Homemade Herbal Shampoo

I really hate the chemicals in commercial shampoos. Seriously, doesn't it make anyone else nervous to think of putting those things so near your BRAIN?!? And your EYES!?! We already avoid parabens like the plague, along with SLS and other icky additives. But I like the rule that if you can't pronounce or identify the ingredients in your products, they are probably best avoided.

I have done the "No-Poo" thing multiple times for months in a row. The first time it was a fail, but not on my part...we had HORRIBLY hard water out here, and after months of trying to find ways to work around it, my last option was just to use rain water. Ha! That's not going to happen, considering how hard it would be out here to (and how infrequently I would get to) collect rain water! The next couple of time it worked out better, after we got a water softener, but I just didn't really feel like it worked as well for me as it seemed to for others. Sooo...once again I returned to using my regular commercial shampoos like Biolage, or sharing my kids Burt's Bees shampoo. But for the last few years I have been on a constant hunt for a good homemade option!

So I recently made up a batch of this homemade herbal shampoo. I based it on the recipe here. However, I didn't follow it exactly. Instead I just used the marshmallow root, comfrey leaf, lavender, and Dr. Bronner's Baby Mild castile soap.

The herbs, boiling.

I have used the shampoo several times now. My hair is beginning to go through the "detox" period that always takes place after discontinuing commercial shampoo use. However, it doesn't feel as gross to me as it did when I'd just do the baking soda and ACV/lemon juice "no-poo" routine.

The finished product! Yes, that's a peri bottle! LOVE my homebirth supplies. ;) I also use one for my lemon juice rinse! I am keeping the extra jars in the fridge for freshness.

I was a little concerned, initially, about using the castile soap. Some people have trouble with it, because it is so concentrated. My hair seems to be pretty tempermental...either very oily or very dry. If I can get it to a "nice" compromise, it only lasts a short time. But so far I do not feel like the castile soap has contributed to causing it to be more oily, which is good! The nice thing is, though, that for people who feel like they can't get clean hair without a lather, the soap provides a small measure of that!

I am continuing to rinse with my beloved lemon juice (I go for lemon juice instead of ACV...it's still good for your scalp like the ACV, but it smells better, and I find it makes my hair softer and shinier than the ACV!). But so far I feel like this may be a shampoo I can stick with. I will report back in a few months. ;) (though someone might need to remind me!!)

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