Shampoo and Such
Our kitchen is always full of conversation and laughing and very often a big mess. The messes come from more than meals cooked, and sometimes we use non-kitchen cooking methods. As another year of my blog begins I ponder things other than cooking we do there. During this fourth year I am going to share some of these concoctions and methods, sprinkled among the dishes we prepare fully in the kitchen. I will start this sprinkling with shampoo!
Over the past few years we have gradually replaced many store-bought toiletries in our bathroom with simple homemade versions. Our experiments resulted in combinations that work best for us, although for other people a bit of tweaking may be needed. Our goal is to avoid as many unnecessary chemicals as possible in what touches our bodies on a daily basis. Just like what you get at the store, hair and skin types influence the effectiveness of products. When I used commercial products I had to change brands every two months or so because my hair would get weighed down with build up. The solution was to use another kind that seemed to get rid of the build up, but create another, thus the rotation. This homemade shampoo never seems to create the build up. Each batch may vary a bit from lax ingredient measuring, or the measurer (my batches are apple cider vinegar heavy, while Big D’s have a bit extra baking soda). What works great for my curly hair may make Big D’s or Little B’s straight hair a bit greasy. What works best for them may or may not dry mine out – my hair is sensitive to the humidity level wherever I am, so I can’t honestly blame the shampoo. The measures in this recipe make for a good balance to clean all three of our heads, even though we do not all have the same hair type.
Shampoo
4 ounces (1/2 cup) Castile soap, any type
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp baking soda
4 ounces (1/2 cup) coconut milk
2 ounces (1/4 cup) apple cider vinegar
8-10 drops tea tree essential oil
8-10 drops sandalwood or peppermint essential oil
Using a funnel, add all ingredients into a squeeze bottle that holds at least 16 ounces. Shake for about one minute until will combined. Shake well before each use – the picture shows it rested and separate before shaking. If after three to four uses your hair is greasy use less vinegar and a bit more baking soda. If hair feels dry when it is no longer wet add more vinegar. It may take 6-8 washings before build up from commercial shampoos and conditioners is fully out of your hair, so don’t give up after the first washing – your hair needs some transition time.