Conditioner
Making your own hair products is the ideal way to avoid the chemicals and suspicious ingredients that are found in so many commercial products. It's easy, too. Shampoos, conditioners and rinses can be whipped up using ingredients you already have around the house. Does this Spark an idea?
Shampoos
To make shampoo, castile soap is the ideal starting point. Pure castile soap is made from olive oil, is a gentle cleanser and won't leave any residue on your hair. Buy it in a liquid form, and add ingredients to suit your hair type. Commercial shampoos have ingredients added to create that foamy lather, so don't expect your homemade shampoos to lather as much. But that doesn't mean they're not working.
For dry hair, add oil to replace the moisture that is stripped away by shampooing. Try mixing a few teaspoons of avocado, coconut, jojoba or olive oil into the liquid castile soap. Aloe vera gel is also a great choice for dry hair. You can boil herbs in distilled water, strain and add the herb-infused water to your shampoo. Good herbs for dry hair include burdock, calendula, chamomile, rose geranium, lavender, rose, rosemary, cedarwood and sandalwood.
For oily hair, add tea tree or peppermint oil to your shampoo for a tingly, cleansing mixture. You can also mix baking soda and water (about 1 tsp. baking soda to 1/4 cup water) and scrub it into your scalp to clear out dirt- and oil-clogged pores.
For a lightening shampoo, steep six bags of chamomile tea in a cup of boiling water. Add the juice of one lemon. Mix with castile soap.
To add fragrance to your shampoo, add a few drops of vanilla or almond extract to the soap. Homemade shampoo keeps for about six months if kept in a cool, dry place.
Conditioners
Natural oils are a wonderful deep-conditioning treatment for your hair. Massage almond, apricot, avocado, coconut, jojoba or olive oil into your scalp and work your way down to the ends. Wrap hair in a towel or use a shower cap. Leave on for an hour or so before shampooing out. Your hair will be shiny and soft.
Henna is another natural conditioner. Choose colored henna if you want to add a subtle shade while conditioning. Mix the henna with water or milk to form a paste and leave it on your hair for 20 minutes.
Protein-rich foods such as eggs or milk are great for conditioning and sealing the hair cuticle. Mix with any of the following ingredients: honey, mashed banana, mashed avocado or mayonnaise.
Rinses
Rinses are easy to make and give your hair an extra boost, whether you need more shine, added color or clarifying. To get the most out of a rinse, use two bowls. Pour the rinse into one bowl, lean over the second bowl, and drench your hair with the liquid. Then place the now-empty bowl beneath your head and pour again. The more times you drench your hair, the more effective the rinse will be.
For shiny light hair, add one part lemon juice to two parts water. For shiny dark hair, add one part vinegar to two parts water.
To accentuate light color, make an infusion from chamomile flowers or rhubarb. For dark hair, use super-strong black tea or black coffee. For red hair, use a mixture of beet and carrot juice.
To remove build-up from hair, rinse with one part apple cider vinegar and two parts water.
Tags: your hair, castile soap, parts water, your shampoo, avocado coconut