Natural Hair Care: How to Make Natural Shampoo from Yucca Root

(Page 2 of 2)

May/June 1981
By Nancy Anderson 
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For oven drying, on the other hand, just spread a thin layer of pulp on a cookie sheet and bake it at low temperature (anywhere from 225 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit) for an hour or two. (The drying time will vary from one batch to another, so check it fairly often.) Finally, however you dry your yucca, be sure to store the particles in a cool, airy place.

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It's also possible to freeze a future supply of soap root, and this can be done at any stage in the root's preparation. Simply seal the pulp in an airtight container, and thaw it before final processing or use.

There is one word of caution concerning yucca shampoo, however: As with any new substance, be sure to do a skin test to check for possible allergic reactions before washing your hair with the pulp. Although anthropologists record that yucca roots were used by native Americans to bathe the entire body (and Walapai mothers even washed their new borns with the suds from a young yucca every day for a week after birth), I once used the root material as a facial cleanser and found that my skin became irritated, but I've had no ill effects from shampooing with the substance.

When you're ready to try your yucca hairwash, make sure your hands (and the sink) are free of grease (or else the roots won't lather), then run a few inches of water into your basin, add at least a handful of the pulp, and swirl the water around vigorously. (You could — as an alternative — place the pulp and a little water in your blender for a few seconds, and pour the foamy results into the sink.)

Healthy, Shiny Hair

After you've gotten plenty of suds, fill the sink with water and skim off the floating pulp. (Or, if you don't use the blender to make suds you can avoid having to strain the water at all, simply by placing the to-be-lathered roots in a cheesecloth bag.) Then just wash and rinse your hair as always. You'll be pleased with the way this natural cleanser leaves your hair silky, shiny, healthy and clean!

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Comments

  • Veronica 9/8/2009 2:39:36 PM

    This sounds like a cool idea. However I live in an aparment in the city which would not climatically support such a plant. I still make my own products though. I found recipies at the follwing page. I can get all the ingredients at local health stores and grocery stores. I buy organic where I can and there is also a list on the site of what all the different inregdients in natural products do, which is really helpful for lable reading when I do buy things.


    http://www.davidsuzuki.org/NatureChallenge/QueenofGreen/recipes_videos.asp

  • Elizabeth 8/26/2009 11:03:18 AM

    We've had several yuccas growing in our St. Louis, Missouri yard since we planted them about 25 years ago....they keep multiplying and have always bloomed, except for this past Spring. ??? Any ideas why they didn't bloom this one year? I usually have always cut the dead flower stalks back halfway after blooming and that never seemed to keep the plants from blooming again the next Spring.

    Was looking forward to having some blossoms for culinary purposes since I've read they're edible.

  • SH 8/19/2009 1:28:07 PM

    we agree the natural way is best, however we live in a large metro area and find looking for organics is a better way for us, one of our favorite natural companies is www.theorganicsoapcompany.com...they have 85% organic soaps and other natural items as well. My family loves the stuff.

    S

  • Heather 6/10/2009 8:50:41 AM

    MC
    Yes we have several ucca growing here in our yard in southern MO (Missouri)and we are not the only ones. Yucca plants are found in many yards here and seem to be doing very well.

  • Kris Ackerman 5/7/2009 7:31:10 PM

    MC,

    We live in the southeastern North Carolina we are about 45 mins from the coast, it is all flatland where we live lots of swamps. Our water table is only 2 feet, we get temperatures in the single digits a few days during the winter. We have several Yuccas growing in our yard The biggest are approaching around 4 feet these where planted by the former owner. Your climate is probably close so I imagine you would get the same results. You should give it a try start with one plant and if it dies it will be no big loss, but if you are successful smaller plants will grow from the 1st, My Father said he has dug the seedlings up tossed them in the woods and they will take root in the woods. There are many uses Varying from food to shampoos soaps and body washes. If you can get a yucca moth to pollinate they will even bear fruit which I have read was consummed by native americans.Yuccas seem to be a hardy plant I think you will be successful. God Bless!!!

  • MC 5/1/2009 9:46:34 PM

    I wonder if yucca will grow in Arkansas?? It's probably too wet, especially in the spring. If I used a lot of stone and made a nice, sandy soil though...

    It still might not survive the winters. It never stays cold for very long, but it does get all the way down into the single digits at least a few nights every year. Gets pretty cold in the desert southwest, too, if I remember right, though.

    Anyone in/around NWAR or SWMO ever tried growing the stuff???

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