http://www.care2.com/greenliving/basic-herbal-shampoo-conditioner.html
Basic Herbal Shampoo and Hair Conditioner Formulas
Adapted from The Herbal Home Spa, by Greta Breedlove.
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.
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27 comments
add your comment »Okay, I just bought Organix smoothing shea butter shampoo because it says "sulfate free" on the back, but it also says it has "disodium laureth sulfosuccinate". Isn't anything with the word "laureth" unsafe? I can't find this brand on the "skin deep" database.
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I received a sample of the “Made from Earth” Tea & Protein Herbal Shampoo from Sephora, when I bought another Made from Earth skin product. I couldn't believe it when I tried it. It's wonderful, it smells great (my boyfriend loved it), it got my hair really clean and left it soft and with some body, not limp and greasy feeling. I will only use Made from Earth products from now on, they really are the best for your health. Its cheaper to buy on the madefromearth.com website though, than actually going into sephora…I guess sephora raises their prices….
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I wanted to try some of these recipes I've been finding online, but the herbal oils are so expensive! I tried the baking soda method but I don't think it's good for me my hair is too dry to start with.
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I really love the Solay shine shampoos and conditioner (http://www.natural-salt-lamps.com/natural-shampoo.html) that I have tried. The shampoo doesn't lather like commercial products, and is much less viscous than most shampoos. It leaves your hair light and soft, even in "hard" water. The conditioner isn't "slick" on your hair like commercial products, but that is no indicator of its effectiveness. Leave it on for a few minutes and you will truly be amazed when you wash it out (even in hard water). Your hair will feel so soft, will stay untangled, and will be residue-free. It will stay cleaner longer because it is not attracting "dust" from the environment like regular products do. I truly cannot stand "product" left on my hair, which even the most expensive conditioning products do. They do leave my hair "heavy" and it needs to be washed every other day. When I use Solay shine products, I can go one more day in-between washings and my hair looks and feels great.
I have no idea why the hair products last so long, but i am not one to be complaining about that! The 2 oz bottles seriously must be magic...they really do last a long time, and I have LOTS of thick hair. They have both 2 oz samples and 8 oz sizes.
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GLYCEROL (85 PER CENT)
Glycerolum (85 per centum)
DEFINITION
Aqueous solution of propane-1,2,3-triol.
Content: 83.5 per cent m/m to 88.5 per cent m/m of
propane-1,2,3-triol (C3H8O3 ; Mr 92.1).
CHARACTERS
Aspect: syrupy liquid, unctuous to the touch, colourless or
almost colourless, clear, very hygroscopic.
Solubility : miscible with water and with alcohol, slightly
soluble in acetone, practically insoluble in fatty oils and in
essential oils.
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Hello,
I have just purchased an Eco Organic Shampoo with ingredients you describe- SLS- but with a bit different name-does it suppose to trick us or are these really safe (I am not a chemist to know...)
Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Lauryl Glucoside, Lauroyl Sarcosine, Alcohol, Parfume, Limonene, Linalool
and the other shampoo of the same contains another SLS name:
Sodium Coco Sulfate, Coco Glucoside, Sodium PCA, Sodium Chlorid, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate??????????????????????????Are these ingredients ok or dangerous?
And could anyone tell me, how to make natural shampoo from pharmacy bought GLYCEROLUM 85% (and perhaps H2O2 to make a foam...and Tea tree oil-I do not know the exact mixture I should make...And does anyone knows how to home-make fluorid free toothpaste?)Many thanks
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i ♥ this product
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My husband uses a 3 minute hair dye for grey blond color. It never touches the scalp so it may be safe to use. It comes with a little wide tooth comb to comb through the hair.
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I have the thickest, most tangly hair on the planet (lucky me), and have spent most of my years double- and triple-conditioning my hair. I used to use synthetic shampoos and conditioners (like Nexus Humectress) that cost a fortune but were reasonable effective at keeping my hair soft. That is, until I discovered the most moisturizing and softening shampoo and conditioner that I've ever used, that just so happens to be totally natural. It is Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose line, and it is absolutely wonderful! I have recommended this product to dozens of people, and they all rave about it. You can read more about it here:
http://www.thegreatergreen.com/naturalbeauty/haircare/aubreycondhoneysuckle.html
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I have found a shop local to me and in talking with the owner, I found out that she does have a website where you can shop online. I use two of her products for washing my hair. Keep in mind that my hair is down to my waist, so washing it is not that easy and managing it is another issue. She makes on-site a Castor Oil Shampoo bar and I have used her Tea Tree soap bar when she may have been sold out of the Castor oil. Both are great and I do not have to follow with a conditioner since they are both conditioning. I can actually comb straight through my hair without trouble or stressing my hair and waring out my arms. www.dandesoap.com and she carries a lot of the herbs mentioned above, but I think you have to email her because I did not see a "add to cart" option beside them. The shipping is reasonable although I am able to go there in person. I hope this helps and I do recommend these shampoos, even though it takes a little get use to using a bar versus a liquid, but it's safer and better for me and I don't have the scalp itching and flaking that I use too.
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