DIY Shampoo and Conditioner (The Absolute Easiest Recipe)
Years ago, I noticed my hair getting quite dry and just overall unhealthy. I had to wash it often – every day or two – in order to keep it from looking greasy and feeling gross. I have pretty thin hair, so I figured this was probably normal. Turns out, it doesn’t have to be! Using this DIY shampoo and conditioner method gave me healthier, fuller hair – without washing all the time.
Plus, it costs just pennies per wash and is made with only natural ingredients!
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Why Make Your Own Shampoo and Conditioner?
There are a lot of reasons why you might want to start making your own shampoo and conditioner. Whether you’re tired of toxic chemicals, feel like your hair health could be better, or want to save money, switching from conventional shampoos and conditioners to using natural ingredients has a lot of benefits.
I honestly can’t even remember which one of these reasons caused me to try making my own DIY shampoo and conditioner over a decade ago. I don’t use this method all the time now (I’ll explain why below!). However, it’s crazy to look back at pictures – the time that I used only this method for washing my hair is clearly the healthiest my hair has ever looked!
The baking soda and vinegar method (sometimes referred to as the “no poo” method), probably doesn’t work well for every hair type. And even if it does work well for yours, you may choose not to use it forever. I haven’t continued using it for every wash largely because life with four littles is busy and sometimes it’s just easier to grab the store-bought products.
But, it’s worth a try! Even if you don’t stick with it, it can be a great way to remove excess buildup and oil from your hair. For me, it also gave me shinier, healthier hair that looked a lot less dry.
Here are some of the reasons I chose start washing my hair with baking soda and apple cider vinegar many years ago!
- Hair health. I’ve always had fairly thin, dry hair that also turned to oily hair very quickly when it wasn’t washed every day or two. This method is often used for resetting the scalp’s pH, removing excess oil, and softening hair. It gave me less frizzy hair that didn’t need to be washed nearly as often.
- Buildup. Commercial shampoo and conditioning hair products can tend to leave a lot of buildup in the hair. There are a lot of chemicals, waxes, and silicone in conventional shampoos and conditioners that can damage your hair in the long run. This baking soda and ACV method helps to remove some of the buildup and chemicals for better hair health.
- Less oil production. I found out later that a lot of the excess oil my my scalp was producing was actually from the harsh chemicals and other ingredients in traditional shampoo and conditioner. Using a natural shampoo method can help to restore the hair of its natural oils. It did for me!
- Less toxins. The ingredients list on most regular shampoo and conditioner bottles is enough to make anyone’s head spin! Unfortunately, these bottles are often full of toxins, preservatives, and synthetic fragrances that are not just bad for your hair, but your overall health (we can only take so many toxins in our bodies!). Ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, and fragrances can lead to hormone disruption, skin irritation and acne, and infertility, along with a host of other health problems.
- Cost. This DIY hair wash method literally costs just a few pennies per wash. I have no idea why some of the most effective ingredients out there (baking soda and vinegar!) cost so little, but I’ll take it!
The Baking Soda and Vinegar Method
The baking soda and apple cider vinegar method (sometimes referred to as the “No Poo” method), is made with just two simple ingredients: baking soda and apple cider vinegar! Add some water, and you’re ready to wash.
The science behind this method goes something like this:
Baking soda cleanses your hair and removes buildup. It has a fairly high pH and also has antibacterial properties.
Following with an apple cider vinegar rinse – which has a low pH to balance the scalp – cleanses the hair, restores shine, and smoothes the hair cuticles.
While this method can provide benefits for any hair type, it doesn’t work for everyone long term. People with curly hair tend to like the baking soda and ACV method – but you don’t have to have curly hair to use it (I don’t)!
Even if you find that it’s not a good option for regular use on your hair, a few washes with it may help to remove residue and restore some of your hair’s shine!
What You’ll Need
It’s so simple! Here’s what you’ll need for this super easy DIY hair wash.
- Baking soda
- Apple cider vinegar
- Water
- 2 empty bottles. You can use an old shampoo bottle or anything that will squirt the mixture onto your scalp well. I like to use these 10oz condiment bottles, which are less than $1 each at Walmart!
How to Wash Your Hair With Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar
To prepare, you’ll need to start by filling your bottles. If you plan to use this washing method often, I found that it was well worth it to keep some baking soda and apple cider vinegar in the bathroom for easy mixing. Since you’re diluting your ingredients in a significant amount of water, you’ll need to re-make the solution in small batches for each wash. (Otherwise, you’ll need large bottles and it will be more difficult to handle and mix each time.)
Step 1: Prepare Your Bottles
In one of your bottles, add approximately 1 Tablespoon of baking soda and 1 cup of water. Shake thoroughly to dissolve.
In the other empty bottle, add one part apple cider vinegar to five parts water. Shake.
Note: These measurements don’t need to be precise. After making these solutions a couple of times, you’ll be able to eyeball the amounts easily!
Step 2: Baking Soda Wash
In the shower, wet hair, then use your bottle to squirt the baking soda mixture directly onto your scalp. Be ready – it has a totally different texture than shampoo! Hold the bottle close to your scalp, and try to squirt it all over. Then, massage in thoroughly.
Rinse well!
Step 3: Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse
Next, use your other spray bottle to distribute the apple cider vinegar rinse all over your head. Rub it in, then rinse it off.
If you want, you can add a few drops of essential oils into your vinegar rinse mixture. I’ve never tried this personally, but many do! Even if you don’t, though, the vinegar smell should disappear quickly after your wash. I’ve never noticed it sticking around. Plus, apple cider vinegar has somewhat of a nice smell to it anyway!
Optional: Egg Wash
This part may sound a little crazy. But if you find that your hair is lacking volume or moisture, you can also try a little egg wash! Eggs contain tons of vitamins and minerals – such as vitamin E, A, B12, D, and lecithin. They can be incredibly nourishing to your scalp and can also help moisturize if you have dandruff.
If you’re going for all natural products for your hair care, eggs definitely fit the bill!
To try out this method, simply crack an egg or just an egg yolk into a bowl and whisk. If you have extra long or thick hair, you may need to use 2-3 eggs. You can also add a few drops of your favorite essential oil if you’d like.
Next, wet your hair work the egg mixture into your scalp and let it sit for about 5 minutes.
Last, rinse the egg out with cool or warm water. Avoid hot water to ensure that you don’t cook the egg!
Enjoy your shiny, well-nourished hair!
How to Go Longer Without Washing Your Hair
Whether you’re trying to cut back on chemicals, save money, have healthier hair, or just save time, washing your hair less is probably the best way to accomplish all of these goals at once!
As I mentioned above, I used to have to wash my hair almost every day. If I didn’t, it would feel oily and look greasy, and I could hardly focus on anything else besides how dirty it felt!
Now, I can easily go over a week (sometimes two weeks) without washing and not even notice. Even though I use store-bought shampoo and conditioner sometimes now (for convenience!), I feel a lot better about it knowing that I’m not applying it to my scalp nearly every single day.
Here are some tips for going longer in between washes:
- Just start! Take baby steps! If you wash every day, just try to go two days. The less you wash, the more quickly your hair will get used to it and stop producing so much oil. Throw your hair in a bun, wear a hat, or grab a headband or bandana. There are lots of ways to still look cute even if your hair is a bit greasy underneath!
- Don’t straighten it. If you have thin hair especially, don’t do anything to take away any volume! Let your hair be natural, and your volume will last a bit longer.
- Keep it up after washing. I find that the best way to go a week or two at a time is by starting with styles like french braids that keep my hair up and tight. If I let it down the first day or two, it starts to get dirty and greasy faster.
- Minimize brushing. Brushing encourages oil production. If you can avoid it, do!
- Keep it up at night. Put your hair in braids or a bun at night to both keep it clean and keep it from becoming tangled (and needing to brush more).
You can do it! Minimizing washing is one of the best ways to encourage healthy hair.
Does Baking Soda and Vinegar Promote Hair Growth?
There isn’t much evidence that washing with baking soda and ACV leads to long hair faster. It can promote stronger, healthier hair, though!
More DIY Recipes
Looking for more ways to reduce chemicals in your home? Here are a few homemade recipes that we use often around our house – and that truly work!
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