Homemade Herbal Shampoo ~ Customizable Recipe

Since I started using this homemade herbal shampoo, I’ve noticed a huge improvement in my hair growth, softness, and shine. I use this shampoo as the first step in my natural hair care routine – followed by an apple cider vinegar rinse and an application of rosemary essential oil.

You only need four simple, natural ingredients. The herbs and oils can be customized to suit your specific hair type (as shown in the charts below). For the best results, follow with a homemade apple cider vinegar rinse to clarify and remove any residue.

Ingredients

• 10 Ounces (295 ml) Spring or Distilled Water – If you don’t have access to spring water or distilled water, tap water will work.
• 1 Ounce (11 grams) Dried Herbs – See the charts below to help with choosing your herbs based on your hair type. You can use a single herb or combine a few different ones to equal 1 ounce.
• 3 Tablespoons (44 ml) Liquid Castile Soap – I use unscented Dr. Bronner’s liquid castile soap, but any good quality unscented type will work. Alternatively, you could use a scented castile soap (such as lavender or citrus) and leave out the essential oils.
• 8 – 10 Drops Essential Oil – See the charts below to help choosing an essential oil that works for your hair type, or just use a scent you enjoy.
• 1/2 Teaspoon (2.5 ml) Geogard ECT Preservative (Optional) – If you want to store your rinse in the shower for more than a day, consider using a natural preservative. Your rinse will spoil quickly, so you’ll need to store it in the refrigerator if you don’t use one. I purchase my Geogard ECT from Simply Earth.

Equipment

• Stainless Steel, Enamel, or Glass Pan – Avoid using aluminum or copper pans when making herbal preparations, as they can react with the herbs in your recipes and leech the metal into your final product.
• Fine Mesh Strainer or Cheesecloth – A fine mesh stainless steel strainer is ideal for straining your herbs, but you can also use cheesecloth or a coffee filter if you don’t have one.
• Empty Bottle – You can reuse an old shampoo bottle to store your rinse, or purchase an empty plastic bottle (8 ounces or larger). See my Resources page for suggestions on where to buy supplies. If you reuse an old shampoo bottle, clean it out very well first.
• Kitchen Scale – This isn’t absolutely necessary, but you’ll need some type of scale if you want to accurately measure out your herbs. You can always eyeball it, and it won’t hurt anything if you’re a little over or under on weight.
• Funnel (Optional) – This will make it easier to transfer your rinse into the empty shampoo bottle, but it’s not necessary if you have a steady hand.

Instructions

1. Bring 10 ounces (295 ml) water to a gentle boil. Meanwhile, measure out 1 ounce (11 grams) dried herbs.
2. Turn heat to low, add dried herbs, cover, and simmer gently for 10 minutes.
3. Turn off heat and allow herbs to steep for an additional 10 minutes, keeping the pan tightly covered.
4. Strain into a glass measuring cup, bowl, or any clean container large enough to hold the liquid (plus the castile soap and essential oils). Discard used herbs in the compost pile or return them to the earth.
5. Add 3 tablespoons (44 ml) liquid castile soap, 6-8 drops essential oil, and 1/2 teaspoon (60 ml) Geogard ECT, if using, to the herbal infusion. Stir to combine.
6. Transfer the mixture to an empty shampoo bottle. Either carefully pour it in or use a funnel. Label with contents, if desired. Shake well before using.

This recipe yields about 8 ounces of homemade herbal shampoo. I have medium length hair and it lasts me about 15 – 18 washes. If you have longer hair, it may last fewer washes. And if you have shorter hair, it may last longer. It cleanses very gently, but you don’t need to use a lot.

Shelf Life & Storage

If you use a natural preservative like Geogard ECT, you can store your shampoo in the shower for up to six months. (Although I doubt it would take that long to use it all!)

If you don’t use a natural preservative, this formulation will spoil quickly. It’s basically just a strong herbal tea with soap and essential oils added. You have two options for storage:

• Store the entire bottle in the refrigerator and take it out only when needed.
• Store a small bottle in the shower for 1-2 days, and the larger bottle in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Without a preservative, the shampoo will last 5-7 days in the refrigerator. I highly recommend using Geogard ECT or a similar natural liquid preservative so you don’t have to worry about your shampoo spoiling. It’s been a gamechanger for me since I started using one!

Printable Instructions

If you want to print out these instructions in a recipe format for later use, here you go! Just click the “Print” button below.

Herbs by Hair Type

Following are some herbs you can use in your homemade herbal shampoo, listed by hair type or issue.

Combine any of the herbs listed above to make your own formulations. For example, if you have brown hair and you’re experiencing hair loss, you might use 1/2 ounce of rosemary and 1/2 ounce nettle to make your rinse.

Essential Oils by Hair Type

Following are some essential oils you can use in your homemade herbal shampoo, listed by hair type or issue.

Essential Oil Safety

If you’ve never used a specific essential oil before, it’s always a good idea to do a patch test before adding it to your homemade herbal products. This is especially true if you tend to have sensitive skin, but I recommend safety checking to everyone.

Here’s what to do:

1. Combine 2-3 drops essential oil with a little bit of carrier oil (sweet almond, olive oil, etc.).
2. Rub the mixture on a small area on the inside of your arm.
3. Wait a few hours and check for a reaction.

If you don’t have a reaction, it’s most likely safe to use that oil in your herbal products. If you see any redness or swelling, you might be sensitive to that oil and should probably not use it.

If you have pets, please note that essential oils can be toxic to them. Never expose your pets to essential oils. Don’t put any on their skin or fur, and definitely don’t bathe them using products made with essential oils.

Additional Resources

If you’re interested in making your own herbal beauty products, I recommend the following resources. You can also check out my Resources page for suggestions on where to buy dried herbs, essential oils, containers, and other supplies.

• The Herbal Body Book by Stephanie Tourles – This was the first book of herbal beauty recipes I ever owned back when I was a teenager. It has some great tips and recipes to help you get started – or add to your collection if you’re more experienced.
• Herbal Body Book by Jeanne Rose – This is a classic book on herbal beauty that I highly recommend. Lots of wonderful information, recipes, and history.
• Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbs for Natural Beauty – This one is still on my personal wish list, but everything Rosemary writes is pure gold. Includes more than 30 simple recipes for cleansers, moisturizers, and creams comprised of essential oils and herbs.

Related Posts:

Herbal Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse Customizable Recipe How to Make Herbal Melt & Pour Soap (Complete Guide)