Truly natural body care products can be difficult to find, and the really good, pure ones are often fairly expensive. If you have been looking for a natural solution to shampoo, conditioner, and hair spray, I have your answer! As an added bonus, I'll tell you how to make a quick & easy hair sheen and perfume combo (my favorite!). Not only do you get to have non-toxic hair care, you get to have fun making it too.
These are do-it-yourself herbal recipes that I got at a workshop sponsored by Create Plenty, a non-profit organization here in Portland, OR whose mission is to reduce waste by connecting local producers and local consumers and following sustainable consumer practices. They have lots going on so check out their website. By the way, I think the workshop took these recipes from the book Organic Body Care Recipes
. Check it out if you'd like to do more herbal experimenting.
. Check it out if you'd like to do more herbal experimenting.And back to the hair care...
I made and used these recipes, so I know they work! I think they are good enough to enter into the Mountain Rose Herbs Recipe Contest. Speaking of Mountain Rose Herbs, most of the ingredients can be purchased through their website. Bounce on over for a visit as I'm confident you will find many other fun goodies to play with.
Besides the ingredients listed below, you will need 2 empty bottles in which to store the shampoo and conditioner and 1 empty spray bottle for the hairspray. I also recommend a glass dropper to make the hair sheen easier to apply.
Herbal Shampoo
Besides the ingredients listed below, you will need 2 empty bottles in which to store the shampoo and conditioner and 1 empty spray bottle for the hairspray. I also recommend a glass dropper to make the hair sheen easier to apply.
Herbal Shampoo
Mix in small to medium sized bowl the following:
1 tbl calendula blossoms
1 tbl chamomile buds
1 tbl nettle leaf
2 tsp comfrey root
2 tsp orange peel
2 tsp rosemary leaf
2 cups boiling water
After steeping for 30 minutes, add
20 drops of lavender essential oil
½ tsp jojoba oil
½ c castile soap
Herbal Conditioner
1 tbl calendula blossoms
1 tbl chamomile buds
1 tbl nettle leaf
2 tsp comfrey root
2 tsp orange peel
2 tsp rosemary leaf
2 cups boiling water
After steeping for 30 minutes, add
20 drops of lavender essential oil
½ tsp jojoba oil
½ c castile soap
Herbal Conditioner
2 cups of boiling water
½ c vinegar
2 tbl Rosemary leaf
2 tbl Sage leaf
1 tbl Nettle leaf
Mix and steep for two hours. Strain, then add:
10 drops Rosemary essential oil or Tea Tree oil
½ c vinegar
2 tbl Rosemary leaf
2 tbl Sage leaf
1 tbl Nettle leaf
Mix and steep for two hours. Strain, then add:
10 drops Rosemary essential oil or Tea Tree oil
Here is a second conditioner recipe for a simpler alternative:
Simple Conditioner
½ cup rosemary leaf
1 tsp borax
4 c boiling water
Mix and steep for two hours. Strain.
Activities for when your herbs are steeping:
Hair Sheen
I love to apply this hair sheen after blow drying my hair in the morning. It soothes dry frizzies and makes my hair smell great! It helps if you have your jojoba oil in a glass dropper. I merely drop the oil in the palm of one hand, rub my palms together, and rub the oil into the ends of my hair.3-5 drops of jojoba oil
1-2 drops of bergamot (or another favorite essential oil like lavender or ylang ylang)
I love the beautiful floral citrus fragrance of bergamot. Do be warned though not to wear bergamot on the skin in the sun. It will turn the skin red for months. I speak from experience.
Hair Spray
1 cup of water1 chopped lemon
Boil until lemons are soft. Let cool, then add ½ tbl of 80 proof Vodka.
This hairspray offers a gentle, flexible hold. It's enough to smooth fly-aways and keep strays out of your eyes without cementing your hair into an immovable block. Lol. Do be advised that it contains lemon which may have a highlighting effect when combined with sunshine. I cannot say for certain though since it is not so much a concern for blonde hair like mine.
Mountain Rose Herbs is my favorite place to get organic herbs and essential oils. They have everything you need to create your own body care, teas, and home remedies. Go get your herbs now and have fun creating personal care products you and the environment can truly feel good about!
Posts
