http://www.care2.com/greenliving/homemade-shampoo-and-conditioner.html
Homemade Shampoo and Conditioner
By Elizabeth Seward, Planet Green
Oh, shampoo and conditioner. They keep our hair clean and smelling great. While we all love being clean, shampoos and conditioners aren’t totally innocent products. Most of them are filled with chemicals that aren’t any good for our planet. Since they get washed down our drains, these are important things to think about! On top of that, the containers they come in are typically plastic. Sure, we can always recycle plastic, but isn’t it better to reduce the production of plastic in the areas that we can? I think so.
The answer? Try making your own shampoo and conditioner! You’ll save money and use more natural ingredients. And isn’t it better to know exactly what you’re using on your body?
Here’s a basic recipe for shampoo. Feel free to alter the recipe to make it work the best for your hair type.
You need:
1 empty bottle
3 cups of soap flakes (which you can get almost anywhere)
Water
Essential Oil of Lavender
Essential Oil of Rosemary
Directions:
Mix the soap flakes with the water and then add 4 drops of each oil.
For conditioner, the ingredients are probably already in your house.
You need:
1 empty bottle
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon of baby oil
Water
Directions:
Mix the above ingredients together and you’re good to go!
This post was inspired by Hollywood Green.
Planet Green is the multi-platform media destination devoted to the environment and dedicated to helping people understand how humans impact the planet and how to live a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle. Its two robust websites, planetgreen.com and TreeHugger.com, offer original, inspiring, and entertaining content related to how we can evolve to live a better, brighter future. Planet Green is a division of Discovery Communications.
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35 comments
add your comment »nice!
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why is this inappropriate?
It seems like these recipes would really dry hair out.
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I make a lot of my own stuff but don't know that I'd make my own shampoo. I'm happy with the Aveda products that I use. I do add essential oils to my shampoo sometimes though
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I'm really surprised at this article. Hope nobody is guided by it's contents. If you don't believe our warnings, do more research.
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Botyfltiger E. - Maybe a few drops of moisturizer mixed in?
I'm curious about the soap flakes too,... do they use animal testing, are they naturally derived? Hm...
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what about those of us who have dry scalp? What would be best for us to make as our own shampoo?
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Thanks, but I'll stick with my vegan-certifed shampoo.
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why is this inappropriate?
I've tried some of the shampoo recipes on care2 (there are many), as well as soapnuts and Dr. Bronners. Soapnuts+tea from various plants (rosemary, lavender)--not bad, but not practical either as it will go bad within a week during the summer. Dr. Bronners made my head greasy (husband said the same when he tried it).
The bar soap I use from a local farm (saponified oils--yes, that's oil+lye), works well on my head. I won't use it on my face (olive oil only), but for weekly use, it's great. My hair is well past my shoulders, btw, and so far, I only get one silver hair sticking out from the top of my head (plucked every few months; no clue whether it's genetics or what, as my older sister has had grey hairs since 12 and I turn 37 on Saturday).
When I've taken the time to grate the soap and make a liquid from it in a double boiler, it too has worked, but seriously, it's easy enough to simply rub the bar on my scalp. Even when I used commercial shampoos, I'd only clean my scalp (unless I'd been camping for a week); hair longer than that doesn't need shampooing--a hot rinse is sufficient.
I've had friends use eggs and should add a warning--use lukewarm or cool water to rinse, otherwise you'll have a head full of scrambled eggs.
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Did you know that raw eggs can be used as part of your beauty routine and not just on your face? You can also use them in your hair for conditioning and adding shine.
Cider Vinegar and Egg Shampoo:
1 large egg
2 oz mineral water
1 T cider vinegar
vitamin b
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As I was saying
Soaps (including the vegetable based soaps) are drying to the skin and scalp and potentially irritating
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