Herbal Shampoo and Body Wash

A couple months ago, my Dad came over to help Dear Husband and I build a chicken coop.  At night, while the guys rested and the baby slept, I was playing in the kitchen making an herbal shampoo and body wash.  My Dad would come into the kitchen and say, “What in the heck are you doing?!”  I had my aloe vera plant, oils, herbs, jars, measuring devices and funnels everywhere; the laptop on the counter.  Needless to say, I was a hot mess…  I’d reply with a smile and shoo him on out of the kitchen.  If I told him what I was really doing he’d just roll his eyes and laugh.  He always says, “I don’t care what you do as long as you don’t try to feed me tofu!”  He wouldn’t even believe me if I told him I avoid unfermented soy nowadays.

Dads.  Sigh.  You’ve gotta love ’em  🙂

I’d like to share the recipe I came up with for an herbal shampoo and body wash.  If you cleanse your hair with this, it is best to follow up with a vinegar rinse.  Here is a recipe for a great one!  My hair doesn’t do famously when washed with castile soap, so I mostly use this as a body wash.  Husband has very short hair, and he likes it as a shampoo a lot.


To make this lovely, soapy infusion, you will need the following:

•  2 heaping T dried lavender
• 1 heaping T dried calendula petals
• 2 heaping T dried chamomile flowers
• 1 generous pinch dried rosemary
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1/4 cup castile soap
• 2 T aloe vera gel
• 1 T glycerin
• 1/4 t almond oil
• essential oils of choice
  (I used 10 drops lavender, 10 drops ylang ylang, 5 drops tea tree)

Whatever I don’t grow in my garden, I buy from Mountain Rose Herbs.  I LOVE their products and their company, and am so proud that they represent the PNW 🙂

The method is simple.  In a glass jar, pour boiling water over herbs and let steep until cooled (or longer).

Strain out the herbs and add castile soap, aloe vera gel, glycerin, almond oil and essential oils.

Stir until incorporated
and bottle into an old shampoo bottle,
glass jar with lid,
an old soap dispenser,
or whatever you’ve got.

Note:  I made my own aloe vera gel by slicing open aloe leaves and scraping the insides into my mini food processor and then pulverizing until a bit foamy.

Do you make your own shampoo or body wash?  What do you use?

Let’s chat about it on my facebook page.  I’d love to be your friend 🙂  Also, don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest to see what great ideas I’ve found.

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Shared with: Natural Living Monday, Fat Tuesday, Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways, Wildcrafting Wednesday, Fight Back Friday, LHITS DIY Linky