In the past few months I have been weeding out all of our standard hair and body products in order to simplify and replace with more natural and safe alternatives. I just love having one product for most of our basic needs! This has been the main purpose…to simplify! I honestly got tired of purchasing five or more different products for our needs (shaving cream for me, hair gel for him, etc). Now I just buy two products that together supply most of our needs.
Most body products have an unending list of ingredients which are impossible to pronounce. This alone makes me wonder what they really put in all of them. Skin Deep is a good resource to refer to in evaluating the contents of your favorite products.
So we have finally nailed down what works for us in simplifying our body care products! I formally tried the no-poo approach, and although that would be the ultimate frugal option (using baking soda & apple cider vinegar alone), it didn’t fly too well with the hubby. I also didn’t enjoy the lack of soapiness which I find necessary to really make my hair feel clean. I wanted to have a system that worked well for all of us, including the littles!
Here is our list:
- Shampoo (recipe below) - A combination of Dr. Bronner’s soap and other mainly edible ingredients this recipe not only works great as a shampoo but also has apple cider vinegar in it, which is a natural detangler, thus serving the purpose of a conditioner. We use a spray bottle to apply it and it also can be used in replacement of a traditional bar of soap to clean the rest of your body as well as a shaving cream (My husband Aaron still uses a men’s cream as he has been a little nervous to shave with it himself, but I know that other men have done so successfully). One spray bottle serves all those needs!
Homemade Shampoo
1 c. Dr. Bronner’s organic castile liquid soap (we use Baby Mild for its versatility -works for baby and us!)
2 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
3/4 Tbs. tea tree & Vit. E oil (or just one oil only, etc.)
1/4 c. water
1 (16 oz) spray bottle or other container for application
Combine together and store in a spray bottle. You can also add various fragrances to your desire, such as lavender, euycaliptus, etc. This shampoo will be more liquidy than your standard shampoo, but sprays on really well. Rubbing through your hair first works well to activate the suds and than scrubbing into scalp. Your hair will feel slightly more greasy than normal, but that is actually more natural anyway. Most modern shampoos actually dry out your hair, removing the natural oils. Plus it is two in one - shampoo & conditioner!
- Conditioner/Hair Gel - Coconut oil works splendidly as a natural gel/defrizzer in small quantities as well as a great leave in conditioner. I use it to scrunch my curly hair to hold and manage the curls. Aaron uses it as basic hair gel as well.
We use coconut oil also as a body lotion, and in combination with other ingredients for deodorant.
Read more tips for simplifying in the bathroom & the wonderful health benefits of coconut oil!
That’s my frugal tip for the day - simplify and make it yourself!
Related Posts
- Natural Body Products on A Budget - Part 2
- Natural Body Products on a Budget - Part 1
- Q & A: Coconut Oil
- Q & A: Facial Care during Pregnancy
August 22nd, 2008 at 4:25 am
Great tips - thank you!
I have a question about using vinegar with the Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap. I have tried to add a little bit of the soap to my all purpose cleaner, which contains vinegar, and it always clumps up. After some trial and error, I determined that it was the mix of soap and vinegar. I don’t use much of either, and I have tried mixing the vinegar and alternatively the soap with hot water before adding the other ingredient, but it always clumps up for me. I use purified water and we don’t have hard water. Have you ever come across this, and do you have any tips for it?
Thanks so much!
~Andrea
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dianna replied on August 30th, 2008:
hey andrea - i have also tried mixing apple cider vinegar with dr. bronner’s and had the same problem - the clumps! i haven’t tried to mix it with oil yet - but maybe that helps the clumps disolve?
dianna
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August 22nd, 2008 at 4:41 am
Looking forward to try this out….
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August 22nd, 2008 at 5:33 am
Thank you so much for these tips and the recipe.
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August 22nd, 2008 at 6:13 am
This is great! Thanks for sharing your experiments. I always find them easily adapted to our needs as well. Please keep us posted on whether or not this works long term. I know that other shampoos I try stop working after awhile b/c it seems my hair needs a “break” from them. When I go back to the product a month or so later it is fine. Maybe the all natural products won’t cause this problem though. Thank you for sharing all of your wisdom.
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August 22nd, 2008 at 8:00 am
Lindsey you are an amazing girl. I would have NEVER thought about coconut oil for a leave-in condition or gel. In my climate, the midsouth it it so VERY humid most of the year and my tired, and getting grayer hair seems to be more frizzy and damaged than ever. I am going to try this. Thanks for all the good info. I am rejoicing with you about your baby on the way. God Bless!
Susan
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August 22nd, 2008 at 8:35 am
Thanks, so much, Lindsay!
This sounds great. That’s so funny how we posted these on the same day. This will go great with my hair conditioner/rinse recipe. You’re right- coconut oil is perfect for thick curly hair. That’s what I use on Gen’s hair. It’s too “oily” for my straight blonde hair, though. 
In reply to Heather, the reason your hair needs a break, is because commercial shampoos contain “wax” substances that build up in your hair. Using vinegar rinses would help with that issue.
Blessings,
Michele
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August 22nd, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Do you ever straighten your hair? Is so, do you ever use anything to ensure it doesn’t go back to curly before its time?
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Lindsay replied on August 22nd, 2008:
No, I have tried to straighten my hair once without success (it is so full!) I really would be nervous about damaging it, and thus have really had no desire to do so again.
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August 22nd, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Thanks for the recipe, I just might have to try it. I too tried the no-poo approach with baking soda and vinager and it went fairly well for about 2 1/2 months but then I took a trip from MN to Iowa where it was very humid and my hair got very strange. It felt really, really thick (my hair is naturally thick but this felt like a bad build-up!) and it looked really bad. After I got home I hoped it would get better but after a couple of days I couldn’t stand it any more and I went back to normal shampoo. I am not sure what exactly happened and I would like to go more natural again.
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August 23rd, 2008 at 5:10 pm
I’ve never had a commercial shampoo dry my hair out. Altho it would be NICE!! I have oily hair, and have to wash it everyday. If I don’t, 1. I feel gross w/o a shower, that’s a must in our home, no loving if no shower lol, normally 2 showers a day in our home, especially in the summer, w/swimming etc. 2. My hair is EXTREMELY oily. I could probably grease a frying pan oily lol.
I’ve never used or bought cheap shampoo, nothing less than the salon stuff. I buy most of our shampoos and stuff off Ebay. I’ve read recently (within the last 6 months or so) about people just using conditioner to wash their hair. And surprisingly enough it works!
Anyone else tried that?
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August 23rd, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Lindsay,
This looks great. I can’t wait to try it. Finding a way to take care of my hair naturally has been a great frustration. I really appreciate you posting this.
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August 24th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Dr. Bronner’s can be diluted alot more than your recipe shows–especially for men or people with thin hair! I keep 2 bottles (squirt-not spray)–one with more soap for my hair; one with less soap for the boys hair and the body. The amount of oil you put in would make my hair very greasy! I only use a squirt of almond oil in mine. I don’t include ACV, but use that strictly as a rinse. I do straighten my hair occasionally and have never had a problem.
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August 25th, 2008 at 9:54 am
I have been looking for a recipe for shampoo…I wasn’t too sure about the no-shampoo for us….but I may give this a try. You’ve got a lot of great info about natural living! THanks
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August 26th, 2008 at 3:59 am
I am always looking for natural products. Really thankful to your handy tips.
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August 26th, 2008 at 6:30 am
I like your formula for hair because it is herbal made. Because the no side effects of the herbal substance This would also has no side effects.
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August 27th, 2008 at 3:52 am
We deal with allergies in our home, and I was excited to see this recipe! I love your site! Thanks for sharing your ideas!
Jeana in Illinois
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August 31st, 2008 at 12:23 am
Does the apple cider vinegar leave a smell in your hair at all?
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August 31st, 2008 at 6:41 pm
So glad to discover your site and your shampoo stories! I’m hungry for more simple living resources. (I’ll check out Frugal Granola too).
I’ve been mad about making my own skin care products ever since I successfully made my own diaper rash cream and started my series on preservatives in skin care.
Problem is, I can’t seem to get a good shampoo solution going! We have hard water, and I just learned that Dr. Bronner’s + vinegar is what’s causing the scummy buildup that I have right now. It’s kind of terrifying in fact! I have long hair, so what’s bringing nothing but soft locks to my short haired hubby and two sons is giving me a gummed up mess.
If you or anyone posting here knows of a hard water alternative please let me know! Meanwhile I heard that baking soda will remove the buildup so I’m going to try that. Mamaboogie in this forum post had a method that seems less harsh and intensive than other “no-poo” methods I’ve seen online.
Thanks for your knowledge!
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September 2nd, 2008 at 5:25 am
I am so glad to have found this post! I have been trying to get away from the SLS and parabens in my shampoo and have tried bar soap and a vinegar rinse, but the soap I was using was still too harsh for my skin. I have been hoping to find a good way to get tea tree oil in my hair as well. I look forward to trying this recipe.
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September 5th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
This shampoo recipe is really amazing! I added more distilled water, since I have extremely oily hair, but this is the first castille soap-based recipe that has worked for me (and I have tried many!). I also use baking soda once or twice a week.
However, I have been having a MAJOR problem with static electricity since I have gone off shampoos (for the past six weeks). My hair doesn’t have the same movement it used to because the static keeps it kinda stuck to my head. The only rememdies I have found are using hairspray (which I won’t do, since I’m “going natural”), or wiping the hair down with dryer sheets - which would also require me to put more chemicals back into my natural hair.
I use a wide toothed comb for brushing, but both that and finger brushing only make the problem worse. And my hair always looks messy because of the static. It is very frustrating! It is softer and more shiny than it has ever been, but I am not enjoying the “bed head” look!
Any suggestions, anyone? (And yes, I have tried coconut oil - great conditioner, but it isn’t helping the static.)
(Thanks for sharing your knowledge, Lindsay! This is a fun blog.)
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Lindsay replied on September 8th, 2008:
Have you tried coconut oil after getting out of the shower? I use this as described above as a natural styling product. I honestly rarely brush my hair. I just use the shampoo recipe and after getting out of the shower, I apply some coconut oil and style as desired. It works great for me!
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Kendra replied on September 29th, 2008:
I noticed the same problem with static. I put a few drops of oil, like jojoba, with a drop or two of an essential oil, such as geranium. I rubbed this on my hands and down my hair. This seems to help
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September 24th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Hi Lindsay,
I recently come across your blog and have found it so very helpful since I’m trying to ‘go more natural with body products & foods etc. I just tried the shampoo recipe this morning and found that my hair seemed to be more dry than normal. Is it because we have hard water? Is there anything that you know of to add to the shampoo to help with this? Thanks so much for all your hard work on putting everything together for the blog. It has encouraged me alot.
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Lindsay replied on September 26th, 2008:
Your hair will go through some adjustments as you switch to this homemade variety. It sounds like you may just need to try an additional conditioner rinse. You could add more apple cider vinegar to the shampoo, or you can use a separate application of apple cider vinegar mixed with water. Another idea would be to just use a dry application of coconut oil after showering.
God bless,
Lindsay
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Sara M. replied on October 13th, 2008:
I too experienced this with the shampoo after I first started trying it. I have fine, straight hair, and using an oil in my hair would probably just make it look stringy. So I found that once I started using the apple cider vinegar rinse after shampooing (2 tbsp ACV to just under 1 cup water), I no longer have that sticky feeling in my hair. I’ve also watered down the shampoo a little bit, but may try it full strength the next time I make it. Another note is that I tried shampooing with baking soda once with the ACV rinse and after that, my hair started normalizing again.
Will your hair start feeling a little more oily with this shampoo as well? I’ve noticed that it is a little more oily, and I also don’t use hairspray anymore because it seems to weigh down my hair.
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Sara M. replied on October 18th, 2008:
I’m also discovering why my hair is more oily after using this shampoo … apparently we have very hard water here in the Milwaukee area (and most of WI for that matter). I read something yesterday that real soap doesn’t rinse out as well as the the conventional shampoos on the market these days. They are built to work with hard water, but real soaps are not. So, I’m going to try rinsing my hair with the ACV mixed with distilled water or rainwater (as this site suggested).
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October 20th, 2008 at 8:34 am
I have very fine blonde hair, and have tried Dr. Bronner’s just as is for shampoo with baking soda, and have had the static problem as well. I am eager to try this recipe as I never thought of ACV for hair. I do however use coconut oil as a deep conditoner overnight, just about a Tbsp rubbed into scalp and hair, then wash it in the morning, and I use just a pea (even less at times) size amount in my hair right out of the shower. I blow dry if leaving it down(only about twice a week to minimize damage and my electric bill).
As far a hard water is concerned, I use a shower filter made by Rainshower. They also make bath balls. Great to filter out cholrine and heavy metals. It really does make your water softer and your skin and hair much heathlier.
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