Homemade Shampoo Recipe

     Homemade Shampoo Recipe

Step 1: Basic

For normal hair, or as a base to add your own scents, use

·         ¹/₄ cup distilled water

·         ¹/₄ cup liquid Castile Soap - I use unscented, but you can choose your favorite

·         ¹/₂ teaspoon jojoba, grapeseed, or other light vegetable oil

Mix together all the ingredients. Store in a bottle. Shake before use.
This mixture isn't as thick as commercial shampoos - you'll need to just tilt the bottle over your head.
I am really impressed with how much lather I get from it though!

Step 2: Stimulate

To wake up your scalp and your senses, try tea tree and peppermint oil!
This one's my personal favorite, and the one I use daily. It's so refreshing!

Combine

·         ¹/₄ cup distilled water

·         ¹/₄ cup liquid Castile Soap - I use unscented, but you can choose your favorite

·         2 tsp jojoba oil

·         ¹/₈ tsp peppermint ess oil

·         ¹/₈ tsp tea tree ess. oil

Mix all ingredients, then add ¹/₄ cup distilled water
Store in a bottle. Use as you would any shampoo, rinse well.

Step 3: Quench

For dry hair, try this:

·         ¹/₄ cup distilled water

·         ¹/₄ cup liquid Castile Soap - your favorite scent

·         ¹/₄ cup aloe vera gel

·         1 teaspoon glycerin

·         ¹/₄ teaspoon avocado oil or jojoba oil

Mix together all the ingredients. Store in a bottle and always shake well before using.

Apply to hair and allow to sit for a few minutes. Rinse well with cool water.

Step 4: Soothe

Chamomile makes this 'poo a calming treat. Chamomile also has natural lightening properties, so combine this with lemon juice if you want to lighten your hair!

·         1 cup distilled water

·         1 cup castille soap - try Lavender!

·         6 chamomile tea bags

·         1 ¹/₂ tablespoons glycerin

Steep the teabags in 1 cup of boiled water for 20 minutes. Remove the tea bags and discard. Add castille soap to the tea. Stir in glycerin until well blended. Keep in a dark, cool place in a sealed bottle.

Step 5: De-Flake

Dandruff can affect many different people in every age group. Dandruff can manifest as either very dry and flaky scalp or very oily scalp with flakes. Contrary to popular belief, dandruff is not caused by a dry scalp or from improper hair care. It can be caused by increased oil production, hormonal fluctuations, stress, and illness.

To banish a flaky scalp, try this simple recipe:

·         ¹/₄ cup distilled water

·         ¹/₄ cup liquid Castile Soap

·         ¹/₂ teaspoon jojoba, grapeseed, or other light vegetable oil

·         1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

·         3 tablespoons apple juice

·         6 finely ground cloves

In a small grinder or blender, mix all ingredients on low for 30 seconds.

Wet the hair with warm water and shampoo the mixture into the hair well. Rinse with warm water.

Cover and refrigerate leftovers. Discard after 3 days!

Step 6: Shine

Fragrant and lively, try this recipe to add shine to your hair
.

·         ¹/₄ cup distilled water

·         ¹/₄ cup liquid Castile Soap - try Lemon!

·         2 Tbsp dried rosemary

·         2 Tbps sweet almond oil

·         ¹/₄ t lemon essential oil or fragrance oil

Boil distilled water, add rosemary and steep until fragrant.
Strain leaves and let cool. Mix all ingredients and add to water and stir well.
Store in a bottle. Use as you would any shampoo, rinse well.

Step 7: Rejuvenate

This is a great shampoo for any hair type.

·        ¹/₄ cup distilled water

·         ¹/₄ cup liquid Castile Soap - I use unscented, but you can choose your favorite

·         ¹/₂ teaspoon jojoba, grapeseed, or other light vegetable oil

·         3 tbsp rosemary

·         1 tbsp lemongrass

·         2 tsp tea tree oil

·         ¹/₂ tsp vanilla extract

Boil distilled water, add rosemary and and lemongrass (in tea strainer if you have it) and steep until fragrant (about 20-30 minutes)..
Strain leaves and let cool. Mix all ingredients and add to water and stir well.

Mix the tea tree oil and vanilla into the water. Add soap.

Store in a bottle. Use as you would any shampoo, rinse well.

Step 8: Yummy

I can't resist the alluring smell of this luxurious shampoo.

·         ¹/₄ cup distilled water

·         ¹/₄ cup liquid Castile Soap - I use unscented, but you can choose your favorite

·         2 tsp jojoba oil

·         10 drops vanilla fragrance oil

·         10 drops coconut fragrance oil

Mix together all the ingredients. Store in a bottle. Use as you would any shampoo, rinse well.
Dry not to drink this one. It smells to good. . .

Step 9: Dry

This is a great in-between treatment for hair, if you're helping someone who can't wash their hair on their own, or for removing dirt and oil from the hair when fresh water in unavailable

·         ¹/₄ cup oatmeal

·         1 tsp crushed lavender or other fragrant herb

·         1 tsp baking soda

Grind these together with mortar and pestle, small grinder, or place in a baggie and crush with a rolling pin.

Sprinkle enough of the mixture to cover all hair, and massage for five minutes before it it brushed out

This could be made in bulk and stored in a cool, dry environment.

Homemade Vanilla Extract

                     Homemade Vanilla Extract

You can make your own vanilla from vanilla beans and then just add vodka to it to keep it going - after all, that's all vanilla extract is, really - alcohol and vanilla beans.   All you have to do is pour unflavored vodka into a glass jar, cut a couple of vanilla beans in half and then split them and stick them into the bottle.  You will need to let this steep for a couple of months until it is ready to use.

 

You can get some wonderful Bourbon vanilla beans from Beanilla. They are exceptional - thick and very moist with a wonderful aroma. You can buy a bunch in bulk and use some for vanilla extract and then keep the rest for regular baking, in an airtight container in the pantry. 

Cut the vanilla beans in half and then cut them down the middle, to split them and open them up.  The inside seeds of the vanilla bean is called the "caviar".  Just place a couple of the cut beans right into the bottle. 

 

Add unflavored vodka and seal the bottle and let it steep for 6 to 8 weeks, until it is ready to use.  The extract will last practically forever.  As you use it, just keep filling it up with a little more vodka.  You will never run out of extract.  Eventually it will help to add a couple of fresh vanilla beans to the bottle.  Remove the cap every once in a while and inhale.  It's wonderful. 

You can order cute little 4 ounce Boston round bottles from Specialty Bottle Company.  You can also get a variety of bottles from Beanilla.

You can order fun little labels from My Own Labels, a great company where you can get custom labels for lots of things, including homemade food items, CD’s, bottles, etc.

This a fun and inexpensive way to have all the vanilla extract that you need forever. Give it a try!!