Homemade Shampoo

Step 10 NO 'POO

Though there are already plenty of instructables that cover this topic, I thought my list wouldn't be complete without including the simplest way to get clean, healthy hair.

• 1 tsp Baking soda
• Apple cider vinegar
• 4 oz Water

Put 1 tsp baking soda in a cup or mug to take into the shower with you.
In another cup, pour about 1 oz (~¹/₈ cup) apple cider vinegar.

When you get into the shower, fill the baking soda cup with about ¹/₄ c water.
Apply this to your roots only; work it in and let it sit for a minute.

Then begin to gently scrub your scalp, stimulating blood flow and cleaning out your pores.
This will actually stimulate hair growth.

Lastly, scrub the back of your skull and your temples/sideburns. This will result in less grease and more growth.

Rinse!

Follow by adding about ¹/₄ c water to your vinegar cup.
Pour the apple cider vinegar over the ends of your hair, let it sit for a minute and then rinse it out.

No 'Poo Troubleshooting

There may be a transition period from two weeks to two months depending on the person. Here are a few tips:

" If your hair becomes frizzy, try using less baking soda or leaving it on for a shorter period of time. Adding honey may also help.
" If your hair becomes greasy, try using less apple cider vinegar, switching to lemon or lime juice, leaving out the honey, and/or using a comb instead of a brush. Also, make sure youre applying the apple cider vinegar just to the ends of your hair.
" If your scalp itches, try the following essential oils; tea tree, lavender, rosemary. If your hair becomes dry, try a tiny bit of oil (any oil, I use olive) smoothed on bottom of hair.

Have fun and enjoy!

Comments

[showes1]

Can you premix these solutions before getting in the shower? And by that I mean make a bottle of each and keep them in the shower as long as the proportions are right to use on the fly.

[n5vwy]

go ahead and premix. I make mine up in a 20 oz soda bottle! Because I only wash my hair once a week, It lasts me almost a year, BUT I use distilled water so that there are no bacteria running around in the water. Purified water or ionized water would work just as well. Tap water would not be a safe bet if you were going to keep a quantity on hand.

[planetmuncher]

I love these instuctables. Im gonna try this, but im too lazy to find that soap. Im thinking of experimenting a lil. Tea Tree oil Lemon? I want to ligten my hair i thought this would work. Where can i buy it though?

[SIRJAMES09]

here in America, any health food store will carry Tea Tree Oil...Lemon oil? that I can not say for any kind of certainty....I know some that will carry it, but I do not know if it is a standard product to be found in a health food store...I just do not know.

[Mindfulmoon]

You can buy Doctor Bronner's Castile soap at just about any Target. It's fairly inexpensive and a good all round soap.

[scoochmaroo]

Sure, lemon definitely works to lighten hair. My friends used to squeeze lemons into spray bottles and keep them in the fridge. Whenever they went out into the sun, they'd spritz down their hair for natural highlighting!

[kmogusar]

thats a really good idea! My sisters poured a whole bottle of lemon juice into my hair when i was 4.  The stuff works, i know that much

[Jackaaaaay]

just FYI... I am a Hair stylist and even though i will advocate most of the ingredients used in this recipe... Lemon Juice is NEVER good for the hair.... lemon essential oil is ok... but the high acidity content of the lemon will degrade your cuticle of your hair and you will end up with splitends and dry hair that refuses to hold on to moisture.... this is why SUN IN used to be so popular and isnt so much now... causes a lot of damage.  if you are looking for a more natural way to lighten your hair I would say to wash with shampoo and a tablespoon on baking soda and then REALLY CONDITION.... and this might lighten you a shade or so or even regular peroxide will do the job.... just wash and condition after.

just my insight... hope this helps

[wperson]

Well, FYI, I am a Hair Stylist, too, have been for at least 5 years now and counting. Jackaaaaay, you said Lemon Juice will ruin the hair but peroxide is ok? o_O What do you think it does, condition the hair? O_O
Lemon juice, while acidic, will not kill your hair (actually your hair is already dead after it come out of the cuticle), and occasional usage is fine. The same goes for baking soda. Use them carefully and occasionally only.

[jdurose]

From a chemistry perspective - even weak acids dissolve the keratin that makes up skin and hair. It's not a matter of the citric acid "killing" the hair, but just dissolving the keratin compound. This is why people tell you to keep your lips hydrated with lip balm instead of just licking them constantly - the weak acid in your saliva will deteriorate the keratin contained in the epidermis of your lips. With this in mind, I think it's reasonable that lemon juice will result in split ends.

However, baking soda is on the opposite end of the spectrum - it is a base instead of an acid. I have no idea what that does to keratin/hair.

[peanutbuddaslap]

OH DEAR LORD!!!! MY NOSE!! I mixed the shampoo together and almost died, then spontaneously combusted. Now the fun part will be putting this rancid mixture on my head. Thanks for the recipe! :D

[NikNice]

You didn't mix the two TOGETHER did you? Cause that WILL cause combustion!

[pyromonkey]

Im defiantly going to try this recipe! My hair is combination, greasy at the top (bangs and crown area) and dry and frizzy at the ends. My stylist tried this one shampoo on me that worked wonders, but its not cheap. So now Im searching for a cheaper shampoo that does the same thing:P

[scoochmaroo]

Ooh, try this mask just on the ends of your hair: 4oz mayo + 1/2 avocado - put together in a medium bowl and squish together with your hands until it's a minty green color. Smooth into ends of hair. Put on a shower cap or wrap your head with saran wrap. Leave on for 20 minutes. For deeper conditioning put a hot, damp towel around your head -over the saran wrap. Use fresh. It helps to get those frizzy ends trimmed off regularly to make your hair look healthier.

[{tauney}]

add tortilla chips for a delicious snack...

[pyromonkey]

Cool I will try that too :)

[Cluckie]

Hair can't be healthy, it's dead. The only part that is alive is the root. Once you see it, you can't make it "healthy", you can only coat the shaft to make it appear to be less frizzy/split.

[scoochmaroo]

Yes, fair enough. Also why I said "look" healthier as opposed to "be" heathier.