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!
Find the best price on coconut oil here at Mountain Rose Herbs!
I’ll have to try this. I’m down to washing my hair once a week now, and I’m seeing a big difference. Still using shampoo, though–and intensive treatment conditioner. Thanks for sharing this.
Heather
I’m wondering a little about if I should be “tweaking” the recipe a bit. I have very thin, fine hair (lucky me) that is also chemically treated (I’ll be working on eliminating that when I can find a good alternative). I’ve always been very interested in living a simplier life and have slowly been working towards that for years, this is the first shampoo recipe that I was really interested in trying. Unfortunately for me, my hair feels very straw-like as other readers have commented as well. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? I’ve followed it up with coconut oil. I’m assuming that the straw-like feeling could possibly due to the fact that my hair has to get used to the new shampoo.
I’ve been using only natural substances for hair care for some time (I too make my own shampoo now) but I must WARN you AGAINST BAKING SODA (sodium bicarbonate) for that purpose. I use baking soda for all kinds of things, but never on my hair because I have read on scientific papers/sources that baking soda attacks (and wears out) proteins. Since hair is made of protein, It seems wise to avoid using it on hair. Even if I can’t verify that information, and even if I may have misinterpreted it, the mere possibility of damaging my hair which is already thin to begin with, is enough for me to keep baking soda away from my hair. Just a thought.
With that said, I keep some baking soda right next to my shampoo. Every few days I put some of it on a sponge and give the shower stall doors a little scrub while showering! It’s great to remove soap scum.
By the way, the article above does not mention baking soda – I only mentioned it because so many people in the comments below seem to be using it on hair.
I am curious about using coconut oil for a hair gel. My hair is kinky curly and poofy. I prefer something with a really strong hold. Do you think this would work for me?
Aloe vera gel works great for hair gel! Just put a little in and see for yourself.
This is so interested! Where can I find more like this?
Thanks so much for the shampoo recipe! I have all the ingredients already and I'm going to make some and try this out tomorrow. It sounds like a winner to me. I love this simple approach. All of the “natural/organic” skin care products and shampoos are not only super expensive, but to me they just throw in way too many ingredients and multiple essential oils. I often end up allergic, and with that many ingredients there's no way to know what's causing the problem.
I love Mountain Rose Herbs. I have ordered before. With the coco oil, are you ordering the refined or the unrefined? Thanks.
So glad I stumbled upon your blog. I'm going to subscribe and I will be back!
I buy unrefined personally because it can be used for cooking and cosmetic use.
oh, i must try this! thank you, thank you, thank you!
I think I might have to try this recipe cause the no-poo is making my scalp itch. (i'm having the same problem with the deoderant. I'm going to have to go find a more natural baking soda, hopefully that will help.
We’ve been using an aloe vera juice and bentonite clay based product that has worked very well (Terressentials). The bentonite clays does a good job balancing out the oils (the shampoo has an almost mud-like consistency). I’ve been looking to make my own mix (to reduce cost) and can source all the ingredients (thanks to Mountain Rose Herbs), but I’m not sure on the proportions, process, etc. Do you know of any resources/recipes for making such a product?
I just made this recipe substituting Bronner’s Sal Suds instead of the castille soap, because I have Sal Suds recommended for other products on this site. As I finished making it, I realized Sal Suds has Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. Isn’t that the bad detergent ingredient that we are supposed to avoid in shampoos? Is it ok to use this batch on my hair?
The Sal Suds product is recommended for cleaning and not for skin care use. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is a controversial ingredient. Dr. Bronners claims it is perfectly safe, but I prefer avoiding it if possible. For cleaning purposes, I think Sal Suds is perfectly safe.
The Sodium Lauryl Sulfate in Dr. Bronner’s is not from the petroleum industry like most commercial products and comes from natural sources.
Also Coco Betaine is the main ingredient and is completely safe
it is the main ingredient in Burt’s Bees shampoo. I would not worry if the label said its for something else its the ingredients and reputation of a company that I would make my decision on.
Research the ingredients on the Skin deep website. As long as the risk level is under 3 your good to go.
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/index.php
I want to make sure no one misreads my previous post. I add one-half CAPful of vinegar, NOT cupful. A little vinegar goes a very long way. Too much can have a stripping effect on one’s scalp and hair. Good luck!
I’ve been using a variation on this recipe since last June. I’m still trying to find the right amount of oil in it, for my hair. Currently I’m using five to eight drops peppermint oil, the peppermint Dr. Bonner’s, and a couple tablespoons of safflower oil with vitamin E. It leaves my hair a little dry if used every day. So once every couple of weeks (I really could do this more often) I put a warm olive oil rinse on my hair prior to shampooing with this recipe. That works. I then have really greased up hair for about two days, then about a week of really soft, not so tangley hair.
My husband buys head N shoulders, my daughter needs a conditioner built in, with long thick hair and the inability to comprehend how to use more than one product in her hair. So I used to buy the prell dandruff shampoo and conditioner in one… now I buy it once a quarter and dilute it with this recipe. I kept the pump bottle. If I am desperate for detangler and no time to put olive oil in my hair, I will use hers- it smells funny but is okay.
The residue on my hairbrush is the only problem I have; both me and my daughter have fast buildup of what looks like dryer lint in the brushes, it takes as little as four days. That’s cleanable. I have some static but I always had static. I wet my hairbrush if need be. The thing to know about the grease is, though, I have long hair and I put it up almost every time I go out, especially for work. The grease is less noticeable because of this; also I time conditioning so the less greasy days will be when I’m not working.
I have a successful recipe for liquid castile shampoo with the vinegar added. In an 8-ounce spray bottle, I add A LITTLE LESS THAN ONE OUNCE of liquid castle soap (dr. bronner citrus is what we currently use); I add water almost to the top, replace the nozzle and shake to create a well-blended soap dilution. Then I remove the nozzle and add A HALF-CAP of apple cider vinegar. The dilution will turn cloudy, but won’t clump because the soap is thoroughly incorporated into the water (i think it’s when the vinegar comes in contact with concentrated liquid castile soap that you get the curdles). Next, I replace the nozzle and shake again to make sure the vinegar is well-blended with the soap shampoo. What i end up with is a slightly acidic (pH balanced) natual shampoo that doesn’t require a subsequent vinegar rinse, because the vinegar is properly integrated in to the shampoo. I never get curdles and I always get a burst of lather that properly cleans my scalp and hair. I buy a large bottle that my family of four shares and that it would take us over a year to empty because i don’t use large amounts of it in my recipes. Personally, I think that one cup of liquid castile soap to one-quarter cup of water is not a good dilution for me. Even if I added oils, with that much castile soap, my scalp and hair would be like straw.
Lindsay,
I recently found your site and am enjoying it! I made the shampoo and like it so far, although my hair does feel a little sticky like I have “product” in it. The one thing I noticed in my research though is that tea tree oil should not be used by pregnant or nursing women. I’m currently pregnant, so used the vitamin E oil instead. Just wanted to pass along that info in case anyone else out there may be pregnant or nursing. Thanks for your great site!
Tea tree oil is perfectly safe to put on the skin while you are pregnant or nursing…consuming it internally is another story.
I’ve tried a few different shampoo recipes and my hair is dull and sticky. I’ve tried to put apple cider vinegar in the shampoo but my hair is still sticky. I can’t even get a comb through it. I really want to make my own shampoo but am ready to give up. I’ve read so many posts from people who love their home made shampoo but I’m just not having the same experience. Also, what should I use for conditioner? HELP!!
I have always had the best success going back and forth from a natural store bought shampoo to the homemade varieties. Using the homemade recipe continually just doesn’t suit me too well. I can get a wonderful bottle of Trader Joe shampoo for $2.99…frugal enough for me! Anyway, I would recommend you try out Frugal Granola’s variations. She has some great recipes here.
I had the same sticky problem Lisa and was about to give up! I realized that as I was expieirmenting I really needed to wash it out with store bought, like Lindsay suggests, inbetween. This is the recipe I have found that doesn’t make my hair sticky. (maybe just because it’s one of the first ones I tried after washing it out with Trader Jo’s shampoo, I don’t know but I have been using it for awhile now and am very pleased). 1 TB of the 18x soapnut liquid, 3 TB Dr. Bronners, 9TB water, 10 drops tea tree oil. I use a spray bottle, comb it through, let it sit while washing and then rinse it out well. Then I use coconut oil once I’m out of the shower.
Thank-you so much Lindsay for this post! it’s been a bit of a long process to find what worked for me, but with out this post I wouldn’t have known where to start!!
I just made my first attempt at an all-natural hair wash. I tried the paste of baking soda and water which I rubbed into my scalp and hair. Then, after rinsing it out, I sprayed a solution of apple cider vinegar and water from scalp to the ends of my hair, and rinsed. After towel-drying, the comb slipped right through my very thick, long, wavy hair. And my scalp feels cleaner than normal. Next time, I will use less baking soda. But for my first try, it was a huge success. Thanks so much for the idea!
I love the baking soda hair wash, too!I fill a 16oz container with b. soda, add water to make a paste, and add peppermint oil. However, with my very, very thick, long hair, I was just feeling that my hair was a little too dry. So…Enter Coconut Oil
(To borrow the phrase from Lindsay’s Mayo post. lol) I added about 1 1/2 tsp. coconut oil to this last batch, and it has really really helped. I love it so much, I rub a little all over my arms and face, too, to get the slightly exfoliating effect and the cool pepperminty feel 
Also…minus the CO, the B Soda, water, and Peppermint oil are what I use for my toothpaste.
Yummy!
Especially to Angie: Dr.Bonner’s is expensive…here in Houston, I paid about a dollar an once…but I got a great recipe for liquid castile soap that is 2 bars of castile soap, grated (Kirk’s castile is about $1.16 a bar), 4 cups of distilled water (89 cents a gallon) and 2 tablespoons of glycerin (a 4 oz bottle goes for about $5) and makes 32oz (that’s 7 cents an ounce!)You just melt the soap in the water in a large pot over low heat and when completely melted, add the glycerin (I suppose you could add an oil instead). The liquid soap is very thick, and can be diluted even further. So it actually is alot less expensive. I found all my recipes by Google-ing…so much to try, so little time!
Thanks for the great information. I have started using baking soda as shampoo and olive oil as conditioner/hair gel (I am not sure if I coconut oil where I live). My head has been a bit itchy lately so I am going to adjust the baking soda amount, maybe I am using to much. I will definitely keep experimenting and try more ways to be natural in my body care. Thanks!
THANKS FOR QUICK THE RESPONSE LINDSAY, I WILL TRY IT!
Hi Lindsay
wanted to say thank you for sharing with us everything that you do, it is really apreciated. Also wanted to ask you if you have any hair conditiner recipe?, thanks in advance!
Honestly, I don’t use any conditioner beyond coconut oil to style my hair! I formally used an Apple Cider rinse as a conditioner and that worked well if you can get over the smell. Just dilute 1 part ACV to about 4 parts water. Scrub into you scalp and rinse!
Hi Lindsay,
I have really enjoyed your site since I found it. I am also a Bible-believing Christian seeking to follow the Lord and I have recently become very interested in natural living. I decided to try your shampoo recipe and so I picked up some Dr. Bronners. At home I started reading the label and I was rather disturbed by the philosophy of the company. I plan to use this bottle, but I’m not sure I feel right about supporting that philosophy monetarily in the future. Have you read the entire label? What are your thoughts on that?
Thanks!
I have read some of the comments on the Dr. Bronners containers. I have found that the majority of natural/green items available on the market are made by companies that are more New Agey (worshiping the earth and the like) in their belief system. It is unfortunate and I look forward to the day when more Christians will step forward and start companies that would seek to provide more natural solutions. Until then, I feel the most important thing for us as believers is to take the lead in being good stewards. I think it is a matter of conscience and a liberty issue. If your conscience leads you not to support this company, by all means, follow what the Lord is convicting you to do. You can always use another variety of castile liquid soap. I know Mountain Rose Herbs sells an excellent quality edition as well. I myself will be trying this brand in the near future, but then again, I do not know the philosophy of this company.
Hi Lindsay,
Thanks for your quick response. Yes, you pose a very valid point. I guess being pretty new to the natural products world, it just threw me a bit. When I started reading the label I was a bit surprised and felt slightly unsure of supporting the company, but when my husband read it he was more disturbed. We will have to discuss it further. I really do want to become a more natural household and a good steward of the earth the Lord has blessed us with. Thank you for sharing your insight. As I said before, I have really appreciated your blog and have learned a TON by reading it! Thanks!
I, also read the comments on the Dr. Bronner’s bottles and found them quite disturbing. It was promoting another religion besides Christianity, and in fact, was down right evangalistic in nature. When I looked a couple shelves up, there was another brand of liquid castille soap, Dr. Wood’s. On his bottle was Scripture. Needless to say, I was THRILLED! And, it was almost 1/2 the price of Dr. Bronner’s. I’ve been using Dr. Wood’s for 2-3 weeks now and am very pleased with it. I like that I don’t feel like I’m compromising my beliefs while trying to improve the health of my family! I know that many people in the “all natural/organic” world have differing beliefs than I do. That’s fine. But to support a company that is evangelistic in those beliefs makes me complicit in that evangelism. I’m glad that I found a good alternative that keeps my conscience clear!
I’m about to buy Dr. Bronner’s castile soap from luckyvitamin.com and there was some more information on how the Bronner family viewed Dr. Bronner’s strange philosophy (that they thought it was strange too!), which makes me (a Bible believing Christian) feel less conflicted with supporting the company. They say:
“Dr. Bronner’s essential vision and philosophy were born out of the fate of his family and the Holocaust, and are emphatic that we are all children of the same divine source: people must realize that we are All-One!, and that the prophets and spiritual giants of the world’s various faith traditions all realized and said this. Dr. Bronner was also grounded in a powerful ecological consciousness, and the soaps were an extension of this simple, natural and 100% environment-friendly.
Dr. Bronner passed away peacefully on March 7, 1997, amidst family and friends. While we disagree with Dr. Bronner on some idiosyncrasies in his philosophy, we revere him for his efforts to unite humanity and his exhortations to lead a more responsible life in respect to our environment and :” “: with care and integrity the fine ecological soaps our customers have loved and lathered with for 50 years, anied under the USDA’s National Organic Program. We share our time, profits and energy with our workers and worthwhile causes worldwide.
Love in All-One, The Bronner Family”
That website sells the castile soap in 1 gallon jugs for $39.89, so less than $10 per quart (32oz.)! A great deal, and free shipping if over $100… they have good prices on other great products too, like ecover dishwashing soap, giovanni 50/50 shampoo (by the gallon too!), etc. Hope others find some good deals on there!
And now I just found it for even cheaper at vitacost.com!! $31.97 for a gallon! I hope I like this stuff, because I’m going to have a lot of it pretty soon
Hope this helps someone else get a good deal!
Not to be rude, but do you question the religious philosophy behind a bag of frozen peas too? You can celebrate and embrace your own beliefs without demanding that everyone believe as you do. By the way, there are more religions in the world than Christianity and they are just as valid as yours! I use Dr. Bronners and feel that it is a great product and should be bought on those merits. Until we live in a world where ther are Christian malls devoted to products solely created under the watchful eye of Christians you will have to suffer through like the rest of us. You are trying to police the world…how Christan like is it to boycott or deprive someone profit selling a good product because (gasp!) you don’t agree with their philosophy? That is called a snob.
How do you keep your coconut oil liquid enough to make all of these concoctions?
Also, I’d love to see a roundup on the different ways you use the Dr. Bronner’s.
My hair looks very similar to your’s in your photo – dark, thick, curly. Currently, I am using an expensive salon brand shampoo once a week with a heavy conditioner that I rinse out. Sometimes, I use a lighter conditioner (with no shampoo) during the rest of the week; other times, I just rinse with water and comb with fingers or a wide-toothed comb. But I use a TON of two styling products to keep the frizz at bay (and because my hair is so long and thick), and they are pricey. I’m definitely going to try your alternative!
My two questions about the above shampoo are:
– 3/4 Tbs. tea tree & Vit. E oil (or just one oil only, etc.): is it 3/4 tbs each tea tree and vit. E oil or 3/4 tbs. combined?
– Have you been able to add extra water? My hair is very dry and I am not worried about it being oily at all. If so, how much additional water have you been able to use?
Thanks, Lindsay!
I use the coconut oil in its solid state for all these concoctions actually. It definitely softens as you use it as well, but works just fine. You can use a combination of the tea tree and vitamin E oils or 3/4 Tbsp each…it is really up to you! Try experimenting to see what you like. Yes, I have added extra water to the recipe, but it does get rather watery as Dr Bronners is not very thick. I use a spray battle because of this.
Thank you so much Y.W. for your insight. I do have a question about your water increase. Since you said you doubled the water to castile soap ratio, does that mean that your using 1/2 cup of water? Or does that mean you’re using a 2:1 ratio – so 2 cups of water? Sorry if my questions seems silly, I just want to double check how diluted you make yours. Thanks again for you help!
Not a silly question at all – I just looked at the recipe and realized I had misspoken! So, I currently use 1 cup of castille soap and 1 cup of water – I meant to say in my previous comment that I used equal amounts, not 2:1. Oops! That seems to help a lot, though I’m going to add just a bit more water in my next batch.
Be prepared to experiment a lot – it takes a while, and I’m still not at the perfect mixture yet.
I also use baking soda diluted in water every other day, just to keep my hair from getting too weighed down.
Feel free to ask me any questions if you need more help!
Thank you, again!
I will have to try watering down the batch I already have made up… don’t want to waste it! But it’s helpful to know where you’re at, maybe I’ll start there – you may be saving me a lot of experimentation!! haha Do you feel that the vinegar in this recipe is enough, or do you use a rinse after your washing?
I have used the baking soda before – it actually works quite nicely, I have found.
One thing that I may need to do too is I don’t have Dr. Bronner’s castile soap. I bought some from a natural store online – it doesn’t have a “name.” It’s possible that the soap I have is a little different consistency than the Dr. Broner’s brand. When it’s time for me to make a new batch, I will make sure to go buy the other kind (with a scent) to see what happens!
Hi Morgan,
I have been using this shampoo recipe since last September, and am still tweaking it! I have very thick, light brown hair – just light enough so that I find coconut oil does NOT work as a conditioner (I, too, can relate to the old Barbie hair you mentioned).
However, I love the shampoo recipe, and am continually trying to make it better for my hair type. I have doubled the water to castille soap ratio (the more diluted the castille soap, the better, for my hair), and I have experimented with lightening the other oils in it. Also, I use almond or lavendar castille soap (Dr. Bronner’s) and they smell SO GOOD! The almond may be my favorite. I would highly suggest trying one of those scents. They cost the same as Baby Mild.
Good luck!
I made this shampoo and have come to the same results as a lot of the other fine, blonde haired people. I am starting to wonder if blonde hair is a different texture than darker hair??? I also gave the coconut oil as a conditioner a whirl… it did not turn out so good. My hair actually looked like a really old Barbie doll’s hair! I will say that I have liked this recipe a whole lot better than others I have found… but I am still not 100% sold. Any suggestions on what I should try?
Another issue, too, is my hubby does NOT like the smell! He always tells me that I used to smell good… and even when a product doesn’t smell BAD, it just doesn’t smell like anything. I do have to agree with him… I love the smell of shampooed hair!
As for now, I found a store bought, natural shampoo and conditioner. It is more expensive than making it at home, but smells wonderfully. I still would like to continue trying the homemade version(s) out there, but am kind of frustrated with it all… so I hope to hear some really good suggestions!
I’ve been using the shampoo recipe for about three days now and I’m not excited about how my hair feels. I left out the vitamin e/tea tree because I thought it might make my hair greasier. Maybe I shouldn’t have. It looks good for the most part but I can’t hardly run my fingers through it due to greasy /sticky feeling. I have fine blonde hair. I’m fairly new to this and I really want to go natural with my routines but I dont know if I can handle how my hair feels. Any suggestions??
You will find that it does take a bit of an adjustment period to change from shampoo to this recipe. Adding the tea tree oil definitely helps! You may want try it without the olive oil as that can tend to make your hair more greasy…but all in all, that is the problem with standard shampoos, they dry your hair out! It is supposed to be more greasy naturally. Also, try applying coconut oil to your hair after showering! This is a wonderful conditioner!
Where is the olive oil (that’s in the photo) in the recipe or hair routine? Thanks!
hah hah! I actually removed the olive oil that was in the original recipe for this shampoo, because it was making my hair too oily!
I find if you use dr. bronners(2tbsp/1 cup water)only on hair and not scalp, I use 1tbsp baking soda/350ml water (1/3 of bottle-lasts 3 washes,same for the dr bronners solution)for my scalp,you don’t get greasy head, but not dry hair!be patient you have to experiment, I have been doing this for 2yrs, I would never go back. also, different water yields different results, as does the time of year.
The recipe is large, try the following 2oz Dr. Bonners Castile Soap, 1/2 c Hot Water, add 1/4 tsp Borax (ph balancer-water softner & emulsifier), 1 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar (optional) & 1 tbsp Sesame, Sunflower, Avocado or Sunflower oil. Add the borax to the water first & allow to dissolve, then add oil, soap & vinegar, shake well. If you use an Essential oil, only 10 drops of Tea Tree, Lavender or your favortie. This is a powerful amount and sufficent. Borax allows the oil & water to mix (emulisify). Vinegar is actually oily, but it’s a astringent that cleans the hair shaft without stripping volital oils in the scalp. Tea Tree is also an astringent, antibacterial and to much is extremely drying. Oily hair to dry hair will benefit with this blend.
For Frizzy ends or fine hair types, use pure Aloe Vera gel.
I use this recipe daily. By the way, this same recipe doubles as the best all natural, all purpose cleaner, use lemon juice instead of apple cider vinegar or use white distilled vinegar. It disinfects, cleans and deodorizes all surfaces without leaving a film. Use distilled white vinegar, 1/2 tsp borax and equal amount of water to vinegar for cleaning glass surfaces & mirrors.
Thanks for sharing your recipe! I would prefer to avoid the use of borax though as it is mildly toxic.
Hi Lindsay,
I’m not sure where the info came from that Borax is toxic. Borax is a natural mineral from the Earth. It is a water softner and balances the PH, so for those experiencing, stiff, syrup like hair, this is why, because Dr. Bronner is made from pure Olive Oil and the lanolic acid can tend to seperate the hair shaft, making the hair very thick and full and sometimes it doesn’t rinse out well if to much is used. The borax will solve many of the problems that have been expressed in the comments posted. The important thing is to put the borax in when the water is hot to dissolve it thoroughly.
I would encourage you to read up on borax through the following site and links:
Borax: What You Should Know
How Borax Works
Borax is definitely toxic to ingest and a skin and eye irritant, and thus my reason for desiring to keep it away from my eyes. It is especially wise to keep away from children. If you are wanting to balance the PH, I wonder if you could try adding hydrogen peroxide.
Even on the box of Borax it has a caution about being an eye irritant, and skin irritant. Definitely wouldn’t use it for anything besides cleaning!
Hi Lindsay,
I know you offered warnings about using borax, but please bare this in mind. The Borax is used in a very minute amount and it should be dissolved in warm water before being added to mixture. Second, think of it like this, if your detergents and even your bath soap (commerical bought) contains sulfates, Parabens, dyes and Sodium Hydroxide which are more harmful than a natural mineral that is reoccuring; such as Borax. But yet, we get out of the tube and dry ourselves off with a towel and even tye it on our heads. So, when it comes to safety, consider Borax, God made, all natural mineral and slightly more alkaline than table salt, which we ingest.
Baking soda can be used as a substitue, once again Sodium Bicarbonate (salt) just slightly more alkaline. But once again, be sure to dissolve it in hot water first before adding to the other ingredients.
I made the shampoo recipe and used it this morning. I didn’t add tea tree oil since I bought the Dr. Bronner’s that already has tea tree oil in it. I did add 3/4 T vitamin E oil and a few drops of lavender for scent. One question…when you say “3/4 Tbs. tea tree & vitamin E oil” do you mean 3/4 Tbs of each, or 3/4 Tbs total? Also, do you have any idea how much this costs to make? My hubby gasped when I came home with the Dr. Bronner’s (because it’s pretty expensive) and I was wondering if this is really such a frugal recipe after all. (The Dr. Bronner’s was $7.99 and it will make two of the above recipe, so that’s like paying $4 for 1 cup of shampoo. Any thoughts?
I buy a quart size container of Dr. Bronner’s for $10 from Azure Standard which lasts me a good six months with using it for shampoo, toothpaste, and occasionally with some cleaning. The recipe above lasts a good six weeks or so and I usually divide it into two containers – one for our shower and the other to use for Karis with diaper changes and baths. That being said, I have been experimenting with adding more water to make it stretch more (1 cup bronners to 1/2 cup water or so), and although it doesn’t get very sudsy, it works well to clean your hair. I do recommend the tea tree addition as it keeps the scalp from getting dried out, but I have not used the vitamin E oil as of yet. As to the exact measurements, that is really up to you. I just throw a few dashes of tea tree oil in my mix and call it good. The 3/4 Tbsp is referring to the total of whatever combination you choose. That being said, this recipe probably costs me around $2.50 per batch. I would recommend you find a better source for the Dr. Bronner’s or buy it in larger quantities. Amazon sells it as well for roughly the same price I pay through Azure. Hope that helps!
Thanks for your useful tips. I’ll certainly take advantage of them. To tell the truth I have problem with hair. I have used various shampoos. They don’t match my hair and cause fall down. I have made up my mind to give up natural hair care products. I think I’ll follow Dr. Bronner’s suggestions. I think edible ingredients combined with soap will nourish my hair.
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.
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.
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
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.
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).
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.)
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!
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
Have you tried using a micro fiber towel instead of cotton to dry your hair? I have curly hair and the frizz is WAY less with micro fiber. Perhaps static would be too? I don’t let cotton towels anywhere near my hair anymore! I just use the microfiber hand towel size you can buy in the kitchen section:)
My stylist, who only performs curly hair cuts, said that microfiber causes MORE tangles and frizz. She recommended paper towels (not green or frugal so I never tried that) or using a clean men’s undershirt. The later works great for me. I flip my long, THICK curly hair and just barely scrunch with the t-shirt to get out excess moisture. I wonder if a little olive oil or using a yolk rinse once in a while would help you.
I’m beginning to wonder if it has more to do with the weave then what the fabric is made out of. I have tried a cotton towel made for curly hair and it did well! The microfiber I used worked great! But maybe the microfiber’s weave of the towels M’s stylest used was different? or maybe even among curly hair their are preferences. Good to know about the men’s undershirt. If I forget a good towel on a trip I may have to borrow my dh shirt!:)
What cotton towel is made for curly hair? My mom might like that as a gift. For me, the undershirts work great, especially because my husband wants to get rid of his old Hanes ones in favor of the wicking Land End’s t-shirts.
M, there was no reply option after you last comment so that’s why I’m responding here:) The towl is called “Curl-ease” and there is a website called http://www.curlease.com. I think my mom bought it at Bed Bath and Beyond, but I’m not sure.
Just thought I’d add that now that I have been expirimenting with the natural shampoo and usuing coconut oil the frizz is pretty much gone no matter what towel I use!:) Guess it didn’t work for Y.W. though. There seems to be a lot of factors that effect each person’s hair. Did you find something that works for you Y.W.?
Hi Gillian! I am still using this shampoo with great success. I haven’t used commercial shampoos in over a year. I do still have SLIGHT static problems, but it’s not a big deal. I sometimes use the oils (coconut or jojoba), but not often, as my hair is too light and the oil tends to make it look greasy and dirty. I’ve found that brushing and combing are the static culprits. I try to comb it out with a wide-toothed comb when it is wet, and leave it alone after that! I may have to finger brush a bit, which also brings in the static, but it’s not so bad and it settles after a few minutes.
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.
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!
You should try a showerhead filter. My skin and scalp is very sensitive to chlorine (it gets dry and itchy), but the shower filter has eliminated this for me. And you can use less soap/shampoo too!
Does the apple cider vinegar leave a smell in your hair at all?
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
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.
I am always looking for natural products. Really thankful to your handy tips.
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
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.
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.
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?
Hi, your right about the conditioner! Way back when I used to use Wella Kolesteral cream conditioner as a shampoo.
I was living in California during a bad outbreak of brush fires and the smoke and soot turned my hair to straw!
Nothing seemed to help!
I had the conditioner already and the label said it would clean your hair, use it twice for really silky hair. I was desparate so I washed my hair with it and then again as a conditioner.
It worked wonders! It saved my hair!
I used it for a couple of years until my local stores stopped carrying it. I forgot about it eventually.
I use Dr. Bonner’s only these days, love the peppermint and tea tree oil.
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.
on the shampoo..I use plain ole borax! get hair wet, really wet, shake a pile of borax in your hand, rub into both hands and start scrubbing your head, mostly in the greasy spots, then all over, dunk head into water quick to get more wet and then rub more~continue rubbing well while rinsing thoroughly. This leaves my hair so soft, is safe as it is recommended by Hulda Clark~is a natural occurring organic substance. I then use apple cider vinegar w/rosemary rinse. Steep rosemary in water and add to the vinegar 2:1 more water than v. Then I use the coconut oil as recommended above…with my curly hair its so soft. My daughter who is in her early 20′s & hubby did not like it but they have greasier hair than I at near 50 & in menopause. So it may be the difference & not work for some. I love the inexpensive aspect & simplicity! Try it & see
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?
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.
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
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
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.
Thank you so much for these tips and the recipe.
Looking forward to try this out….
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
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
i use dr. bronner’s and hate the grimy feel of my hair afterward. i’ve been researching it and have found that vinegar is what is missing but a lot of ppl have the same problem – clumps. So maybe cleaning first with the castile soap and finishing with a vinegar rinse will help? That’s what I’m going to try in the next couple weeks
Hi Jen,
I wanted to comment to you that that the grimy feel of your hair afterwards using Dr. Bronners is because this is a very soapy soap that is used for deep cleansing. It’s important that you use only a little. Because we are use to using commerical soaps that grant a great deal of lather, we expect the same from Dr. Bronners, but don’t. Using natural shampoos do not yeild big lather, but more slip so to speak, the less you use the better the effect. In light, “A little goes a long way” for real. Vinegar rinses are always great for the hair, not only resetting the PH balance, but moisturizing while being a astringent too. So, using vinegar is always a great thing with or without the use of a natural shampoo. I would recommend using 2 tbsp Dr. Bronners soap/shampoo, 1 tbsp Aloe Vera and 6 oz water.
For extra moisurizing, volume, conditioning and sunscreen for shine; weather color treated hair or not, add 1 tsp Avocado to the recipe. Avocado offers up to SPF-15, especially if you go swimming in a pool that has clorine.
Hi Eliezabeth-
On the Avacado as a volumizing agent, what ratio? I have fine hair and would love to know how much to add to my shampoo recipe. By the way, I can’t believe how my hair has changed from discovering these recipes! It is 10 times softer and more manageable. P.S. I love the homemade hairspray (I use oranges instead of lemon). It is a great stying aid when your hair is wet or day. Just thought I’d share. Thanks!
Hi Andrea,
You are acurate that the soap will clump up when you add the vinegar. You have to condition the water with Boraz (pure mineral-also know as a water softener) to prevent this reaction. You first want to add a 1/4 to 1/2 tsp 20 team mule borax (found in all grocery stores in the detergent aile) to hot water and stir to dissolve, the add the vinegar and soap. Excellent natural cleanser and the borax aids the cutting of grease and killing of bateria too.
If you want really clean clothes and use 1/2 the amount of washing detergent, just add a scoop of borax to your wash. Your mom, aunt or grandmother will know Borax, it use to be the superb and still is, the best household aid for all cleaning needs and its all natural too.
according to Wikipedia ( Borax )
” Simple exposure can cause respiratory and skin irritation. Ingestion may cause gastrointestinal distress including nausea, persistent vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Effects on the vascular system and brain include headaches and lethargy,”