10 Shampoo Recipes You Can Make at Home (2024)

Introduction: 10 Shampoo Recipes You Can Make at Home

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Consider this instructable your ultimate guide to making homemade shampoo! Here are ten easy shampoo recipes you can use to find the perfect formula for your hair.

The benefits are that you can use all natural ingredients, avoid all of the fillers and irritants commercial makers use, scent it any way you want, and customize it to suit your hair's needs.
What more do I need to say?

I love my homemade shampoo. It smells great and leaves my hair feeling light and soft.

Keep reading to learn how to make your own shampoo at home!

Step 1: Basic Shampoo Recipe

This shampoo is great for normal hair, or as a base to add your own scents.

Basic Shampoo Ingredients:

Mix together all the ingredients. Store in a bottle. Shake before use.
This mixture isn't as thick as commercial shampoos - you'll need to just tilt the bottle over your head to get it out.
I am really impressed with how much lather I get from it though!

Step 2: Stimulate Shampoo Recipe

To wake up your scalp and your senses, try tea tree and peppermint oil!
This one's my personal favorite, and the one I use daily. It's so refreshing!

Ingredients for Stimulate Shampoo:

Mix all ingredients, then store in a bottle. Use as you would any shampoo, rinse well.

Step 3: Moisturizing Shampoo Recipe

This shampoo is best for dry hair!

Moisturizing Shampoo Ingredients:

Mix together all the ingredients. Store in a bottle and always shake well before using.

Apply to hair and allow to sit for a few minutes. Rinse well with cool water.

Step 4: Soothe Shampoo Recipe

Chamomile makes this shampoo a calming treat. Chamomile also has natural lightening properties, so combine this with lemon juice if you want to lighten your hair!

Soothe Shampoo Ingredients:

Steep the teabags in 1 cup of boiled water for 20 minutes. Remove the tea bags and discard. Add castille soap to the tea. Stir in glycerin until well blended. Keep in a dark, cool place in a sealed bottle.

Step 5: Dandruff Shampoo Recipe

Dandruff can affect people in every age group. Dandruff can manifest as either very dry and flaky scalp or very oily scalp with flakes. Contrary to popular belief, dandruff is not caused by a dry scalp or from improper hair care. It can be caused by increased oil production, hormonal fluctuations, stress, and illness.

To banish a flaky scalp, try this DIY shampoo!

Dandruff Shampoo Ingredients:

In a small grinder or blender, mix all ingredients on low for 30 seconds.

Wet the hair with warm water and shampoo the mixture into the hair well. Rinse with warm water.

Cover and refrigerate leftovers. Discard after 3 days!

Step 6: Shine Shampoo Recipe

Fragrant and lively, try this shampoo recipe to add shine to your hair!

Shine Shampoo Ingredients:

Boil distilled water, add rosemary and steep until fragrant.
Strain leaves and let cool. Mix all ingredients and add to water and stir well.
Store in a bottle. Use as you would any shampoo, rinse well.

Step 7: Tea Tree and Rosemary Shampoo Recipe

This is a great shampoo for any hair type. It smells amazing!

Tee Tree and Rosemary Shampoo Ingredients:

Boil distilled water, add rosemary and and lemongrass (in tea strainer if you have it) and steep until fragrant (about 20-30 minutes)..
Strain leaves and let cool. Mix all ingredients and add to water and stir well.

Mix the tea tree oil and vanilla into the water. Add soap.

Store in a bottle. Use as you would any shampoo, rinse well.

Let the shampoo cool, and then place the top on tightly.

Step 8: Coconut Shampoo Recipe

I can't resist the alluring smell of this luxurious coconut shampoo!

Coconut Shampoo Ingredients:

Mix together all the ingredients. Store in a bottle. Use as you would any shampoo, rinse well.
Try not to drink this one. It smells tooooo good. . .

Step 9: DIY Dry Shampoo

This dry shampoo recipe is a great in-between treatment for hair. It can also come in handy if you're helping someone who can't wash their hair on their own, or for removing dirt and oil from the hair when fresh water is unavailable.

Dry Shampoo Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup cornstarch or cocoa powder for dark hair
  • 1 tsp crushed lavender or other fragrant herb

Sprinkle enough of the mixture to cover all hair, and comb well through hair. You can use an old spice bottle with a sprinkle top for even application!

This can be made in bulk and stored in a cool, dry environment.

Step 10: No Poo Shampoo Recipe

Though there are already plenty of instructables that cover this topic, I thought my list wouldn't be complete without including the simplest way to get clean, healthy hair. No soap required!

No Poo Shampoo Ingredients:

Put 1 tsp baking soda in a cup or mug to take into the shower with you.
In another cup, pour about 1 oz (~1/8 cup) apple cider vinegar.

When you get into the shower, fill the baking soda cup with about 1/4 c water.
Apply this to your roots only; work it in and let it sit for a minute.

Then begin to gently scrub your scalp, stimulating blood flow and cleaning out your pores.
This will actually stimulate hair growth.

Lastly, scrub the back of your skull and your temples/sideburns. This will result in less grease and more growth.

Rinse!

Follow by adding about 1/4 c water to your vinegar cup.
Pour the apple cider vinegar over the ends of your hair, let it sit for a minute and then rinse it out.

No 'Poo Troubleshooting

There may be a transition period from two weeks to two months depending on the person. Here are a few tips:

  • If your hair becomes frizzy, try using less baking soda or leaving it on for a shorter period of time. Adding honey may also help.
  • If your hair becomes greasy, try using less apple cider vinegar, switching to lemon or lime juice, leaving out the honey, and/or using a comb instead of a brush. Also, make sure youre applying the apple cider vinegar just to the ends of your hair.
  • If your scalp itches, try the following essential oils; tea tree, lavender, rosemary. If your hair becomes dry, try a tiny bit of oil (any oil, I use olive) smoothed on bottom of hair.

Have fun and enjoy!

From time to time, I'll provide Amazon affiliate links to help me continue to contribute awesome Instructables.

10 Shampoo Recipes You Can Make at Home (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in simple shampoo? ›

Aqua, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamide DEA, Sodium Chloride, Panthenol, Glycerin, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Dipropylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Pantolactone, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide, ...

Is baking soda good for your hair? ›

Baking soda is a great cleansing agent for removing product buildup on the hair and scalp. But the high alkalinity of baking soda can also leave hair dry, frizzy, and brittle. Baking soda doesn't contain moisturizing ingredients that you'll find in shampoos and conditioners.

How to make clear shampoo? ›

Clear shampoos are prepared by forming an anionic surfactant solution, adding the cationic silicone emulsion to the anionic surfactant solution, adjusting the pH of the mixture to a value between 4-7, and adding electrolytes and any other desired adjuvants.

How do you make shampoo for kids? ›

Instructions
  1. Pour water into a glass pump bottle.
  2. Add liquid castile soap. ...
  3. Add glycerin. ...
  4. Add Lavender oil. ...
  5. Shake glass bottle until all ingredients are mixed thorougly.
  6. Lather a pump or two of this mixture into your child's hair at bath time.
  7. Shake well before each use.

How to make liquid shampoo from scratch? ›

Ingredients
  1. 5 1/4 cups of olive oil.
  2. 2 7/8 cups of solid-type vegetable shortening.
  3. 2 cups of coconut oil.
  4. 1 1/4 cups of lye (sodium hydroxide)
  5. 4 cups water.
  6. 3 tablespoons glycerin (glycerol)
  7. 1 tablespoon vodka (or another food-quality ethanol, but do not use methanol)
  8. 3 tablespoons castor oil.
Jun 22, 2019

What ingredient makes shampoo? ›

Shampoo is generally made by combining a surfactant, most often sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate, with a co-surfactant, most often cocamidopropyl betaine in water to form a thick, viscous liquid.

How to make natural shampoo and conditioner? ›

Ingredients and Equipment:
  1. Measuring cups.
  2. A shampoo bottle.
  3. 1 1/2 cup water (filtered or distilled recommended)
  4. 1/2 cup liquid castile soap.
  5. 1-3 teaspoons olive oil, almond oil, argan, castor, or avocado oil (coconut oil is also lovely, but it will solidify if not kept warm)
  6. Optional ingredients:
Oct 11, 2023

What is natural shampoo made of? ›

Natural shampoos often feature ingredients like aloe vera, amla, bhringraj, shikakai, tea tree oil, and rosemary extract. These ingredients can provide various benefits to the hair and scalp.

Is it cheaper to make your own shampoo? ›

Making Your Own Shampoo Can Save Money

The most compelling reason to try homemade shampoo is cost. Making your own products takes just a fraction of the cost of constantly buying shampoo, especially with the climbing costs of everything these days. Okay, I've convinced you to try it. Here are two simple recipes to try.

How to wash hair without shampoo? ›

Recently, many have switched to co-washes, washing with just conditioner, or using household items like apple cider vinegar and baking soda. These products sufficiently clean hair, but will keep more of its natural moisture intact.

How do I start making shampoo? ›

HOW TO MAKE ALL-NATURAL SHAMPOO
  1. Add the water, castile soap, and jojoba oil to a glass container. ( Use an old shampoo bottle, foaming soap dispenser, or a mason jar)
  2. Add in essential oils. ( I used wild orange, lime, bergamot, and peppermint)
  3. Secure the dispenser top and shake well to mix the ingredients thoroughly.

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