Home made shampoo

[Intheprimeoflime]

Going plastic free and looking for good recipes to make my own shampoo for all the family. The simpler the better!

I'm using Lush shampoo bars (they contain SLS) which are plastic free, but they are probably expensive for family use. I tried another, cheaper, bar, but it left my hair feeling waxy.

I've read about soapnuts (I think they have an ecological drawback). They might be worth trying:

www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/beauty-hair/hair/how-to/a32310/how-to-makeup-soapnuts-shampoo/

I tried making my own and it was gross! I used liquid Castille soap, jojoba oil and lavender water. Ick. Really watery, no lather and greasy hair.

What about buying shampoo base in bulk from a company like www.naturallythinking.com?

Or yes, find a bar but perhaps lush is a bit pricey.

Some people find no shampoo works well for them after a transition period of really gross hair. I'm definitely not brave enough to try it!

I recently bought a full set of Friendly Soap which includes a couple of shampoo bars. We haven't tried them yet as we are still finishing the lush one we already had, but the soap we have used is really lovely. It is a really good price too.

That's what I'm afraid of! Going to give a go first though.... I've managed to concoct an alternative for tooth paste, mouthwash, household cleaners, furniture polish, moisturiser just shampoo to go! And no, i can't imagine not washing it at all :( i can't cope if my hair isn't clean!

Ooh, good work Op. Please can you share your 'recipes' you have so far. I've started, but could do with even less chemical stuff about

I'd be really interested in the toothpaste recipe. Tried that too and also gross! 😂😂

I like the bars of soap from Friendly Soap, but the shampoo bars were a disaster. Left our hair feeling waxy which is apparently because we have hard water and/or we used too much. Didn't work for us. The Lush bars do but, as said, would be expensive for family use.

Get a small used plastic bottle, eg mayonnaise, or a cup. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons of bicarb and top up with water. In the shower wet your hair, then pour really slowly working into your hair roots. This will foam slightly because if you think of the chemistry of soap making:

alkali (bicarb) + fat (naturally on your hair roots) = soap

Rinse then finish with vinegar/water in about a 1:5 ratio

However, I would look for a place that does refills of Faith in Nature liquid shampoo

thezerowaster.com/zero-waste-near-you/

I also like the Lush shampoo bars. I've tried the Friendly shampoo bars this week and like Cynderella, I'm not getting on with them unfortunately.

Oh no, we haven't tried the shampoo bars yet, but i had high hopes for them! I am really disappointed.

We were disappointed too JaneK - they'd have been the answer for us if they'd worked. If you have soft water, you may get on with them. The Lush bars are a compromise because they have SLS but no packaging - I'd prefer something cheaper, but they last a while when just two people are using them. Be good to find a family-friendly alternative.

Here's a toothpaste recipe:

2 tbsp of coconut oil
1 tbsp of bicarb of soda
15 - 20 drops of peppermint oil (or anise/cinnamon etc)

Mix in a small glass jar

trashisfortossers.com/my-zero-waste-homemade-toothpaste-recipe/

Thank you so much KimCheese! That list of packaging free shops is so good. I dreading giving up my shampoo and everything i hear about home made or shampoo bars is very mixed. I just can't bring myself to buy anymore bloody plastic though. When what i already have runs out I'm not buying anymore plastic, (as much as I can mange). The ideal option would be to find somewhere i could just refill my bottle with.

Also that's the same toothpaste recipe I've been using. So far happy with it.

I’ve been using the lush shampoo bar, which I really like, but the conditioner bar didn’t do much for me so I’ve gone back to using bottled. Does anyone know a good eco friendly conditioner?

Thank you KimCheese

OK, I just found this from a company I've bought from before. Unfortunately, it does come in a plastic container (at least the 1KG size did). But I guess if you buy a bigger size it's probably less plastic than bottled shampoo. No idea how long it'd last.

www.mysticmomentsuk.com/collections/melt-and-pour-soaps/products/melt-and-pour-soap-base-solid-shampoo-sls-free?variant=12142154809458

I got myself a shampoo bar from lush and i absolutely love it!

Anyone have suggestions for plastic free conditioner or conditioner bar???

They have conditioner bars in lush too, or there are leave in sprays too! (no I don't work there lol 😂)

The purple Lush conditioner bar is fine on my bleached hair. I tried the white one and it didn't do much. (Ikeep it in a small tupperware, that I already had, in bathroom but let it dry in between)
The purple one smells like fly killer in when dry but I am using up the white one and the purple together.
I wrote to lush and moaned as the white one was the one recommended. They sent e a purple one. I had dismissed it in the shop due to smell. I have been using them since March.

Hey! Home made shampoo is a good idea since we're already going to live a a plastic free life. This thread is amazing! I have learn so much from the comments. I will also try to check out lush shampoo bars. That also sounds great.

If anyone has a recipe for pour and melt shampoo that I can make for the family (already switching them to bars of soap but need a magnet thingy to stick it to the shower walls as DSx2 can't wrangle it). I bought, at a bootsale (so recycled in a way) a silicone muffin tin that would do as a soap mould (sp?) so if I can conjure up something that smells lovely I will give as gifts for xmas and try to convert more people.
Got the kids on board now by buying no multi pack snacks, large pack divided up between small pots for pack ups(baby steps), sandwiches in paper or foil (reused the bag the tomatoes came in today).
Felt like a complete fraud yesterday when I calculated the plastic that will only get used once from my shop. Did get baked beans separately per can, rather than a four pack that was shrink wrapped. I feel a letter coming on as it's 30p more separately (the price of an extra can in Aldi).
Anyone else feel miffed?

Ignore most of the above ramble. I'm also on a plastic free thread and got a bit excited.

I see you’ve used the lush one and was going to recommend it! We have the yellow one and I’m a convert. It may initially not be that cheap (think it was £7.50) but it’s lasting for ages and you don’t need much.

I like the Lush shampoo bars and especially the white conditioner bar but I don't want to support the company.

At the moment I am using shampoo bars from a manufacturer called Pethau Bach / Little things, in mid Wales. I haven't been able to find them on the Internet but if anyone is interested their address is Ty Coch, Llangynfelin. Good variety, beautiful recycled packaging, reasonably priced and the bars work as well as the Lush ones. I buy them at the Cletwr services near Machynlleth - an unlikely place but the shop is a treasure trove if you are into sustainable living.