Basic Herbal Shampoo and Hair Conditioner Formulas

Achieving great-looking hair without synthetic chemicals is not difficult, nor does it need to be expensive. With a few common kitchen ingredients and some specialty oils, herbs, and flowers, you can create a variety of treatments that your hair will respond to quickly.

The time you invest in creating these easy formulas will be rewarded with healthier, more radiant hair.

HERBAL SHAMPOOS
Choose herbs for your shampoo that will enhance your hair color and texture, and that address any special needs you may have. You can mix and match herbs from the following lists to develop an individualized combination that is best for your hair.

Dry: Comfrey root, avocado, elder flowers, orange blossoms.
Normal: Dandelion, horsetail, clover.
Oily: Watercress, strawberry leaf, white willow bark, lemon grass.
Ethnic: Comfrey, nettle, cherry bark, olive oil.
Shine: Egg, raspberry, nettle, vinegar, quassia.
Manageability: Yogurt, cherry bark, beer.
Softness: Cherry bark, burdock root, olive oil, marjoram.
Dandruff: White willow bark, birch bark, comfrey, nettle, peppermint, vinegar.
Growth: St. John’s wort, nettle, sage, basil, rosemary, onion juice.

BASIC SHAMPOO FORMULA
Ingredients
2 tablespoons liquid castile soap
1 cup spring water
¼ cup fresh herbs (2 tablespoons dried)
1 teaspoon almond or apricot kernel oil
2 drops essential oil

To make:
1. Place herbs in a clean 10-ounce glass jar with a lid.
2. Boil the spring water and pour over the herbs.
3. Cover and let steep for 10 to 20 minutes.
4. Strain the liquid from the herbs into a bowl.
5. Add the liquid castile soap and almond or apricot kernel oil and mix thoroughly.
6. Scent with essential oil and mix again.
7. Bottle in a plastic container with a spout or a clean recycled shampoo bottle.

Yield: Approximately 24 shampoos

HERBAL HAIR CONDITIONERS
Herbal hair conditions help make hair more manageable and often impart a smoother and softer texture. They are especially good for those who cannot live without hot rollers, curling irons and blow dryers.

Jojoba Conditioner
Ingredients
1 cup rose floral water
1 tablespoon jojoba oil
10 drops vitamin E oil

To make:
1. In the top of a double boiler, gently warm the rose water.
2. Once rose water is warm, add jojoba oil.
3. Pour the mixture in a blender and add the vitamin E. Blend at high speed for 2 minutes.

To use:
1. Wet hair with warm water.
2. Pour the conditioner onto your hair and scalp, massaging in thoroughly.
3. For damaged hair or extra conditioning, leave on for several minutes, perhaps while bathing.
4. Rinse thoroughly with warm water.
5. Shampoo lightly and rinse again with cool water.

Read more: Beauty, Hair Care

Adapted from The Herbal Home Spa, by Greta Breedlove. Copyright (c) 1998 by Greta Breedlove. Reprinted by permission of Storey Books.
Adapted from The Herbal Home Spa, by Greta Breedlove.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Jerry t.

11:47AM PST on Jan 16, 2012

It sure would be nice to partner with nature, rather than to continue exploiting her. Natural products, by definition, should be from cheap to free.
I was a machinist, we used all kids of chemo cleansers on our grimy hands. I found a torn up grapefruit was the best, and natural, hand cleaner.

send a green star

New G.

10:47PM PST on Dec 28, 2011

Thanks for the information.

Stephanie P.

10:12PM PST on Dec 17, 2011

I would love to try this, but I'm worried about the cost and the shelf life of the ingredients. The sad thing is that in this economy, many people can't afford to "go green" because those items that are greener are (in my experience) almost always more expensive than the alternatives. Same thing with choosing animal-free products: it's just too expensive. :(

Dany S.

4:25PM PST on Dec 12, 2011

thanks so much for the article! i will try !

Diane S.

1:22PM PST on Dec 12, 2011

I will try : )

Danielle T.

7:43AM PST on Dec 12, 2011

I'm eager to try this!

Amanda N.

3:55PM PDT on Jun 23, 2011

Awesome, thanks!

Sheila D.

10:12AM PDT on Jun 21, 2011

Definitely will try these.

Renee H.

8:54PM PDT on Apr 19, 2011

This conditioner
recipe looks great but I'm wondering would this work if I add Coconut oil as well? has anyone tried this recipe and how do you like it if so? How long did it keep for you?

Dace K.

2:54PM PST on Dec 8, 2010

can someone make me this one shampoo too, please :D
great article!