Warm water alone removes most of the dirt collected in hair. The term "dirt" refers to the dust, skin flakes, styling products, and environmental pollutants that collect in the protective oil (sebum) secreted by hair follicles. Shampoos take care of the remaining ten percent of buildup in hair. The following shampoo, conditioner, and hair treatment recipes are made from simple household ingredients, including baking soda, cornstarch, and apple cider vinegar.
Simplest Shampoo and Conditioner
Ingredients: Baking soda, apple cider vinegar, water.
- Massage the scalp and hair with a mixture of baking soda and water (1 teaspoon soda per 2 ounces of water).
- Follow with a conditioning rinse of apple cider vinegar and water (ratio 1:2).
Quick-Dry Shampoo
Ingredients: Cornstarch.
- Sprinkle 1/2 cup cornstarch into the hair.
- Let the cornstarch sit for a couple of minutes. Cornstarch absorbs excess oils without the need for water rinsing.
- Brush out the cornstarch.
Chamomile Shampoo
Ingredients: 4 bags chamomile tea, 4 tablespoons soap flakes, 1-1/2 tablespoons glycerin. (Glycerin is a by-product of soap-making. It is available at drug and health food stores.)
- Steep the tea bags in 1-1/2 cups water for ten minutes.
- Add soap flakes to the tea.
- Stir in the glycerin and blend the mixture well.
- Pour the mixture into a bottle and store it in a cool dark place.
Deep Conditioner
Ingredients: Honey, jojoba oil.
- Combine honey and jojoba oil (ratio 1:1).
- Massage into hair, let sit, and rinse.
Egg Conditioner
Ingredients: 1 teaspoon baby oil, 1 egg yolk, 1 cup water.
- Combine all ingredients and beat the mixture until frothy.
- Massage the mixture into hair.
- Rinse.
- Store left over egg conditioner in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Egg Hair Tonic
Ingredients: 2 teaspoons gin, 2 egg yolks.
- Combine all ingredients and beat the mixture until frothy.
- Massage the mixture into hair.
- Rinse.
- Store left over tonic in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Hair Tea for Highlights and Nourishment
Ingredients: 1/2 cup dried chamomile (for light hair) or rosemary (for dark hair), 4 cups water.
- Boil the chamomile or rosemary for five minutes.
- Let the tea set for an additional three minutes.
- Strain the tea and let the liquid cool.
- Apply the solution to the hair and let it sit up to twenty minutes.
- Rinse thoroughly.
- Refrigerate left over tea for up to two weeks.
Herbs and Oils for Dandruff Removal
The herbs nettle, sage, and thyme can be added to hair tea or oils for treatment of dandruff or itchy scalp (See also Home Care for Seborrheic Dermatitis). Olive and coconut oils both have antifungal properties. For treatment of dandruff, massage 2-3 tablespoons of olive or coconut oil into the scalp. Leave the oil on for up to thirty minutes and then shampoo with one of the simple cleansing recipes above.
From simple hair cleaning and conditioning to natural highlighting and dandruff treatment, home made hair care recipes can be made inexpensively with safe, household products such as baking soda, cornstarch, and olive oil.
Sara McGrath - Sara is a veteran homeschool mom of three, Usborne consultant, and the author of Unschooling: A Lifestyle of Learning.
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