe try a citrus essential oil like lemon or sweet orange. That *might* be all you need… but I haven’t done a lot of research on it. Let me look into it.
What do you think about just washing hair with the Kirk’s Castille bar soap? I’ve been using it for a few weeks, and my hair feels very coarse. Is it too much castille? I just lather up my hands and shampoo and rinse out. I like that it’s so easy. I have very short, thick hair. I just went to a new hairdresser who also commented on the coarseness of my hair and, of course, tried to get me to buy one of their products that she said is “natural.” I didn’t buy it. I also mentioned that I was going to try the ACV rinse and she said that was the worst thing for my hair!
I’m actually in the process of writing up a new shampoo recipe that might help your situation. It should hopefully go up next week. In the meantime, castile soap may not be the best option as it can very unbalanced for your scalp. Make sure to dilute it with water. (And that’s true for the ACV rinse… not sure why your hairdresser thinks the ACV rinse is bad as it’s the closest thing to the pH of your hair…)
Hello, I have dry naturally curly hair. I have recently gone to a no poo regime however we also have extremely hard water and a water softener is not an option (we are currently living in Belgium). Most of these ingredients need to be purchased online, so I was wondering best place to purchase online and does anyone know how well this works on curly hair in extremely hard water. (It’s so hard I get a thick layer of calcium build up just from boiling water to cook that I have to sieve it out before using it. We purchase drinking water but its just not feasible or affordable to use for anything else.)
Hi Amanda!
I’d hold off on this recipe for a couple of days. I have another new recipe going up next week that pH balanced and may be a better option for your curly hair. I think it’s going up on Tuesday.
As far as where to get ingredients, I’d start with Amazon as you get several options and can view prices.
Ok thanks, it’s hard to order as many items cannot or will not be shipped to my APO address and I sure cant afford international shipping! I look forward to your next recipe!
Oh yeah, what about your conditioner that you posted…will that work or do you have a more balanced recipe in the works?
The new recipe is super simple (only two ingredients). The conditioner is still fine… although it’s more of a deep conditioner rather than an every day one. I talk about conditioning options in the new post.
Have you considered using grapefuit seed extract? After putting coconut oil on my hair overnignt, I find shampoo alone does not remove the oil. However, if I add about 4 or 5 drops of GSE to my palmful of shampoo, it usually completely removes the excess oil. It also makes my shampoo become full of suds, but rinses easily. It leaves my hair really nice. I don’t even need conditioner. Thanks.
Definitely worth a try. Thanks for the tip.
hi i know im kinda late to this post but im getting kinda desperate..:(..i have been doing the no poo thing for like a month and also tried shampoo bars but i have super hard water! at first it kinda worked my hair was more curly and shiny but i cant seem to get rid of that waxy feeling because of the water..i read that u use distilled water in your mixes but dont you still wet your hair with regular water? i really want to stick with this but that gunky feeling is my only issue and its only on like the mid length of my hair not on all of it..any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
Wondering if Spearmint Essential oil would work? Also is the tea tree necessary? Just gathering supplies and making sure I have the correct ingredients! ( I have grapefruit and Cinnamon Leaf essential oils on hand)
Thanks,
Dani
Spearmint would work. The tea tree isn’t super essential although it is a good clarifying oil. But I’ve made it without when I was in a hurry or out of it.
My husband is allergic to tea tree oil (melaleuca). Can I eliminate that ingredient? Or is there another ingredient that would make an acceptable substitute?
Yep. You can just leave it out.