The best DIY essential oil shampoo and conditioner that you can make at home with just a few simple ingredients! Plus essential oils to include based on your hair type and needs.
Alright, I've been DIY-ing again! I've been excited to try making my own homemade shampoo and conditioner ever since I got my essential oils months ago, and I finally got around to it this morning. Our 3 month old puppy has decided he's an early riser this week, so I've been getting up at 6 am with him. He's hungry and growing and ready to play! So I have some extra time in my day, thanks to Cocoa. I made these this morning while having my morning coffee, and it only took about 5 minutes. Super easy!
For the shampoo mix together:
- 1 cup aloe vera gel
- ½ cup water
- 2 tbsp castile soap (I used green beaver)
- 20 drops essential oils of your choice - I used peppermint and tea tree!
For the conditioner mix together:
- 1 ½ cups water
- 4 tablespoon full fat coconut milk (from the can)
- 1 tsp raw apple cider vinnegar
- 20 drops of essential oil of your choice!
Apple cider vinegar is good for your hair because it removes built up product, makes your hair shinier and stronger, and helps with dandruff. It also promotes healthy, thick hair growth. Coconut milk softens and conditions your hair, without weighing it down. When you use this conditioner, try to let it sit on your hair for 5 minutes if you can!
Choosing Your Essential Oils
For my shampoo I chose peppermint because I love the tingly cooling feeling on my scalp - it's so relaxing! It also promotes healthy hair growth, as does tea tree - so I added 10 drops of each.
For my conditioner I chose cedarwood and lavender - a good combination of scents! Below are some suggestions to help you choose which oils you might want to add. If you're dealing with hair loss, or want to thicken your hair, my suggestion would be a combination of rosemary and sage. Rosemary and sage essential oils thicken the hair by stimulating the growth of new hair follicles.
As of this March (2016), Health Canada has approved 19 Young Living Essential oils as Natural Health Products. This means its easier than ever to share with you the wonderful health benefits and tips for using your essential oils! Visit my page, Natural Remedies Guide to learn more about the suggested uses of these Health Canada approved essential oils.
Quality Essential Oils
Essential oils offer the greatest benefits when they are in their natural, pure state. Oils that are cut with synthetic chemicals, diluted, or extracted using chemical solvents have been altered from their natural state and lack the beneficial components that pure essential oils provide.
HOW TO PURCHASE ESSENTIAL OILS
It’s as simple as creating a wholesale account with Young Living! There are two options: you can purchase a Premium Starter Kit (which includes 11 essential oils + a diffuser, and is the most economical way to go), or you can create a wholesale account for free in Canada, and purchase any essential oils you’d like at 24% off retail.
Olivia says
This is going to help me so much! Definitely going to try out the hair growth one. I'd love if you could follow my blog or maybe even subscribe.
Olivia xoxo
http://www.livlipstickandlemondrops.com
Jess Z says
Stumbled across this on Pinterest. Thanks for the recipe! Did you find that making and using your own shampoo and conditioner left your hair greasy? It is my understanding that your hair needs time to re-learn how to naturally produce oils since traditional shampoos strip them from your hair. Just wondering how long it took your hair to figure itself out and how often you shampoo!
Jasmine Ouellette says
Hi Jess! Thanks for your question... with this recipe I actually didn't find that it left my hair greasy, more a feeling of being extra squeaky clean. I am still experimenting with more recipes, as I would like to make a shampoo with aloe vera gel instead! I also LOVE the shampoo and conditioner made by Young Living, so currently I am using that. They have lavender and mint essential oils in them, and are to die for..... 🙂
Anonymous says
Is this shampoo thick like store bought, or is it thinner?
Jasmine Ouellette says
The consistency is slightly thinner, but it cleans just as well! 🙂
Afieqah says
How long does this recipe last?
Jasmine Ouellette says
Sorry for the late reply! I should last about a month, depending on the length of your hair and how often you use it.
vin says
Thanks for tye the recipe. What ingredient act as a preservative here?
Whitney says
I followed your recipe and made my own. I absolutely love the way it cleans my hair and how it has changed the texture, it's so soft! I was wondering if their is a way that I could make it thicker? I have extremely long hair and I have to use quite a bit to get it clean and conditioned. I think a thicker texture would allow me to get the same results and use less product lol. Thank you for the awesome post!
Jasmine Ouellette says
I'm so happy to hear that you like it! I have super long hair too... definitely know where you're coming from. Vegetable glycerin is commonly used in soaps & creams to thicken the product. It is actually very moisturizing and good for your skin as well. NOW makes 100% pure, non-GMO vegetable glycerin that would work well.
I would try adding a tbsp., see how that works & maybe add more if you have to. Let me know if that helps!!
Christina says
Where did u buy the shampoo and conditioner bottles?
Jasmine Ouellette says
Hi Christina! I just re-used glass bottles that I had around the house. 🙂
Erika says
For the 20 drops of essential oils, did you mean 20 drops peppermint and 20 drops tea tree for the shampoo or 10 drops of peppermint and 10 drops of tea tree? New to the whole essential oils thing 🙂
Jasmine Ouellette says
Hi Erika! Yes, 10 drops of peppermint and 10 drops of tea tree. Really, it's all up to your own judgement - if you prefer a stronger scent you can always add more. Experiment and have fun with it!
Becky says
I can't wait to try these, however, do you have a substitute for Coconut Milk? We have allergies in our household. Thank you!
Jasmine Ouellette says
Hi Becky! hmmm... good question. I have seen other recipes that are just water, apple cider vinegar and essential oils. Try this recipe: 1 cup water, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 10 drops of essential oils. I know it sounds really simple, but apparently that works too!! 🙂
Becky says
Amazing...thanks so much!!!!
Maira says
Hi Jasmine thank you for this recipe!
Since the coconut milk spoils quite easly, I was wondering if the shampoo will last long...
Sherry says
How long will the conditioner last with the coconut milk in it, or do you need to refrigerate bottle?
Rachel says
Hi What about color treated hair with the essential oils?
Jasmine Ouellette says
Yes you could use this for colour treated hair - but I would also add 5-10 drops of blue tansy essential oil! This EO is often used to make DIY non-toxic "purple shampoo"!
Glamaris says
I just found this post and I hope the blog is still active. Do I have to refrigerate the shampoo so the coconut milk does'nt go bad? what's the shelve life of this product?
Jasmine Ouellette says
Hi there! Yes, this blog is still active 🙂 To answer your question, you can store in the fridge to make it last longer. Or, make a small batch and store in your bathroom so that it is used up before it goes bad!
Lindsay says
Should I store this in the refrigerator or just ok in my bathroom
Jasmine Ouellette says
Yes you can store in the fridge to make it last longer. Or, make a small batch and store in your bathroom so that it is used up before it goes bad!
Laura says
How long will this last? Can’t wait to try it out!