How to Make Shampoo

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Updated: October 9, 2019

Explore this Article Soap Flakes Shampoo Castile Soap Shampoo Baking Soda Shampoo Article Summary Questions & Answers Related Articles References

Many commercial shampoo and conditioner products contain ingredients such as sulfates, silicones and certain alcohols such as isopropyl (rubbing alcohol) for example that are not very nice to your hair: they can dry out and damage it over time. If you want healthy, shiny hair without harmful chemicals added you can create your own shampoo using inexpensive ingredients. Learn how to make shampoo with castile soap, with soap flakes, and with baking soda.

Soap Flakes Shampoo

  1. 1
    Gather ingredients. This shampoo recipe can be made with any type of soap flakes. Castile soap flakes are commonly used in shampoo, but you can also make shampoo using flakes you create from a regular bar of soap.[1] Just make sure the soap is made with natural ingredients that you'd want to use in your hair. You will need:
    • Soap flakes
    • Boiling water
    • Almond oil
    • Essential oils
  2. 2
    Flake the soap.[2] If you didn't buy pre-flaked soap, use a cheese grater or a knife to cut off small flakes that will dissolve in hot water. You need about 4 ounces of flakes to make a quart of shampoo. Place the flakes in a large bowl.
  3. 3
    Boil the water. Pour a quart of water into a small saucepan and bring it to a boil on the stove. Alternatively, heat a quart of water to boiling in the microwave.
  4. 4
    Pour the water over the flakes. The boiling water will immediately dissolve the small soap flakes. Use a spoon to stir the mixture to make sure the flakes dissolve completely.
  5. 5
    Add the oils. Pour in 1/4 cup almond oil and 8 drops of your favorite essential oil, like lemon balm or peppermint. Stir the mixture well and allow it to cool.
  6. 6
    Pour the shampoo into a bottle. Use a funnel or simply carefully pour the shampoo into an old shampoo bottle to store it for later use.
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Method 1 Quiz

Why do you need to flake your soap before you add it to the water?

Exactly! The great thing about small soap flakes is that they'll dissolve right away in boiling water. Larger pieces of soap will also dissolve eventually, but you'll have to wait longer to make your shampoo. Read on for another quiz question.

Almost! When you make shampoo out of soap flakes, the flakes are dissolved rather than staying suspended in the shampoo. Therefore, you don't need to worry about them getting mixed in evenly. Try another answer...

Try again! For one thing, flakes of soap are more difficult to get a grip on than a single bar of soap. For another, you'll be pouring water directly onto your soap, so you don't actually have to handle it after you flake it. Try another answer...

Castile Soap Shampoo

  1. 1
    Gather ingredients. Shampoo for dry hair has ingredients that provide extra moisture and prevent the hair from getting too frizzy. Dry hair is also susceptible to getting damaged and broken, so this shampoo is made to strengthen the hair shaft. Pick up these ingredients from a health food store:
    • Chamomile tea
    • Liquid castile soap[3]
    • Olive oil
    • Tea tree essential oil
    • Peppermint essential oil
    • Rosemary essential oil
  2. 2
    Make the tea.[4] Steep a chamomile tea bag in 2 oz. boiling water for 10 minutes. If you have loose chamomile flowers, use about 1 tablespoon. Strain the tea and set it aside to cool.
  3. 3
    Heat the castile soap. Pour 12 oz. of soap into the measuring cup. Heat the soap in the microwave in 1-minute increments until it is hot. Do not bring the soap to a boil.
    • You can also heat the soap in a small pot on the stove; just make sure it doesn't get too hot.
  4. 4
    Add the oils. Stir in 1/2 oz. olive oil, 1/4 oz. tea tree oil, and 1/8 oz. each peppermint and rosemary oils. Stir the soap, gently after adding each oil. If bubbles form, spray the surface of the soap with rubbing alcohol.
  5. 5
    Mix in the tea. Add the chamomile tea to the hot soap. Pour it slowly to avoid creating bubbles. Set the shampoo aside to cool. Transfer the cooled shampoo to the 16 oz. bottle.
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Method 2 Quiz

Castile soap shampoo is best for people whose hair is...

Not exactly! Oily hair needs astringent shampoo to keep it from getting too greasy between washes. Neither castile soap nor chamomile tea is particularly good at drying out oily hair. Click on another answer to find the right one...

Yes! Dry hair needs shampoo that provides more moisture, as well as shampoo that strengthens individual hairs to prevent breakage. With its castile soap, chamomile tea, and essential oils, this shampoo is perfect for dry hair. Read on for another quiz question.

Almost! In many cases, there's nothing wrong with using castile soap shampoo on long hair. But this shampoo is especially helpful for one particular hair type, rather than a particular length, and may or may not be the best thing for your long hair. Try again...

Not quite! Finding a good shampoo for dyed hair can be tricky. Castile soap shampoo is sulfate-free, so it's likely safe to use on dyed hair, but it won't specifically help preserve your new hair color. Click on another answer to find the right one...

Baking Soda Shampoo

  1. 1
    Gather ingredients. Baking soda shampoo is a dry alternative to regular wet shampoos. You can use it in between washing to absorb the oils in your hair and keep it looking and smelling fresh.[5] Aside from baking soda, gather these supplies:
    • Cornmeal
    • Ground oatmeal
    • Dried lavender
  2. 2
    Mix the ingredients. Mix 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup cornmeal, 1/4 cup dried oatmeal and 1/8 cup dried lavender. Place the mixture in the bowl of a food processor and grind to a fine powder.
    • If you'd rather not grind the ingredients, you can skip the dried oatmeal and lavender. The shampoo will work will without these ingredients.
    • A blender or coffee grinder will work in place of a food processor.
  3. 3
    Place the mixture in a spice shaker. Pour it into an empty, clean salt or pepper shaker, which you can use to shake the mixture over your head when you want to use it. Store the remainder of the shampoo in an airtight container so that you can use it when it's time to refill the spice shaker.
    • Use the dry shampoo when your hair is completely dry. Otherwise, it will stick to your hair.
    • Apply the shampoo to your roots, use a brush to distribute it throughout your hair, let it sit for 10 minutes, then brush it vigorously to remove the excess powder from your hair.
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Method 3 Quiz

How wet should your hair be when you use baking soda shampoo?

Try again! If you apply baking soda shampoo to soaking wet hair, it'll stick and be difficult to evenly distribute. If you're using a shampoo in the shower, it's best to go with a liquid shampoo rather than a dry one. Try another answer...

Close! Damp hair is not ideal to apply baking soda shampoo to, because of the specific way that a dry shampoo works. You don't want the shampoo to get stuck to your hair in clumps, after all! There’s a better option out there!

Absolutely! In order to use a dry shampoo, your hair needs to be totally dry. Otherwise, the shampoo will stick to your hair and you won't be able to evenly distribute it. Read on for another quiz question.

Community Q&A

Add New Question
  • Question
    Can I use essence shampoo daily?
    Community Answer
    Don't use it daily. Go for twice a week.
  • Question
    Are any of these shampoos as thick as regular store-bought shampoos are?
    Community Answer
    It depends on the ingredients you add to it and the amounts.
  • Question
    How long would the essence shampoo stay usable?
    Community Answer
    Because it has bananas and eggs, it is best to refrigerate and store for about a week. After that, it would be best to throw it out.
  • Question
    Is avocado necessary for making natural shampoo?
    Community Answer
    No, you can use other products that have omega-3 in them. Avocado is just an option, but it is very good for your hair.
  • Question
    Can I skip the bananas?
    Community Answer
    The bananas are key ingredients. They do not have to be ripe, though.
  • Question
    What shampoo works best on a scalp with dandruff?
    Community Answer
    Probably the essence shampoo, as it includes lemon, which can help with dandruff.
  • Question
    Is soap flake necessary? If I make shampoo without it, will it still work?
    Community Answer
    Yes, soap flakes are necessary because without them the shampoo would not clean your hair and instead make it more greasy.
  • Question
    Can the sugar or salt damage my hair?
    Ayyat Khurram
    Community Answer
    No, as long as you use the right amount.
  • Question
    Is it true baking soda can prevent dryness of hair?
    Community Answer
  • Question
    How do you make your own conditioner?
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Unanswered Questions
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    • Experiment with different essential oils to find the combination that's right for your hair. If you have dry hair, use more oil; if you have oily hair, use less.

    Article SummaryX

    To make your own shampoo, start by getting a bar of soap that's made with all natural ingredients. Then, use a cheese grater or knife to cut up the soap so you have 4 ounces of soap flakes. Next, bring a quart of water to a boil and pour it over the soap flakes, which will make them dissolve. Once all of the soap flakes have dissolved, add a 1/4 cup of almond oil and 8 drops of your favorite essential oils, like peppermint and lavender oil. Finally, let your shampoo cool before transferring it to a bottle. To learn how to make shampoo using Castille soap or baking soda, scroll down!

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    Article Info


    Categories: Homemade Shampoo

    In other languages:

    Italiano: Creare uno Shampoo Personalizzato, Português: Fazer seu Próprio Xampu, Español: hacer tu propio champú, Deutsch: Selber Shampoo herstellen, Français: faire son propre shampoing, 中文: 自制洗发水, Русский: cделать свой собственный шампунь, Bahasa Indonesia: Membuat Sampo, Nederlands: Shampoo maken, العربية: صنع الشامبو

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