Natural Herbal Shampoo

Herbal shampoo is a life saver especially for people that have very specific hair concerns or those that don’t want to use products that have a lot of chemicals or foreign ingredients in them. Modern shampoo companies often fill their products with unnatural ingredients and even dangerous chemicals that can cause damage not only to your hair but to the rest of your body as well - some of them even being considered as possibly carcinogenic. While the purpose of many of these chemicals is to achieve a desired quality in the shampoo, like a good smell, powerful cleaning ability, or lots of lather and bubbles the cost of having lots of chemicals on your hair and your skin often drives people to search for more natural alternatives. The problem with this is that many people will simply head out to the grocery store or the mall and buy whatever bottles has the word “natural” on it’s label when really it only contains a miniscule amount of some plant that has been refined and processed so much that there’s nothing natural about it any more. This can lead people to believe that they are being very health conscious when really all they are doing is spending a lot more money for a label.

Instead it’s a much better idea to learn how to make your own shampoo using natural ingredients and herbs. By doing so you know exactly what is and isn’t in your shampoo, you can make it any scent or color you want and it’s much safer to use with children and babies because you don’t have to be concerned about washing them with loads of chemicals. You can also use specific herbs to tailor your shampoo to do exactly what you need for the type of hair that you have. Plus it’s a really fun project that you can get your family and friends involved with and some people have even gone on to sell their shampoo as a part of a natural products line because their friends liked it so much.

Homemade shampoo is also a really great gift for friends or family and goes very will in a gift basket with other assorted natural items. However before giving away any natural shampoo you want to make sure that the recipient of your gift isn’t allergic to any certain herbs and that they don’t have any conditions that may be aggravated or upset by the use of any natural herbs. It’s also important to be sure that you know if your recipient happens to be pregnant as some herbs are dangerous to pregnant women.

When it comes to making your own herbal shampoo it’s very simple and well worth any time it might take to put it together. It’s important that you decide what type of shampoo you want to make and for what type of hair before you begin the process however. Below is a list of different hair types and conditions and then the appropriate herbs to use. All you need is some distilled spring water, castile soap, and your herbs. A good rule of them is four tablespoons of soap for every eight ounces of water and then a good handful of your herbs (six tablespoons is usually plenty). It’s also wise to crush any larger herbs or flowers which well help them be more potent and release their scent.

First you’ll want to place all your herbs in a large glass jar that has a lid. Then boil your spring water and pour it over the herbs. Let them steep in the jar for fifteen to twenty minutes and then drain the waiter into a bowl as you strain the herbs out. Add the castile soap and mix it very well. Then place your shampoo in a glass or plastic recyclable bottle with a good lid and it should last for just under a month depending on how much you use. If you’re giving it away as a gift you can use a computer to print a pretty label to paste on the jar or you can always just hand make one if you want to. It’s also a good idea to print out the ingredients and the different herbs that you’ve included in your shampoo so that friends or family can see exactly what you’ve used - especially if you’re making more than one kind as this will help people avoid mixing them up or using something that might be harmful to them (though it’s rare for people to have any kind of a negative reaction with herbs). However, it’s always best to be safe so be clear about what it is in your shampoo before you give it away or test it on someone other than yourself.

Herbs For Hair Types And Conditions:

Normal: dandelion, clover, horsetail
Dry: comfrey root, orange blossoms, avocado
Oily: lemongrass, peppermint, white willow bark, strawberry leaf, watercress
Shine: egg, raspberry, vinegar
Softness: burdock root, olive oil, cherry bark, marjoram
Dandruff: while willow bark, comfrey, nettle, peppermint, vinegar
Growth: nettle, sage, basil, rosemary, onion, st. johns wort
Ethnic: comfrey, cherry bark, olive oil, nettle

It’s a good idea to smell herbs and choose ones that will complement each other before making your shampoo but be sure to watch out for the coloring of them as some herbs can leave behind a stain or a slight color especially with blonde and lighter hair.

Making your own herbal shampoo is a really fun way to keep your hair healthy and natural and it’s a really fun craft that can have lots of other benefits as well. Consider making your own shampoo for your children or siblings, for parents and friends, and even for your pets as well. Find cute bottles and fun ways of decorating them for a great display in your bathroom or to give as a beautiful gift either by themselves or in a gift basket with other homemade items like soap, lotion, conditioner, and more. Whatever you decide to do make sure that you have lots of fun and enjoy your new shampoo!