Eco-Friendly Shampoos and Conditioners You Can Make or Buy

You and your family have decided to go green so you start looking around for hair care products that are natural and will keep your hair healthy and strong.

Today there are many choices to pick from; however, the best products come with a medium to high price tag. In an economy that is everything but strong, for some families saving money, even on hair care product, is a priority.

This article will focus on eco-friendly shampoos and conditioners that you can make at home. Although it will require the purchase of some basic supplies, the ending cost will be much lower than the store bought brands.

I began making my own cleaning supplies, including shampoos and conditioners, not out of the desire to go green (shame on me) but due to financial necessity.

As I searched the web and books to find recipes that I thought might work, I stumbled upon several concoctions, some more sophisticated than others. My choice fell on a simple shampoo that was easy to make and worked great.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup liquid Castile Soap
1/2 teaspoon sunflower or other light vegetable oil

Directions:
Mix together all the ingredients. Store in a bottle. Use as you would any shampoo, rinse well.

If you want to lighten your hair, try the following Chamomile Shampoo, taken from the above site:

Ingredients:
4 bags of Chamomile tea
4 tablespoons pure soap flakes
1 1/2 tablespoons glycerin

Directions:
Steep the tea bags in 1 1/2 cups of boiled water for 20 minutes. Remove the tea bags and discard. Add the soap flakes to the tea and let stand until the soap softens. Stir in glycerin until well blended. Keep in a dark, cool place in a sealed bottle.
Warning: Should be avoided by those with ragweed and pollen allergies

One thing to keep in mind is that these shampoos will not give you a lot of bubbles. So, don't be tempted to use a large amount in search for suds. Clean and green is what you want, and clean and green is what you will have.

There are other shampoo recipes available, in books and on the web, which you might find better suited for you and your family. Experiment until you find the one that works for you.

On the same site as before, you can find ideas for conditioners as well, but the one that I like the best came from a book and is made from vinegar, as I don't have to worry about storing it in the refrigerator and it gives great results!

Make it yourself conditioners.

These ideas have been taken from Vinegar by Vicki Lansky (2004).

Condition hair, add shining highlights and fight dandruff by using vinegar as a rinse after shampooing. A solution of 1 cup vinegar to 2 cups water is all you need.

Create your own scented hair rinse by flavoring white vinegar with herbs or spices of your choice. Let the vinegar sit for 2 weeks before using. Strain and dilute before using. Store in a plastic dispenser to keep in the shower area. Apply to hair and rinse.

If you want a conditioner that also fights dandruff try this idea from Vinegar by Vicki Lansky (2004).

Fight dandruff with regular rinses of white vinegar and water. Or just rub some full strength vinegar into the scalp after shampooing and rinsing, then rinse again. This will eliminate the itchy scalp.

I love vinegar... it has so many great uses...

If you search the web, you will find a plethora of sites giving instructions on how to make your own organic shampoo and conditioner.The above ideas are simple and less expensive as they don't require essential oils or other fragrances. However, if you prefer to have shampoos and conditioners that smell good too, all you will need to do is to add those oils and fragrances to your shopping list. Just make sure to use the same addition to both shampoo and conditioner to avoid contrasting scents.

Sources:
(http://styles101.homestead.com/nathairrec.html#anchor_35820)