A simple homemade hare care routine yields gorgeous results. (Credit: gnackgnackgnack via Flickr)
It's no secret that many commercial shampoos and conditioners have more than one less-than-desirable ingredient. But the temptation to turn a blind eye is strong.
For years after learning about toxic ingredients, I continued to buy into the industry's promise that great hair is the result of some elusive combination of ingredients listed (or not listed) on the back of the shampoo bottle.
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It's not true! You just need a few common pantry items:
1. Baking soda
2. Apple cider vinegar
3. Your favourite essential oil (optional)
It doesn't sound sexy, but I promise, the results are fabulous!
DIY Shampoo
Combine two tablespoons baking soda with a few drops of water to make a paste. This is your "shampoo" — and why not? It cuts grease, deodorizes and lifts dirt! Work it into your hair, rinse and condition (see below). It doesn't lather — but you'll adapt.
DIY Conditioner
Rinse with one tablespoon apple cider vinegar mixed into a cup of warm water. This balances the pH of your hair and leaves your locks silky smooth. Once you've tried this system, you'll be hooked! Download this and other homemade hair care recipes or mix a larger batch for convenience.
DIY Mist
If you shop with your nose popping open a new product for a smell before you buy — combine a few drops of your favorite essential oil in a spray bottle full of water and mist yourself after toweling off.
You can DIY!
I could go on about the perils of bathing in the allergens, hormone disruptors and carcinogens in some 80 per cent of commercial beauty products in Canada — pointing out how those same toxic ingredients, when washed down the drain, go on to pollute our water.
But I won't. You know all that.
Instead, let's focus on what's really standing between you and a non-toxic, super-simple, ultimately effective hair care routine:
Fear not — it works! Doubtful — Try it! Change — can be beautiful!
_Do you make your own cosmetics? Inspire others with your tales, tips and recipes and be entered to win a bottle of Lavender Heaven Concentrated Castile Soap courtesy of Mountain Sky
Sincerely,
Tovah Paglaro, Queen of Green
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13 Comments
8:47 AM
Will using the vinegar rinse be harmful to coloured/tinted hair?
4:00 AM
I used to wash my hair every other day and it was clean but lifeless. I’ve cut back to twice a week and daily brush it with a natural bristle brush. Included is once a week coconut oil treatment — about two teaspoons melted in your hands and rubbed in your hair then eave it on for at least an hour. It takes a couple of washes to get it out but my hair is now very silky and shiny.
8:24 AM
Would love to try it!!!!!! One question as I know me and know I will ease into this slowly. I just dyed my hair (rare for me I be able to financially) so I’m not ready to pull the due out yet. Should I wait to try this or is it ok for the color.
4:53 PM
Its Baking SODA!
We started doing this about a week ago, and I am really loving the results. I did some research before starting and found that a lot of hair needs a few weeks to adjust to the change….meaning oil for some. Today (after a few days of not having awesome looking hair), my hair feels cleaner than ever before. And brushes through with no problem after a shower.
Also, I don’t make a paste, I mix 2 tbsp of baking soda in 2 cups of water and squirt it all over.
7:48 AM
Great Ideas used it befor there was cream rinse
6:54 PM
Hi there…thanks for the tip.. just tried it tonight and liked it…
had a question, can (or should) you pre mix a huge batch of this stuff or is it better to mix every time you use? and if you do pre mix large batched do you have exact proportions of simply go by feel?
and it is baking soda I presume and not baking powder correct?
thanks again
11:53 AM
I love the idea of the DIY shampoo and conditioner, but do you rinse out the apple cider rinse or leave it in and crave fish and chips all day?
9:05 PM
I have recently cleaned out my cupboard and started making all my own products. Shampoo is so easy to make. My favourite one so far is
Coconut Milk Shampoo.
1/4 cup coconut milk 1/3 liquid castile soap 1 tsp olive oil or almond oil 10-20 drops of your favourite essential oil Put into a bottle and shake. Lasts up to 1 month.
It’s super nourishing and every week or two I will give my hair a coconut oil treatment. Massage some coconut oil into your dry ends (I put it on my hair and not my scalp) at least 30min — 1 hour before showering, wrap hair in a towel or shower cap to generate heat. Shampoo twice. aahhhh….super soft hair. I don’t get that frizzy, dry hair look after blowdrying any more.
6:09 PM
Thank You Queen of Green!
I have been having horrid reactions to all of the chemical laden products on the market and this is just what the “doctor” ordered!
Cheers!
2:47 PM
Thank you for sharing this, I have been trying a variety of recipes to make my own shampoo and conditioner for about a year now! I feel like I am comfortable with the shampoo recipe I have (which I will share below), but I am still working on the conditioner. I just really want a thicker conditioner, the apple cider rinse just doesn’t do it for me and seems to leave my hair a bit tangled and oily in some spots.
Shoni’s Shampoo:
Make 2 litres brewed chamomile tea (3-4 tea bags) While hot add in 1/2 cup baking soda (it will fizz a bit) LET COOL Add in 3 tsp of Xanthan gum (found in the baking aisle) whisk thoroughly after each tsp to ensure it gets mixed in well and disolves. Now add in 1/4-1/2 cup castile soap. I like the lavender or the almond. Depending how soapy you like your shampoo, I would start with 1/4 cup of the castile soal and add from there if you need more. Add in about 15-20 drops of whichever essential oil you like. Tea tree, ylang ylang….smells delicious!I keep it in a big bottle under the sink, and just refill the smaller bottle in our shower.
Thanks again! Shoni — Winnipeg
2:45 PM
I found this interesting. However, the original list says “baking powder”, but the shampoo recipe says “baking soda”. As I am interested in making some… Which one is correct? I assume baking soda… Thanks!
2:40 PM
I have tried the baking soda shampoo and acv rinse and it really didn’t do a lot for my hair at all. I tried to go no poo for about a week and ended up with a stringy mess. I do make my own face cleanser which is completely awesome. I mix cold pressed grape seed and olive oil with a bit of castor oil, a few drops of patchouli oil, a few drops of lavender oil and a few drops of tea tree oil. I have never had nicer looking skin. After years of acne and rosacea, I only have the occasional pimple and my rosacea has calmed down considerably.
2:28 PM
QUESTION: The list of ingredients says BAKING POWDER but the instructions call for BAKING SODA! Which is it??
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