Making Your Own Shampoo

There can be some nasty harsh chemicals out there in commercially made shampoo’s, so here is a how to guide make an easy, organic shampoo for yourself or for a beautifully crafted home-made gift.

The base ingredient we shall use is Castile Soap. Originating in Castile, Spain, it has come to mean a vegetable based soap. It should generally be made of predominantly olive oil and other vegetable oils. It should not contain any synthetic foaming agents or detergents or it defeats the purpose of making your own. There are some wonderful products online and of course you could find it at any good health food store.

Ingredients
Castile Soap
Essential oils
Herbs – fresh or dry

Grab some rosemary leaves, tea tree leaves, rose buds, lavender leaves, rosemary, sage or basil.
Place in a strainer inside a pot of 1 cup of boiling water.
Let steep for 20 minutes.
Add herb water to 5 tablespoons of Castile Soap and a few drops of a blend of essential oils that suit your hair type.
Shake and decant into a cute jar or bottle.
*Be sure to label ingredients if giving as a gift.

Below are some essential oils that target hair and skin specifically. Look to their properties and choose a blend that best suits you

Bay – Dandruff, hair care, oily skin, poor circulation.
Bergamot – Acne, abscesses, boils, cystitis, itching, oily skin, psoriasis
Cedarwood – Acne, cystitis, dandruff, dermatitis
Chamomile – Abscesses, allergies, boils, cuts, cystitis, dermatitis, hair, headache, inflamed skin
Citronella – Headache, oily skin
Geranium – Dull skin, lice, oily skin.
Ginger – Poor circulation
Jasmine – Dry skin, sensitive skin.
Lavender – Allergies, cuts, cystitis, dermatitis, headache, itching, migraine, oily skin, scabies, scars, sores
Lemon – Dull skin, oily skin
Myrtle – Irritated skin
Neroli – Mature skin, oily skin
Rose – Eczema, mature skin
Rosemary – Dandruff, dull skin, hair care, poor circulation
Rosewood – Dry skin, dull skin, headache, oily skin, scars, sensitive skin
Sandlewood – Chapped and dry skin, oily skin
Thyme – Arthritis, bronchitis, candida, cuts, dermatitis, gastritis, laryngitis
Yarrow – Inflammation, hair care