Since my homemade shampoo
recipe is by far the most popular post on my blog, I decided it was
time for a part two! I have had many questions on here, and facebook
that I wanted to address and I also have some new ideas to share as
well.
First of all, I know some of you may be hesitant to buy a whole bag
of xanthan gum just to try my shampoo recipe and I don’t blame you one
bit! The good news is they sell little tiny packets of it! I found these
in the baking aisle for less than 50 cents each! One packet has enough
to make a gallon of shampoo, perfect for making a test batch.
Probably the most common question I get asked is if there is a way to
make the shampoo thicker. I know it can be a little hard to adjust when
you are used to the products in the store. I have been able to make it
thicker but still not as thick as commercial shampoo. I will share the
recipe to make it slightly thicker at the end of this post. I am sure
you could get it even thicker if you wanted, but part of the reason I
make this is to save money. If you are trying to make it thicker you
will be using more ingredients, which means it will cost you more money.
It will also take you more time to make it. I would love to experiment
even more but I make no money from this blog and can not afford to waste
supplies I need. Yes it is rather thin, but it still works great for
us. Just put it in a squirt bottle and apply it directly to your head
and you are good to go.
A couple of people have mentioned to me that their hair did not feel
quite clean after using this. There are a few reasons why you might have
this problem. This shampoo will not strip your hair like the harsh
detergents in store-bought shampoo. You may need to massage this into
your scalp a little more than you would with your old shampoo, it is
meant to be more gentle on your hair and scalp. I have also read about
your hair/scalp having an adjustment period when you stop using
store-bought shampoo. You can add a little extra castile soap and slowly
cut back on the amount you use while your hair gets used to the new
shampoo. If it is used to being stripped of oils, it is used to making
extra oil to compensate. You may need a few weeks to adjust to this, but
please don’t let this discourage you. If your hair looks greasy on the
second day, simply brush some cornstarch through it. This will help
absorb the oil and you can even add a little essential oil to the
cornstarch first for a nice scent.
I do not wash my hair every day, it is bad for your hair and frankly a
pain. No matter what I use I still have the problem of my hair being a
little greasy looking on the second day. Sadly some of us are just
“blessed” that way. No store-bought product ever helped me with that
issue either but my homemade shampoo does still get my oily hair clean.
Another fairly common question is “How long does it keep?” I don’t
think there is any set answer to this question. Honestly I think this
really depends on how you make it and store it. If you boil your water
first, use an essential oil that is anti-microbial and then store your
extra shampoo in a dark, cool place I am sure that will help it last
longer. I have kept mine under my bathroom sink for 3 months before it
went bad. If you are concerned about this I would make a half recipe at a
time, and I would also suggest smelling it before refilling your
shampoo bottle for the shower. You will definitely be able to tell if it
has gone bad or not.
I wanted to add that it is NOT necessary to use tea. Since my
original shampoo post I have made it with just plain water and prefer to
make it that way now. It is easier, cheaper and works just as great. If
you use water and unscented castile soap (like Dr. Bronners Baby Mild)
it is better for children or individuals with sensitive skin.
I hope this information has helped clear up any questions you may
have. If anyone has any other questions please feel free to post a
comment and I will do my best to help you. I would also love to hear
more reviews as well.
This is still the only shampoo that we use and I don’t foresee us
switching back to store-bought anytime soon! We have been very happy
with it and I hope you will give it a try if you haven’t already.
Homemade Shampoo – Thicker Formula
- 13 cups water or tea
- 1 cup cold water
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup baking soda
- 3 tsp xanthan gum
- 1/4 cup castile soap
- 30 drops essential oils (optional)
Add 13 cups of water to a large pot. In a seperate bowl mix together
the remaining cup of cold water and cornstarch, whisk until no lumps
remain. Pour cornstarch mixture into large pot with the water. Bring to a
boil and whisk constantly for several minutes until slightly thickened.
Remove from heat, whisk in baking soda, xanthan gum and castile soap.
Let cool completely, mix in essential oil.
Update ~ After using the thicker formula a
few times I have noticed that it does not foam up as much as my
original shampoo recipe. It still works to get your hair clean but I
will be sticking with the original or skipping the cornstarch and just
using less water.
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