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Make Your Own Shampoo – Easy Peasy!
By Michelle Lee Summers
Make your own shampoo? You may have never even considered this before, but yes, it is possible to make your own shampoo, and it’s easy too! You just need a few simple, all-natural ingredients to make this bubbly hair cleanser. It works great, and you will save money over commercial versions as well. You can customize it to smell just the way that you like it as well.
Make your own shampoo by using a recipe that uses natural castile soap. Castile soap is 100% derived from plant sources. Originally, castile soap was always made with olive oil; however, there are other types available now that are derived from hemp and other natural oils. You can choose to either use a liquid castile, or a grated bar of the same product for your shampoo recipe. You could make your own castile soap from scratch if you are really dedicated; however, making liquid soap from scratch is a difficult, time-consuming process for even experienced soap makers.
When you make your own shampoo, you are protecting yourself from chemicals commonly added to commercial shampoos. One very controversial ingredient in many, if not most commercial versions is sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS). This chemical was originally designed as an engine degreaser. SLS is included in a variety of skin and body care products because of its powerful foaming action, and the fact that it is very inexpensive. While SLS is not a carcinogen on its own, it is believed to have the potential to combine with other ingredients in skin care products and form dangerous nitrites, which have been linked to cancer.
Make your own shampoo special by customizing the consistency, scent and therapeutic properties of your product. If you like a thicker shampoo, simply add less water when making it; or add more water if you like a thinner product. You can add essential oils for both a great, fresh scent and therapeutic qualities. For example, rosemary essential oil can be added to help control oily hair, or lavender essential oil for those with a tender scalp.
The most difficult step when you make your own shampoo is having to grate up the castile soap. If you can handle that, and do a little melting over hot water, then you have all the skills you need to make your own, one-of-a-kind shampoo made just the way you like it. As consumers, we have been conned by large hair care companies that this is a difficult task, and beyond our skills when nothing could be further from the truth.
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