You can make your own natural homemade shampoo in your own kitchen, using ingredients found on your cupboard shelves and setting in your refrigerator. If you like a shampoo that lathers, use liquid Castile soap. Castile is a gentle foaming soap. Just remember, shampoo does not have to foam to be effective. Cleaning the hair consists of removing any dirt and debris from the hair, along with some of the oils that your scalp adds daily. Often, when you use a commercial shampoo, it will leave a residue on the hair shaft and on the scalp. This residue can cause itching and flaking of the scalp, as well as dandruff. Residue that accumulates on the hair shaft can make your hair lay flat and look oily, instead of making it bouncy and shiny; hence the need for clarifying shampoo. However, when you don’t use a commercial shampoo, there will be no residue to stick to the scalp or the hair. Your scalp is cleaner, free from irritation, and both scalp and hair will be healthier.

“No-poo” shampoo is gaining in popularity. This natural homemade shampoo consists of substances that do not foam up to clean the hair. In its simplest form, some people just wash their hair with water, although I have never had success with that method. It just depends on your hair. Still, there is no need for suds; you can get your hair clean without them. I will introduce a variety of hair cleansers, including both foaming and non-foaming shampoos. There are even a few dry shampoo ideas. I do have a warning if you color your hair: you run the risk of your color fading or even being removed when you use these homemade products. Before you use any of these on colored hair, you’ll want to test them on some hair that is relatively hidden.