Homemade shampoo? Castille soap?

[redfox78]

I'm wondering if anyone here makes their own shampoos at all, and how they like it? I'd love to move away from the storebought chemical laden soaps if at all possible, but I don't know much about castile soaps, and how they'd react in my hair.

I found a recipe that calls for a chamomile infused water, and castile soap flakes, and I'm wondering if anyone else has done something similar. I have dried chamomile flowers as well as lavendar, and could probably make this pretty easily.

Any thoughts or suggestions? I have been using coconut oil on my hair every few days too, if that makes any difference. I need to find a homemade conditioner too, preferably something I don't have to mix new every time (something stable that can last a while would be preferable).

[ellette]

Did you make that shampoo and if so how did it work? I'd like to find some good recipes also for both shampoo and conditioner.

[Antipodienne]

I mix baking soda and water, I sometimes add a little olive oil, then condition with an ACV rinse. I have never had such spectacular results with any other combo. Makes your skin soft too!
My DH credits it with curing his flakies.

[brunette]

True castille soap is made from olive oil exclusively, but nowadays coconut is often used. Basically it's soap made from one oil. So check the ingredients and if it says anything other than those two oils and sodium hydroxide or the oil's saponified names of Sodium Olivate and Sodium Cocoate, then it is not a Castille soap.

It bugs me that often companies say their soap is castille when it contains SLS or tallow.

[TinaDenali]

I've used Dr. Bronner's Castille soap in the past. I didn't dilute it enough and it always left my hair greasy.

So, try that - but just make sure you dilute it enough. What I did was put a small amount (like 1/2 tsp) in an 8 oz. spray bottle and fill the rest with distilled water. I would spray this just on my roots and lather up.

It's something I need to try again. I think an ACV rinse afterwards is pretty necessary to help get the greasies out, but I could be wrong.

Just sharing my experience, but I'm sure there's a whole post on using Castille soap as shampoo. :)

[redfox78]

I made it, and it turned out alright, but it gelled up really thick so it's more of a gooey paste than anything else. It seems to work alright, but my hair got greasy after a few days. I just use it on the kids for now, and it works well for them. I am starting to think I'm one of those people that does better with the cones and such than without.

I have tried the baking soda/ acv regimen in the past, and didn't do too well with it. My hair fell out even more than usual, and it felt fairly brittle.

Right now I'm using some sort of Sauve in a green bottle that has almonds in it, and I'm surprised at the good results I'm getting. I'm losing a lot less hair than I was a few weeks ago, and that coupled with the coconut oil every few days seems to be working well for me.

[Othala]

I've used castile soap as a shampoo for a while, but because of the alkaline nature of it I had to follow up with an ACV rinse. They did the job but I got fed up with the hassle of the AVC rinse and gave up. Now I use Aubrey Organics shampoo which is soap-based (allegedly) and it doesn't need an acidic rinse afterward.

[e.Kat]

I've made a recipe with liquid castille soap, essential oils, and hydrosols. I liked how it made my hair and scalp feel, but I had a really hard time combing out the tangles after. I combed while dry prior to shampooing, in the shower and after. That seemed to help, but it was a pain.

I get my castille soap by the gallon from Jean's Greens in New York. She also carries an array of essential oils and other herbal remedies. I think her prices are good, and she ships quickly.