Making Your Own Herbal Hair Shampoo

Making Your Own Herbal Hair Shampoo

In 1990 I decided not to use the commercially made shampoos after reading Aubrey Hampton’s book, “Natural Organic Hair and Skin Care.” In this book Aubrey tells you how to read the label on any product that you put on your skin or hair.

Manufacturers are constantly using toxic chemicals in their skin and hair products and disregard their toxic effects on your body. This is easily seen in the list of chemicals that they use.

Here are a few of these chemicals found in many product labels:

1 propylene glycol or glycol– a petrochemical used because it is cheap

2 cetearyl alcohol – emulsifier that can be synthetic or natural

3 methylparaben or propylparaben – typical synthetic preservatives

4 distearate – this is polyethylene glycol or polypropylene glycol which are petrochemicals

5 isopropyl alcohol – used as a cheap solvent to carry synthetic oils.

Here is a natural shampoo that you can make. This formulation is something that I have been using for many years.

First collect the following items:

  • 4 oz of castile soap with any scent is that available – plain, peppermint, eucalyptus.
  • ½ oz of rosemary – stimulates the hair follicles and helps to prevent premature baldness
  • ½ oz of sage – has antioxidants and keeps things from spoiling and is antibacterial
  • ½ oz of nettles – acts as a blood purifier, blood stimulator, contains a large source of nutrients for hair growth
  • ½ of lavender – controls the production of sebaceous gland oil and reduces itchy and flaky scalp conditions
  • 2000 mg of MSM – provides organic sulfur to your scalp, which improves the health and strength of your hair. It also helps to drive herbal nutrient into the skin and follicles where they can do the most good.
  • One empty 8 oz plastic bottle, or any other empty shampoo or soap bottle.

Mix the herbs in a mason jar, which has a lid. Boil 2 cups of distilled water. Add 3 heaping tablespoons of the mixed herbs into the boiling water. Pull the boiling water and herbs off the stove. Let the herb mixture sit for 30 – 40 minutes. Put the 2000mg of MSM into the herb mixture after 30 minutes of cooling. After 40 minutes and the MSM is melted, strain the herbal mixture into a bowl.

Pour 2 to 2 1/2 oz of strained herbal tea into the 8 oz plastic bottle. Now, pour the 4 oz of castile soap into the 8 oz plastic bottle. Cap the bottle and shake to mix the ingredients.

The shampoo is now finished and ready for use. Use this as a base for all of the shampoos you make. You can add different herbs as you learn what these herbs do and how they help your hair. You can vary the ingredients according to your taste. But now you have a shampoo that has no additives that can harm you.

Editor Note: MSM is called methylsulfonylmethane, an organic sulphur compound. You can get it in gel, liquid, powder, cream or capsule form. Consult your doctor before using MSM, especially if you are using medications.

The Author:

Rudy Silva has a Physics degree from the University of San Jose California and is a Natural Nutritionist.

16 thoughts on “Making Your Own Herbal Hair Shampoo

    1. The shelf life of this mixture would depend on the expiration dates of the individual ingredients used to make it. Generally, castile soap can last up to 2 years, while herbs should be used within a year. MSM supplements typically have a 3-year shelf life. To ensure the mixture stays fresh, it should be stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

      Since the ingredients are all natural and do not contain any synthetic or chemical additives, separation may occur over time. Therefore, it’s recommended to gently shake the mixture before each use to ensure that the ingredients are evenly distributed.

    2. The shelf life of homemade herbal hair shampoo can vary depending on the recipe and how it is stored. However, most homemade shampoos made with natural ingredients can last up to a month if stored properly in a cool, dry place.

      Regarding shaking the mix, if you notice any separation in the ingredients, you may need to give the bottle a gentle shake before each use to ensure that the ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the shampoo mixture.

  1. Thank you very much for the fantastic recipe, I look forward to making my own shampoo! I have a question though, what sort of Castile soap? The ingredients and consistency of various Castile soaps on the market vary greatly! Many thanks in advance!

    1. Thank you for your kind words! When using Castile soap for this recipe, it is recommended to use liquid Castile soap as it will blend better with the other ingredients. However, if you only have a bar of Castile soap, you can grate it and dissolve it in warm water before adding it to the mixture.

    1. Using a bar of Castile soap will work fine for this recipe! Simply grate the soap and dissolve it in warm water before adding it to the mixture.

    1. We’re delighted to hear that it worked for you! Natural ingredients can be very beneficial for our hair. Enjoy your homemade shampoo!

    1. You can use either fresh or dried herbs for this recipe. If you’re using dried herbs, you may want to reduce the amount slightly, as dried herbs tend to be more concentrated. Experiment and see what works best for you!

  2. I love this DIY! Lately I have been seeing a lot of DIY shampoos and this looks like it could one of the best. Definitely a great idea and I am sure my hair will appreciate the natural ingredients, Thanks for sharing!

  3. We are glad to hear that you love this DIY shampoo recipe! Natural ingredients can indeed be great for our hair, and it’s always satisfying to make your own products. We hope your hair enjoys the benefits of this homemade shampoo!

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