Homemade Shampoo and Conditioner

I apologize for posting so late in the day; Mom and I were Spring Cleaning today, and then we had a family evening. :)

My mom has bad asthma; almost all fragrances cause a flare-up. This is one of the reasons that we started looking for a different option than store-bought shampoos. Another is that even the "natural", fragrance-free cleansers from a health food store, which we tried next, contain some questionable ingredients; things like laurel/laureth sulfates that are known to be bad for health.

When we looked for homemade shampoo recipes, we found lots of references to using baking soda, but all of them were very vague. "Mix some baking soda with water until it forms a paste...", etc. Finally, someone in an online forum posted a fairly detailed explanation. Since then, we have been using these, with excellent results. So, without further ado, here are two easy recipes, made with everyday ingredients from your kitchen.

Shampoo:
Mix one Tablespoon of baking soda into a cup of water. (Only a cup of the mixture will wash my sister's hair, which is close to waist length and very thick.) Wet your hair, then pour the mixture over it. I usually pour about half of it on, scrub my scalp gently, and then finish pouring it over. Leave it on for several minutes, then rinse it out. The best way to follow this is:

Conditioner:
Mix two Tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar into a cup of water. After 'shampooing', pour over your hair, concentrating on the ends. Rinse out immediately to avoid a lingering smell.

We mix up a large batch (i.e. a gallon) of both of these ahead of time, and keep it in the kitchen. We have smaller containers in the shower for each that are refilled as needed. Of course, the amounts in application can be varied. If you have shorter hair, then you shouldn't need a full cup of either, while if you have very long hair, more than a cup might be called for. Just use both until your hair feels saturated.

The baking soda mixture has worked quite well for me, and seems to leave my hair cleaner than regular shampoos. The vinegar conditioner has improved the shine of my hair greatly, and keeps it rather softer than usual. And, of course, the best part: they are completely safe, and you don't have to wonder what's in them!

There's your natural tip for the day! :)
May God bless you,
Rachel