Another pre-shampoo conditioner, suitable for normal hair, is an olive oil scalp treatment. For this one, all you need is 1/2 cup of olive oil and 10 drops of lavender essential oil. You should use this treatment once a week , especially if your hair has been over-exposed to the elements. The lavender, when combined with the olive oil, will improve your hair's elasticity, and make it oh so soft! Not to mention that it smells great, and the lavender can help with relieving tension and headaches (when massaged into the scalp). In order to get the full benefit of this mixture, put the oil into a pan and gently warm it. Once warm, remove it from the heat and add the essential oil. Mix it well before applying to damp hair. Massage into your scalp well, then cover your head with a shower cap or plastic, and leave on for 20 minutes before shampooing as normal.
For shampooing, a gentle shampoo, one without harsh chemicals, is recommended. So, in other words, nothing that is currently commercially provided is good for your hair! In fact, it I could find no shampoo without a detergent base at the store. So all of those on the shelf will actually act to dry out and damage the hair. But not to worry, natural ingredients are generally safe and gentle for all types of hair, including color treated and damaged hair.
You don't have to make your own soap to get a great shampoo (but you certainly can!), all you need is to do, is find some pure Castille soap (soap made from 100% olive oil & check the labels, because many now days use filler oils to cut costs!), then a few easy additives, and you are good to go!
When making and using Castille based soap/shampoo, you need to keep in mind that it is a low sudsing agent. The bubbles that come with the commercial shampoos are made with chemicals, and have nothing to so with cleansing. But if you can't get past the idea that bubbles equal cleaning, or if you just enjoy them, you can alter your soap recipe by adding some castor oil, and then you will get good bubbles!
A good, easy recipe, one that will work for every hair type in the household, is simply using the liquid Castile soap as the base, and then adding various herbal and/or botanical essential oils to customize it for the various types of hair that you need. If you do not make your own soap, and cannot find a Castille soap (try looking at the health food store), you can use an unscented, uncolored baby shampoo. For each of the shampoo recipes below, you will need to use the Castille soap as the base. Choose the additives that are appropriate for your hair type. Then to shampoo your hair, all you need to use is an amount about the size of a quarter. Just put it in the palm of your hand, add some water, and rub together to get some lather going. Then apply it to your hair and work it through. Remember to rinse with cool water, and feel free to repeat, if needed. These shampoos will last from three to six months, so store them in a plastic bottle after you mix them up.
For normal hair, try this herbal recipe. It will cleanse without stripping the hair of its natural protective oils. These herbs will clarify the hair and scalp, removing nasty residue, while adding shine to the clean hair.
Mix together;
1 cup of liquid Castile soap (or your plain baby shampoo)
1 tsp glycerin
3 drops rosemary essential oil
3 drops sage essential oil
1 tsp white vinegar
For dry, damaged hair try this mixture of enriching herb and oils. These will soothe, as well as condition, and this formulation will put that nice, silky feeling back into your hair.
Mix together;
1 cup of liquid Castile soap (or the baby shampoo)
1 tsp glycerin
1 tsp aloe vera juice or gel
1tsp jojoba oil (may substitute apricot kernel oil)
3 drops chamomile essential oil
3 drops lavender essential oil
1 vitamin E capsule (take a 400 unit (or higher) capsule, pierce it with a pin, and put the liquid into your mixture)
Oily hair treatments are a bit tricky because they need to strip the oil from the hair, yet not strip the scalp so much that it signals for more oil to be produced. The scalp needs to be braced, the oil production slowed, yet it all needs to accomplished without being overly harsh or drying. The following recipe should be just what is needed!
Mix together;
1 cup liquid Castile (or the baby shampoo)
1 tsp glycerin
1/2 tsp tea tree extract or oil
1/2 tsp nettle extract or oil
1/2 tsp witch hazel3 drops each of your choice, of TWO of the following essential oils; orange, frankincese, grapefruit, lemon, juniper, cypress, borage or lavenderThat is a total of six drops of essential oil, three drops each, from two of the oils listed.
Now, you may feel like we have just covered all the hair types, but there are a few more things to consider. Your scalp status and your hair color also impact your formulation needs.
The next recipe has been especially designed for LIGHT COLORED HAIR care. It is mild enough for daily use.
Just take 1/2 cup of fresh (or 1/4 cup dried) chamomile flower heads (calendula may be substituted if you want), and crush them into a small glass bowl. Then pour 1 and 1/2 cups of boiling water over the top of the chamomile. Cover the pot and allow it to steep for 20 minutes. Once the time is up, strain it, reserve the liquid and throw away the plant material. Stir 3 TBS of the liquid Castile soap and 1 tsp. of jojoba oil (may substitute sesame oil) into the chamomile infusion. Stir it well, then add 3 drops of patchouli or ylang-ylang essential oil, and mix it well.
For DARK COLORED HAIR, take 1/2 cup fresh (or 1/4 cup dried) rosemary (sage or cloves can be substituted of you wish) and crush in a small glass bowl. Pour 1 and 1/2 cups of boiling water over the rosemary, cover and allow to steep for 20 minutes. Once time is up, strain and throw away the solids, while reserving the liquid. Stir 3 TBS liquid Castile soap, and 1 tsp jojoba oil (may substitute sesame oil if desired) into the rosemary infusion. Stir well, then add 3 drops of patchouli or ylang-ylang essential oil and mix again. This recipe is gentle enough for daily use.
For a DRY SCALP, the many healing and soothing properties of Tea Tree essential oil will work wonders. On the scalp, it soothes the dry, flaky skin, and offers bactericide properties. All you need to do is simply mix 2 TBS of the shampoo, either the LIGHT or the DARK hair formulation, with 3 drops of tea tree essential oil. Use the tea tree instead of the essential oil additive at the end of the recipe(s).
Now that we have pre-conditioning and cleansing formulas, we need to follow these with a proper rinse, and then a great conditioner. So come back tomorrow for Teaching Tuesday's, Complete Hair Care!
For DARK COLORED HAIR, take 1/2 cup fresh (or 1/4 cup dried) rosemary (sage or cloves can be substituted of you wish) and crush in a small glass bowl. Pour 1 and 1/2 cups of boiling water over the rosemary, cover and allow to steep for 20 minutes. Once time is up, strain and throw away the solids, while reserving the liquid. Stir 3 TBS liquid Castile soap, and 1 tsp jojoba oil (may substitute sesame oil if desired) into the rosemary infusion. Stir well, then add 3 drops of patchouli or ylang-ylang essential oil and mix again. This recipe is gentle enough for daily use.
For a DRY SCALP, the many healing and soothing properties of Tea Tree essential oil will work wonders. On the scalp, it soothes the dry, flaky skin, and offers bactericide properties. All you need to do is simply mix 2 TBS of the shampoo, either the LIGHT or the DARK hair formulation, with 3 drops of tea tree essential oil. Use the tea tree instead of the essential oil additive at the end of the recipe(s).
Now that we have pre-conditioning and cleansing formulas, we need to follow these with a proper rinse, and then a great conditioner. So come back tomorrow for Teaching Tuesday's, Complete Hair Care!
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