No more poo in our shampoo!!!

I recently bought organic shampoo. The same organic shampoo I had bought for over a year. I figured that because it said it was organic, I was good to go. The first six ingredients (all essential oils) were organic, the rest were unpronounceable and there was even sodium laurel sulfate! I have become disheartened by the labeling on the products we purchase. We have to be so careful and knowledgeable of what is in the products that we put on and in our bodies!

So I took it upon myself to make my own. Here is the first one I found:

1 tsp nettle leaves
1 tsp horsetail
1 tsp coltsfoot
1 cup spring water
30 ml liquid castile soap
1 tsp almond oil
2 drop lavender oil

Crumble herbs and place in glass container with a lid. Boil the cup of spring water and pour over herbs. Cover and steep for 20 minutes. Strain and add lavender oil, mix. Store in a glass bottle for up to 6 months.

I found this recipe to be very watery and a lot of it was wasted before it even got to my hair. I found that when I did use it, my hair didn't feel clean at all. Now, as one wise friend reminded me, its the chemicals in the commercial products that make our hair clean. The sudsy bliss that indicates to us that our hair is now clean- chemical. I needed to change my thinking- but I was going to do it with a different recipe.

Here's the new one I found:

1/4 cup coconut milk
1/3 cup liquid castile soap
1 tsp almond oil
10-20 drops essential oil

Mix in a bottle. Good for one month.

This ended up being a thicker product that actually lathered! I was thrilled with the thicker consistency of this product, as well. I also found, in the styling process, it was best that I skip the mousse. I am a hair stylist and not using product is really a big adjustment for me.

Since I had purchased the herbs to make the first recipe, I didn't want to waste them. My wise friend suggested I infuse the almond oil with the herbs and add that to the new recipe. Brilliant! Here is the new recipe:

1 tsp nettle leaves
1 tsp horsetail
1 tsp coltsfoot
Enough almond oil to cover

In a small crock pot, place herbs and almond oil. Allow to cook for a few hours, stirring occasionally. Let cool and strain into a bottle.

1/4 cup coconut milk
1/3 liquid castile soap
1 tsp herb infused almond oil
10-20 drops essential oils

Combine ingredients and mix. Pour into a bottle. Good for one month.

By Jove, I think we got it! Now....conditioner!