Homemade Hair Products

Here are some recipes from Janice Cox's "Natural Beauty At Home":

Basic Shampoo A
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup liquid soap, such as castile or one for sensitive skin
1/2 tsp light vegetable oil (If you have very oily hair you may want to omit the oil)

Mix together all the ingredients. Pour the shampoo into a clean squeeze bottle or empty shampoo bottle. Shampoo as you would normally and rinse well with cool water. Yield: 4 oz.


Basic Shampoo B
1 cup water
1/2 cup liquid soap or inexpensive shampoo
1/2 cup glycerine
1/4 cup borax powder

Mix together all the ingredients. Pour the shampoo into a clean squeeze bottle or empty shampoo bottle. Let the mixture sit overnight to thicken. Shampoo as you would normally and rinse well with cool water.
Yield: 16 oz.


Herbal Shampoo: Certain herbs added to your favorite shampoo can bring out your hair's natural highlights. Chamomile makes a mild shampoo that is perfect for fine, light-colored hair; the flowers have a mild bleaching effect. If you hae dark-colored hair, I would suggest using rosemary or lavender to enhance your own natural color.

1/2 cup water
2 Tbsp dried or 1/3 cup fresh chamomile, lavender, or rosemary
1/2 cup Basic Shampoo (see recipes above) or mild commerical shampoo
2 Tbsp glycerine

Mix together the water and herbs and heat gently to make a strong tea. Let the mixture steep for at least 20 minutes. Add the shampoo and glycerine to the herbal water mixture and stir well. Pour the mixture into a clean squeeze bottle or empty shampoo bottle. Let the mixture sit overnight to thicken. Shampoo as you would normally and rinse well.
Yield: 8 oz.


Sunshine Shampoo: This recipe contains fresh lemon juice, which can have a mild bleaching effect on the hair. If you have light-colored hair, it is the perfect shampoo to use during the summer months when your hair is highlighted by the sun. This recipe is also good for oily hair.

1/4 cup Basic Shampoo (see recipes above) or liquid soap
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup water
1/2 tsp dried citrus peel or 1 Tbsp fresh citrus zest (the colored part of the peel, removed with a sharp knife or zester)

Mix together all the ingredients. Heat the mixture gently; do not boil. (I put the mixture in the microwave on High for 1 to 2 minutes.) Cool the mixture completely and strain out the citrus zest. Pour the citrus shampoo into a clean bottle with a tight-fitting lid. Shampoo as you normally would and rinse well with cool water. Yield: 4 oz.

 

Drop Dead Gorgeous: Protecting yourself from the hidden dangers of cosmectics by Kim Erickson

California Citrus Shampoo
1/2 cup liquid castile soap
4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 distilled water
5 drops neroli essential oil
Combine ingredients and pour into a clean plastic bottle. Cap and store in a cool, dry spot for a day or two, shaking twice a day to thoroughly blend the ingredients.

Southwestern Shampoo
1/2 cup liquid castile soap
1/2 cup aloe vera juice
1 teaspoon jojoba oil
1/2 cup avocado oil
Mix ingredients and pour into a plastic bottle with a tight fitting lid. Since the ingredients will separate when left standing, shake well before every use.

Herbal Shampoo
1 tablespoon rosemary
2 teaspoons dried nettles
1 teaspoon dried horsetail
1/2 cup distilled water
1/2 cup liquid castile soap
10 drops lavender essential oil
Combine the rosemary, nettles, horsetail and water in a small saucepan. Over medium heat, bring mixture to a boil. Turn off hte heat and let steep for 1 hour. Stain and cool. Add the soap and essenial oil, stirring well to mix. Store in plastic bottle wth a tight fitting lid.

Hair-Strengthening Rinse:
1/2 gallon distilled water
1/4 cup dried horsetail, cut coarsely
1/4 cup dried nettles, cut coarsely
1/4 cup dried oat straw, cut coarsely
2 cups apple cider vinegar
Pour the water into a large pot and bring to a boil. Using a square of cheesecloth or a large tea ball, secure the horsetail, nettles and oat straw. Add them to the boiling water, cover and reduce heat. Simmer for 10-15 mins, and remove the herbs, and pour the liquid into a large plastic jug with a tight-fitting lid. Add the vinegar. Cap and shake to mix.

Nasturium Hair Rinse:
1 cup nasturtium leaves, crushed
1/3 cup nasturtium flowers
1 1-inch slice fresh ginger, chopped
1/2 gallon distilled water
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
Place the nasturtium leaves and flowers, along with chopped ginger, in a large bowl. Bring water to a rapid boil. Immediately pour the boiling water over the herbs, and allow to steep for 30 mins. Add the lemon juice and set aside to cool. When cool, pour into a large plastic jug wiht a tight-fitting lid.

 

Janice Cox's "Natural Beauty At Home":

Perfect Hair Conditioner:
1 tsp almond oil
1 tsp avocado oil
1 tsp olive oil
1 egg yolk
1 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

Mix all the ingredients together and stir thoroughly. Massage into your hair and scalp. Wrap your hair in plastic wrap or use a plastic shower cap and leave the conditioner on your hair for 15 minutes. Shampoo your hair as usual and rinse well. Yield: approximately 2 oz, enough for 1 treatment.


Roaring Twenties Conditioner:
1 packet unflavored gelatin, about 1 Tbsp
1/4 cup warm water
1 egg
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

Dissolve the gelatin in the warm water, stirring well. Add the egg and lemon juice to the gelatin mixture. Shampoo your hair as usual. Rub the conditioner into your hair and leave on for 1 to 2 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water (rinse for at least 1 minute), then finish with a cool-water rinse. Yield: 3 oz, enough for 1 application