Natural Basic Shampoo Recipe

 
Photo by Getty Images/Ekaterina Morozova

You can easily create a shampoo containing simple, natural ingredients that’ll give your hair added body, bounce, and luster. Yield: 8 ounces.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup liquid castile soap
• 1/2 teaspoon light natural oil (omit if you have very oily hair)

Directions:

1. Mix together all ingredients listed at right.
2. Pour the shampoo into a clean squeeze bottle or plastic container.

To use: Shampoo your hair as you would normally, and rinse well with cool water.

Shampoo Enhancers

For Normal Hair

• Beer. Place 1 cup of beer in a saucepan and boil until reduced to 1/4 cup. Add this to 1 cup of Basic Shampoo and stir well.
• Egg. Mix together 1 tablespoon of Basic Shampoo and 1 raw egg. Use this mixture to shampoo your hair.

For Oily Hair

• Lemon juice. Add 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice to 1 cup of Basic Shampoo and stir well.
• Aloe vera gel. Add 1⁄4 cup of aloe vera gel to 1 cup of Basic Shampoo and stir well.

For Dry Hair

• Honey. Mix together 1 tablespoon of honey and 1 tablespoon of Basic Shampoo.
• Jojoba oil. Add 2 tablespoons of jojoba oil and 1/2 cup of water to 1 cup of Basic Shampoo and stir well. Shampoo as usual, and rinse well with warm water. If hair seems too oily afterward, shampoo once more with 1 teaspoon of Basic Shampoo.

Also from Natural Beauty for All Seasons:

• Natural Care for Winter Skin and Hair
• Black-Eyed Pea Cleanser
• Pine Toner
• Greek Yogurt Mask
• Winter Moisturizer
• Dandruff Treatments
• Olive Oil Shaving Cream
• Herbal Sleep Pillow

Janice Cox is the author of Natural Beauty at Home and Natural Beauty from the Garden. She’s the beauty editor for Herb Quarterly magazine, a regular magazine contributor, and a frequent speaker at MOTHER EARTH NEWS FAIRS. This excerpt is from her book Natural Beauty for All Seasons, available below.

Find the Perfect Skin Care Recipe in Every Season

Seasons change, and your skin care routine can too. In this book, natural beauty expert Janice Cox walks readers through 250 body, bath, and hair care recipes that they can make on their own during each season! With recipes ranging from Pine Nut Scrub to Honey Mead Astringent, there’s sure to be a recipe that fits your needs. This title is available in our online store or by calling 800-234-3368. Mention promo code MMEPAJZF. Item #9626.