Making Homemade Shampoo

[Oola]

I've recently decided that my branded shampoo is doing more damage than good. Each time I use it, it seems to strip my scalp and leave it really dry and flaky in places. I used to have psoriasis rosacea when I was a baby, and now I just have dry skin that can be managed with daily applications of oil or moisturiser.

However, my scalp has always been a problem, and when I was just putting conditioner on my hair, it would look a little bit lank but I didn't have the scalp problem.

There is an ingredient called Sodium Lauryl Sulphate that's present in almost every shampoo and shower gel. It's the agent that makes everything foam, as people have been mistakenly led to believe that this is what gets you clean. It doesn't. I'm sure that SLS is responsible for stripping my scalp and making it extra sensitive and compounding the problem, so I want to try and make my own shampoo.

I have a recipe (http://www.makingyourown.co.uk/make-your-own-natural-hair-products.html), but I was wondering if anyone else has tried this, and if they have had any success? I have long, fine hair, but lots of it, so I have to be careful that I don't use anything too heavy that makes my hair weighed down and lifeless. Also, I miss the shine that my hair used to have before I had it dyed blonde (and then back to brunette again).

[keepersdaughter]

My grandmother used to rinse my Mum's hair in chamomile when she was a child. Before I started having perms in the 80s, my hair was very glossy and shiny. I used to always rinse it in cold water, the colder the better and add a splash of vinegar. Once a month I would condition it with coconut oil. I too have been reading how bad the sodium lauryl and pabas are, these things are in so many things now.

[Pippa]

The Lauryl Sulphate is the enemy, rat poison I think. It is ineverything and I hate shampoo that lathers too much, you can't get rid of the stuff and waste water trying to do so. L. sulphate is in toothpaste and causes a build up of toxins in the body, bad stuff.

[dinger]

I agree with keepers mum vinigar is good for the hair and coconut oil is wonderful for dry scalp and also for giving shine . I often give my hair a treat with it . Another thing is advocado rubbed on the hair also egg is good .

[keepersdaughter]

I used to use beer sometimes too, remember Linco beer shampoo i think it was.

sorry Oola, got a little off track, but it's scary when you look at the list of ingredients and just assume they are not only good for your hair and body, but safe also, then find out what they really are.

[jazzactivist]

I always use natural shampoos that claim not to have SLS or parabens, like Weleda products. Also, an infusion of rosemary makes hair nice and shiny. Just put a couple of big sprigs in boiling water, leave to cool, and then pour through hair after washing. Rosemary is a bit of an antiseptic so may help with any scalp problems, but I am not sure. Also, I think that our hair and scalp change as we grow older. I used to have very oily, fine but thick hair, and now find that it is much drier at the roots. I have had to change from shampoo for oily hair to the one for normal and now one for normal to dry hair. An occasional olive oil wrap seems to work quite well. Just massage a small amount of olive oil into hair and scalp and wrap up with clingfilm or a towel overnight. Wash as normal in the morning.

I remember Linco Beer shampoo, keepers. It used to come in a small bottle that looked a bit like a hand grenade!

[Pippa]

And dry shampoos, do you remember those, like putting talcu powder in your hair.

[dinger]

A lady I used to live near always washed her hair in beer and she had the most lovely hair such a rich colour and shiney.

[TIGGYWINKLE]

Does anyone remember Green Soap and Drene Shampoo, as a child. I rinse my hair once a month with vinegar to get rid of the build up of Shampoo and Conditioner. I colour my hair myself, but I do worry about all the chemicals being absorbed into my scalp. I think I might try a Herbal colour. Has anyone used them, and how do they Turn out? Thank you TIGGYWINKLE X

[dinger]

I remember Drene shampoo we used to get a photo of a film star with each bottle we bought.

[jazzactivist]

While packing up my books I have come across one that I was given as a present called White Magic (no author). It describes a final rinse for hair from Ireland that is said to be a real 'man magnate', and sounds quite nice too. Mix 1 tablespoon orris root, half a cup of finely chopped parsley and half a cup of crushed lavender flowers together. Stir into a cup of warm spring water, leave for 30 mins and then strain. Pour through wet hair in place of conditioner and rub it in. Dry hair as usual, and you will be delighted with all the attention your hair gets! I'm going to try it on Friday night when OH and I spend our first night in our new home... Anyone else interesetd in trying it out as a test case?

[buecherwurm]

Sounds interesting, but where would I get the spring water? I was just thinking, all this parsley won't it make your hair green?
I think I better wait until I hear how your hair turned out.

[jazzactivist]

Good point buecherwurm! It is a modern book, so I think that the spring water is just the bottled kind. Maybe the green parsley is only for dark hair... Mine is quite grey so I'll see what happens, and whether OH notices anything - which would be a bit of a miracle at the best of times!

[Healing Hands]

Well Jazz have you tried it yet, it does sound nice though. Where can you buy orris root from as I know you can out this in pot pouri ansd I seem to have trouble finding it.

I also have some recipes for making homemade shampoo if anyone would like any.

[jazzactivist]

Hi HH, here you can buy it from the health shop, next to the aromatherapy oils, and also from the chemist's. I am sure it can be purchased on the internet too. I think that it is used as a base for keeping things like potpourri fresh and and dry and, as far as I am aware, it is a powder made from the tubers of iris plants.