In case you haven’t noticed, the “no ‘poo” lifestyle is gaining momentum and getting more and more popular. Chances are some of you have either tried or even stuck with it! But for those of you are unfamiliar with the “no ‘poo method”, let’s dive in. First things first, no shampoo doesn’t mean you don’t wash your hair. Instead, you’re just cutting out the harsh chemical ingredients you’ll find in store-bought shampoo and conditioner. That way, the shampoo doesn’t strip your hair of natural oils and sebum that will, in turn, cause your body to compensate by producing even more oil.
If you’ve ditched shampoo altogether or are just looking to add essential oils to your haircare routine, we’ve got some great tips for you.
Make Your Own Shampoo
There are few options for those who’ve ditched shampoo. Some wash with just water and call it good. Other use baking soda as a way to wash their hair. But many find this harsh and drying. Instead, you can make your own DIY Shampoo that will be more nourishing for your hair, help with an oily scalp and add some amazing essential oils. We have two great recipes you can try and see which one works best for your hair!
DIY Shampoo #1
What you’ll need:
- 1/2 cup Castile Soap
- 1/4 cup Water*
- 2 Tbsp Jamaican Black Castor Oil
- 1 Tbsp baking soda
- 1 Tbsp Aloe Vera Jelly
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 10 total drops of Lavender, Rosemary 1,8-Cineole, Cedarwood Himalayan, Clary Sage, Chamomile Roman, or Eucalyptus
What you’ll do:
- Dissolve baking soda into water.
- Add other ingredients, shaking well to combine.
- Use in place of your regular shampoo and condition as needed.
DIY Shampoo #2
What you’ll need:
- 1/2 cup Castile Soap
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup coconut milk*
- 2 Tbsp Jojoba Carrier Oil
- 1 Tbsp Vitamin E Oil
- 30-40 total drops of Lavender, Rosemary 1,8-Cineole, Cedarwood Himalayan, Clary Sage, Chamomile Roman, or Eucalyptus
What you’ll do:
- Combine all ingredients in a container.
- Shake well to combine and before each use.
- Use in place of your regular shampoo and condition as needed.
DIY Conditioning
Going “no ‘poo” also means cutting out store-bought conditioner! But more often than not, our hair needs that extra bit of moisture to keep from looking too frazzled. An easy method is to use a bit of watered-down apple cider vinegar. But once again, that may not be enough. Whenever your locks start to feel dry or damaged, try this easy hair mask for its deep conditioning benefits.
Deep Conditioning Hair Mask
What you’ll need:
- 1 Tbsp Shea Butter Refined
- 2 Tbsp Fractionated Coconut Oil
- 2 Tbsp Argan Carrier Oil
- 1 Tbsp Rosehip Carrier Oil
- 1 Tbsp Jojoba Carrier Oil
- 1 Tbsp Meadowfoam Carrier Oil
- 4 drops Lavender
- 3 drops Frankincense Carteri
- 2 drops Rosemary 1,8 Cineole
- 2 drops Carrot Seed
- 4 oz pump bottle
What you’ll do:
- Soften shea butter if hard.
- Add and mix all carrier oils and essential oils.
- Store in a cool dark place.
- Apply mask generously to your hair and let sit for 10-30 minutes.
- Wash out completely with shampoo.
Hydrosol Sprays
Natural haircare doesn’t have to be all DIYs and complicated recipes. Hydrosols are one of the easiest and gentlest ways to enjoy the benefits of essential oils. Simply spritz your hair (wet or dry, doesn’t matter!). Both Rose and Lavender are excellent choices for dry or damaged hair.
Add EOs to Your Shampoo
If embracing the no ‘poo lifestyle just isn’t for you, no worries! Maybe life is just too busy or maybe you’ve found your perfect shampoo and wouldn’t dream of giving it up. There is still a simple way to enjoy essential oils in your haircare routine. Just add them to your shampoo! Since all commercial shampoos will have emulsifiers, you won’t have to worry about adding any other products. For daily use, use a 1-2% dilution in your shampoo.
- Thinning hair: Cedarwood Atlas, Rosemary 1,8-Cineole or Coffee
- Oily hair: Lavender, Rosemary 1,8-Cineole, Cedarwood Himalayan, Clary Sage, Chamomile Roman, or Eucalyptus
- Floral scent: Chamomile Roman, Lavender, Neroli, Jasmine Absolute or Rose Absolute.
- Masculine Scent: Cedarwood Himalayan, Sandalwood Australian, or Spruce Black.
Additional Reading
- Deep Conditioning Hair Mask
- Beach Hair Detangler
- Essential Oils and Hair Loss, Growth, & Regrowth
- Hair Types and Essential Oils for Healthy Hair
*If you choose not to use a preservative you will need to store it in the fridge. Optiphen plus is a preservative which reduces the instance of bacterial growth in water-based products. We recommend that a preservative be used in any water-based products that you make at home. This is a great choice since it contains no parabens, no formaldehyde, and are not formaldehyde contributors.
If you like discovering new DIYs, be sure to check out our Safe Essential Oil Recipes (SEOR) Facebook Group!
