I’ve made natural alternatives for body wash, dry shampoo, and other hair care products, but homemade shampoo was by far the toughest. I’ve tried many (failed) recipes before, but this DIY moisturizing home shampoo recipe is the best. It’s made from natural ingredients that leave my hair feeling silky and soft!
DIY Shampoo
I wanted to stop using store-bought products that contained synthetic chemicals and artificial scents. Many commercial shampoos just aren’t that great for your hair and scalp.
Table of contents[Hide][Show]
I tried the “no-poo” method, which has great results for some, but did not work on me at all (and I have some terrible Christmas pictures to prove it!). If you have coarse hair that’s normal to dry, this method may be great for you! I have baby-fine more oily hair and it didn’t work for me.
If you’re not familiar with no-poo, it usually involves rubbing baking soda water onto the scalp as a shampoo alternative. Some people use an apple cider vinegar rinse and coconut oil as conditioners on the ends of their hair. Some people report that it is great while others complain of an itchy scalp and hair loss. Over time, it can also strip natural oils from the hair.
Don’t Want to Make It?
When I’m traveling or don’t have time to make my own, I’ve used a few organic shampoos that worked really well. My favorites are:
- Wellnesse Shampoo – I co-founded this company and helped formulate the recipes. It contains ingredients that have been proven to be healthy and non-toxic. There’s even an option for curly hair!
- Morrocco Method Raw and Natural Organic Shampoo – this doesn’t lather like normal shampoo but it’s 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…).
The first time I tried to make homemade shampoo, the liquid castile was too thick and left my hair frizzy. Then I tried a bunch of homemade recipes that didn’t work well at all. Finally, with the inspiration of a natural coconut milk (scented) shampoo that I love, I finally found a recipe I’m happy with and that doesn’t leave my hair tangled, oily, or both.
It works on kid’s hair too. That’s a picture of my daughter’s newly washed hair (though it isn’t tear-free, so watch the eyes!). It is a little like regular shampoo, and you can adjust it to suit your needs.
It’s such an easy natural shampoo recipe that I can’t believe it took me this long to think of it…
Coconut Milk is the secret ingredient!
What You’ll Need for Homemade Shampoo
- Coconut milk – The coconut milk helps soften and adds natural oils. (UPDATE: a couple of readers mentioned that the canned stuff did not work well for them, but homemade coconut milk worked great… Depending on your hair type, homemade may be better for you).
- Liquid castile Soap (like Dr. Bronners)
- Essential Oils of Choice (I’ve used peppermint, lavender, rosemary, and orange or combinations of those). Or, you can choose to skip them and make a version without scent.
- Carrier oil – If your hair is more dry you can add a hair nourishing oil. I use olive oil but castor, avocado, and jojoba work too. Castor oil can also help with hair growth.
Some homemade shampoos include ingredients such as raw honey, vitamin A, aloe Vera gel or glycerin. Experiment until you discover what works best for your particular hair type. Make shampoo bars. They are a cost-effective and wonderful option.
Essential Oils for hair
Essential oils are more than just a good smell. These oils can improve the health of your scalp and hair. They can thicken hair and prevent hair breakage. These are a few options, and what they can do. I’ve written more extensively on essential oils for hair here.
- Tea tree oil – Useful for dandruff and itchy scalp. Also treats head lice.
- Rosemary – Reduces scalp itchiness and flakes, restores hair’s natural oil balance, and can help prevent split ends.
- Lavender – Studies show it increases the number of hair follicles for better hair growth.
- Peppermint – Increases hair growth, thickness, and length and deepens hair follicles for stronger hair.
Natural Homemade Shampoo
This homemade natural hair shampoo is great for lathering, smells wonderful, and works well.
Yield
Notes
- It also works well as shaving cream if you use a dispenser that foams.
- This shampoo has a shelf life of about one week if stored in the refrigerator.
Troubleshooting tips
This shampoo’s effectiveness depends on the type of hair you have and your water. Some people with really hard water find it doesn’t combat the extra minerals in their water very well.
The coconut milk that you use also makes a difference. Others have reported that canned coconut was not suitable for them. However, homemade coconut milk worked. You should keep in mind though that canned coconut is less shelf stable than homemade.
If you find your hair is really greasy and unmanageable after using this, try doubling the castile soap so it’s 2 parts soap to 1 part coconut milk.
Natural Hair Conditioner
What about conditioner now that you’ve got a natural hair shampoo? Coconut oil and optional carrier oils are moisturizing, so you may not even need to use a conditioner. You can try a variety of options.
- After each shower, rinse your hair with chamomile tea (leave it in! Over time, chamomile tea will make your hair silky and smooth.
- A 50:50 mix of apple cider vinegar with water, used as a hair rinse by some people, helps to clean the hair and increase shine. You can also use a spray bottle to make application easier.
- This homemade conditioner recipe contains nourishing oils for hair, glycerin and essential oils.
But… Don’t Wash Your Hair Every Day!
I can’t leave out one of my biggest healthy hair discoveries. Hair is happiest when you don’t wash it every day! Find out in this article why experts believe that how you wash your locks is just as important as the products you use!
Have you ever made your own shampoo before? Gone “no-poo?” How’d it go? Share your experiences below!
