I started using this shampoo a few days ago. There was no 'period of adjustments', during which time my hair or scalp was greasy or oily (and I do tend to have oily hair which I have to wash on a daily basis).
-bring 1.5 cups of water to a boil
-add 4 chamomile tea bags
-let steep/simmer for 15-20 minutes
-remove bags and let cool
In a separate container add
-1.5 Tbsp of glycerin
-1/4 cup (2oz) of castile soap
-1 drop tea tree
-2 drops rosemary
-6 drops jojoba oil
-Once the tea is cool, pour into the glycerin/castile mix.
-Gently shake before use.
Store in a spill proof container, in a cool dark place. This should last 1-2 weeks (so don't make huge batches of this) depending on the length of your hair, i.e., how much shampoo you use.
It should also be noted that you can leave out any of the ingredients above and still have a great shampoo. You could just mix chamomile and castile, and voila! You’d still have a perfectly adequate natural shampoo.
Some information about the ingredients
-Chamomile is supposed to strengthen and heal your hair, including split ends. This chamomile based recipe is particular good on fine, limp hair (like mine), and it leaves my hair feeling thicker, fuller, and with more volume. It makes your hair shiny and silky. It will also naturally (slightly) lighten your hair over time. Chamomile is also a mild antiseptic.
-Glycerin which is a natural byproduct of soap making made of natural vegetal (or animal) fat, moisturizes your skin and hair.
-Castile soap is derived from olive oil but IS NOT at all greasy or heavy, and it is 100% biodegradable! It is gentle and can be used on all hair types, softening coarse hair, and keeping soft hair soft. It is a mild cleansing agent, and contains no artificial, chemical, or nasty ingredients. Like Chamomile, it works to strengthen and revitalize, and is good for eliminating dandruff. And the best thing is that it’s cheap. Castile soap doesn’t provide a rich sudsy lather but is very effective in cleaning and moisturizing nonetheless. You can buy it scented or unscented.
My recipe uses Dr. Bronner’s Lavender Scented Castile Soap which is a blend of “Water, Saponified Organic Coconut, Organic Palm* and Organic Olive* Oils (w/Retained Glycerin), Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Essential Oils**, Citric Acid (which adjusts the pH level of your scalp), and Vitamin E”.
-Tea tree oil helps stop dandruff and stimulates hair growth (good for people like me with fine limp hair). And hey – it helps keep away head lice too! Though, that’s not really a concern for me unless I’m around children.
-Rosemary helps thicken your hair and also helps stimulate and increase hair growth. Rosemary can also slightly and gradually darken your hair over time. Also – supposedly – it helps reduce hair loss associated with age.
-The jojoba oil moisturizes, softens and shines your hair, preventing dry brittle hair and split ends.
None of the ingredients in this recipe leave a residue on your hair or scalp, nor do they strip any nutrients from your hair (like the majority of store bought shampoos).
Use it like you would any other shampoo. It gets a small lather that doesn’t last forever. Massage scalp and hair. Rinse.
About Hair Care Products
Many of the ingredients in hair care products (or most store-bought manufactured products for that matter) are bad for you!! Really, corporations care about profits, not you! Harsh, I know. Corporations are allowed to bottle and package a lot of harmful things, and then sell them to you. The truth is that most store bought shampoos are bad for you! Yes, they clean the dirt and oils out of your hair, but the natural oils produced by your scalp is what makes your hair strong and healthy. Shampoos strip these oils away, making your scalp try to produce more and more leaving you with ultra greasy hair if you don’t wash once a day. Your scalp is trying to produce what you keep stripping away! Try a natural shampoo.
Check see if your shampoos/conditioners have any of these ingredients:
-Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS): potentially a carcinogen, has been associated with hair loss or thinning. Go ahead – google it!
-Isopropyl Alcohol (think Rubbing Alcohol!!): this is a petroleum derived alcohol that will DRY your hair out, making it brittle (making you need to buy conditioner..!).
-Mineral Oil: actually coats your hair and skin suffocating it – liquid petroleum. It is difficult for your skin/scalp/hair to absorb and clogs pores. Check out http://www.herballuxuries.com/about-mineral-oil.html
- Polyethylene Glycol: potentially carcinogenic, and “PEGs contain potential toxic impurities such as ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane. PEGs are nephrotoxic if applied to damaged skin.” (Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyethylene_glycol). You’d better hope you don’t have any scalp irritation if this is in your shampoo!
-Chlorine: belongs in a pool – not your hair. And anyone who cares about their hair knows they should shampoo the chlorine OUT of their hair after swimming. And we all know how crappy your hair feels when you get out of a pool! So why would you want chlorine in your shampoo?!
Think about it!
You never cease to amaze me....I look forward to your next creation.
ReplyDelete