Its always interesting and creative to make natural shampoo for yourself (and your loved ones!). The earthy brew of pure herbs/ flowers running through your tresses soothes your senses and makes your hair feel fresh and rejuvenated .
Natural shampoos are simply an infusion of various plants (aloevera, henna), herbs (gooseberries, shikakai) and flowers (hibiscus, rose) that have beneficial effects on your hair and scalp. They are rich in minerals, vitamins and protein. They have anti- inflammatory, antioxidant and ant bacterial properties. These herbs heal hair and scalp disorders like dandfuff, itchiness etc. They promote hair growth, make your hair stronger, glossier and even delay greying of hair. These hair washes can give you real and longlasting results without being harsh on your hair. And if you compare the price of a store bought shampoo with your homemade shampoo you will realise they turn out to be economical as well.
Your pure herbal/ natural shampoo can aptly replace the chemical -laden hair wash and conditioner that you are accustomed to. It may take some time getting used to your new natural hair product because the consistency, texture etc of the natural hair wash will surely be different from your commercial shampoo. They also produce lesser foam compared to a synthetic shampoo. But the fact is that you don’t need that much lather to wash away dirt and oil from your hair and so your natural shampoos can suffice. Natural shampoos cleanse gently and do not strip off the natural oils lfrom your hair and scalp. You can also choose the herbs suitable for your hair type and mix and match ingredients like herbs and flowers to customise your shampoo recipe as per your hair type. Besides the above, the shampoos turn out to be environment friendly too.
Here are two recipes of pure, herbal shampoos.
1. This is the recipe of a shampoo that is easy to make and needs only two simple ingredients; Reetha and fenugreek seeds.
The recipe:
What you need:
1/2 tbsp. Methi dana/ fenugreek seeds
4- 5 Aritha/ dry reetha pods/ soapnuts
Method:
Wash the reetha and methi dana with plain water to remove dirt. Soak them overnight in water. Keep the vessel covered.
The next day, the soap nuts will become a little soft. Take each soapnut and mash with your fingers and squeeze out the seed from inside it. Discard the seeds. You only need the outer husk. Mash the reetha again with your fingers. It will make the hair wash foamy. Cook the two ingredients alongwith the water on a slow flame till the Areetha becomes soft and mushy. Let cool naturally.
Strain the above mix through a muslin or a cheesecloth to get liquid. This liquid is your herbal shampoo.
If you are one of those who wash their hair everyday you can safely use this shampoo daily since it is mild and natural.
The soapnuts makes the shampoo foamy so the shampoo will clean away the dirt and oil from your hair As you start using the hair wash you will understand how much of reetha is required. It depends on factors like the length, thickness and type of hair.
As your dandruff heals/ the volume of your hair increases and your hairfall curbs, you can lessen the amount of methi dana or then completely stop using it in the hairwash. A shampoo made with only reetha will suffice to waah your hair.
How this works:
Methi has antifungal and antibacterial properties which helps cure dandruff and protect the scalp from infections and curb itchiness and flakiness. This lessens hairloss resulting from these scalp conditions. Methi is also high in protein. It makes your hair stronger and healthier, prevents breakage, lessens hair fall and promotes the growth of new hair. This gives you a mane of thick and beautiful hair.
Reetha and fenugreek condition your hair making them soft, smooth and lustrous. So you will not require an additional hair conditioner when using this hairwash. The shampoo will reduce frizz and make your hair manageable. Reetha combats hair fall
You cannot deny that preparing hair wash does take some time and effort but it is a gratifying experience and with all the benefits of using a pure and natural shampoo without any toxins, you will love basking in the goodness of those herbs and flowers.
Do keep in mind:
Since no preservatives are used in the recipe always make a small batch of fresh shampoo enough to be used once .
Reetha can cause eye irritation so tilt your head slightly backwards when washing your hair so that the shampoo doesn’t run into your eyes.
Natural shampoos do not cause allergies or any kind of damage to your hair. But if any shampoo doesnt suit you, you could be allergic to a herb etc. In that case you should stop using it