Homemade Herbal Shampoo For Dry Hair – This post is going to be all about making a shampoo cum conditioner that helps reduce frizz and at the same time repair your hair.

Frizz and shine less dull hair is the result of damaged hair cuticles, which is the outer later of the hair shaft.

In this article, you can find,

• Video Instructions
• Most asked questions
• Ingredient benefits
• Herbal shampoo recipe
• My Experience

VIDEO INSTRUCTIONS

Causes Of Dry Hair

Dry, damaged or frizzy hair may be due to any of the following causes,

• Excessive brushing
• Chlorinated water
• Friction from rubbing wet hair
• Use of chemicals like dyes, bleaches and highlighters
• Styling your hair with heat tools
• Wind does cause friction between the hair strands which leads to tangles and breakage. So tie your hair to protect it.
• Excessive sun exposure

What Does Damaged Hair Look Like?

Dry and rough rather than soft and silky, brittle, tangles and breaks easily and may also have split ends

How To Repair Damaged Hair?

Identify and eliminate the factor that is damaging your hair. It may seem like a small change but it improves the quality of your hair, given a certain period of time.

Have a well balanced diet with antioxidants and omega 3 fatty acids.

Reduce sun and wind exposure and protect your hair.

Do not wash your hair with hot water. Try cold showers instead.

Trim your hair every 6-8 weeks as it does promote hair growth.

Use oils to hydrate and nourish the stripped moisture and nutrients. Apply infused oils, ayurvedic oils or go for oils like coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil.

Apply and leave it on for at least an hour before shampooing. You can also wrap a hot towel around head.

Use a moisturising and repairing hair mask once a week. You can go for an egg mask, banana mask, henna hair mask, avocado hair mask, or a Plain yogurt mask.

Do not rub or brush wet hair.

How Long Does It Take To Repair Damaged Hair?

2-3 months with proper hair care routine.

Doing an oil massage and applying a natural hair mask once a week certainly helps.

INGREDIENT BENEFITS

There are two parts to this recipe which is a shampoo part and a conditioner section. The ingredients we are focusing on are all moisturising and nourishing to the hair and scalp.

The ingredients in this shampoo cum conditioner are,

HIBISCUS

Hibiscus conditions and repairs your hair which means, less tangles and breakage.

It does help thicken your hair by promoting new hair growth.

Hibiscus does protect against dandruff and itchy scalp.

The extract does reduce hair fall and also prevent premature greying of the hair.

BRAHMI

The herb Brahmi works by strengthening the hair follicles and thus, prevents hair fall and baldness. Strengthened hair follicles and capillaries means more nutrients and oxygen reach the scalp thereby promoting hair growth.

Brahmi is often used in Ayurveda to reduce stress as it can bring down the stress hormone levels. This indirectly helps with preventing hair fall due to stress and many more serious health issues to a certain extent.

In short, using Brahmi helps thicken hair and improve its quality.

REETHA(SOAP NUTS)

Reetha or soap nuts help cleanse your hair and scalp without stripping the natural oils, provided you are not going overboard with the amount of this cleanser. It does helps reduce body heat in hot summer season. Apart from its properties as a cleanser, soap nuts also help prevent dandruff and scalp infections.

SHIKAKAI

Anti-microbial and antiseptic properties of shikakai prevents scalp infections like eczema(dry skin condition), dandruff and itchy scalp. If you have lice in your hair, then shikakai might help get rid of it.

The vitamins, minerals and antioxidants present in shikakai stimulate the scalp to encourage better blood flow and thus, more nutrients reach the scalp.

Shikakai helps to repair dry and damaged hair.

AMLA

Amla does reduce hair loss and prevent premature greying of the hair.

Similar to shikakai, amla also has antimicrobial properties that protect the scalp from infections and lice too.

Consistent use of amla helps strengthen the hair follicles as well as the hair strands and improves the hair texture and quality.

ALOE VERA GEL

It helps condition, repair and hydrate the hair and scalp.

Aloe Vera gel is anti-inflammatory which helps soothe scalp irritations.

FENUGREEK SEEDS

Fenugreek seeds are often used to moisturise and nourish the hair and scalp.

This boosts hair growth and prevent hair loss, dandruff and thinning of the hair.

Herbal Shampoo Recipe

I have divided it into two sections. The first one is the basic shampoo base which is as follows,

Water – 5 cups

Shikakai – 7 or 8

Soap nuts – 4 or 5

Amla – 4

Fenugreenk seeds – 1 Tablespoon

The amount of soap nuts differ based on your hair type.

I always use four soap nuts for my normal hair but you may need more or less. So adjust the recipe accordingly.

HOW TO MAKE A BASIC SHAMPOO BASE

Take five cups of water in a vessel.

Add the shikakai, soap nuts, amla and fenugreek seeds to it.

Bring it to a boil and then reduce the flame.

Let it sit there on low flame for about 10 to 15 minutes.

Switch off the flame.

Cover the pot with a lid and leave it alone for about overnight or for about 8-10 hours.

HOW TO MAKE A NATURAL CONDITIONER

The ingredients required to make a conditioner are as follows,

Aloe Vera Gel –  Fresh gel from 3 medium size leaves or 1 big leaf

Hibiscus/Brahmi powder – 1 Tablespoon

Flax seeds – 2 Tablespoon

Water – 500 ML

While making a conditioner, keep the stove on low flame. We do not want to destroy the nutrients in the ingredients.

Add the ingredients to half litre of water.

Keep stirring so that the flax seeds does not stick to the bottom.

When the water turns slimy, it is time to switch off the stove.

Let the mixture cool down completely.

Keep in mind that this conditioner turns thicker and slimier as it cools down.

MIX THE SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER

Transfer the conditioner to the shampoo bowl.

Mix everything together with a wooden ladle.

Now crush the shikakai, soap nuts and almost everything else with your palms.

Remove the seeds from the soap nuts.

Do this for about 5 minutes.

Strain the shampoo  to a clean jar

Store in the refrigerator for one month or you can freeze the extra shampoo for up to 3 months.

HOW TO USE

Wet your hair first.

Take the required amount of shampoo depending on the length of your hair and pour it all over your hair and scalp.

Gently massage your scalp.

Do not rub the hairs together. You may be tempted to do that as there is little to no foam while applying this herbal shampoo.

Let it sit for about five minutes before you rinse off.

Usually i do follow up with Apple cider vinegar rinse while using all my other homemade shampoo’s.

Here, I do not feel the need to use a conditioner afterwards as it leaves my hair soft and tangle free even while washing.

MY EXPERIENCE

This shampoo is extremely moisturising and it also adds shine to my hair. As it goes, i do find that my hair has become blacker when compared to the brownish tinge it had when exposed to sunlight.

I think this factor may prove beneficial for those with greying hair.

I hope you get the point.

This herbal shampoo does not leave your hair dry or flat at all. It is highly nourishing and does help in repairing dry damaged hair.

Also, I can easily detangle my hair with my fingers. I did use my green tea and rosemary leave-in conditioner afterwards for added treatment.