Opting for a homemade shampoo: an economical, eco-friendly, sustainable and enjoyable alternative. At Zèta, we know how important it is to care for your hair AND the planet. That is why we are sharing our best tips to create a natural, effective homemade shampoo tailored to your hair.
Contents
I. Why make your own homemade shampoo?
1. The downsides of conventional shampoos
Conventional shampoos are packed with harsh sulphates, such as SLS, and controversial preservatives like parabens. These substances can take a heavy toll on your hair. Today, we present natural alternatives you can easily make at home. Homemade shampoo recipes allow you to select gentle, scalp-friendly ingredients and tailor them to your unique needs and preferences.
One of the main reasons to switch to homemade shampoo is preserving the natural balance of your hair. Silicones found in many commercial products can weigh hair down and cause harmful build-up. By making your own shampoo at home, you avoid these additives. In addition to promoting softness and shine, a homemade shampoo eliminates artificial colourings and fragrances that can irritate and damage the scalp.
What is more, traditional shampoos often contain ingredients whose production harms the environment. Most shampoos consist mainly of water (a rather common resource around here), all packaged in single-use plastic. By choosing natural ingredients and cutting out excessive plastic packaging, you will actively contribute to protecting our precious planet.
2. The benefits of homemade shampoos
Homemade shampoos offer several advantages, although their effectiveness can vary depending on the ingredients used and your individual hair type. Discover below the key benefits of homemade shampoos:
🌳 Use of natural ingredients: Homemade shampoos often rely on natural ingredients such as essential oils, herbs, fruits, honey, and more. These ingredients deliver beneficial nutrients to the hair while cutting out harmful additives, as mentioned earlier.
🧪 Ditching harsh chemicals: By avoiding the harsh chemicals found in many commercial shampoos, you reduce the risk of scalp irritation and allergic reactions (and the planet will thank you).
🛠 Customisation: You have the freedom to tailor your shampoo to your exact needs—whether for hydration, shine, volume, or tackling specific issues like dandruff. Making your own shampoo at home lets you create YOUR truly bespoke formula.
🌿 Lower environmental impact: By crafting your own shampoo, you can cut down on plastic consumption by using reusable bottles, supporting a more sustainable routine.
💸 Cost-effective: In many cases, making your own shampoo can be more economical than buying premium alternatives on the market. What's more, your choice of ingredients allows you to adapt the formula to your budget.
II. How to make your own homemade shampoo
There are many ways to make your own shampoo. To keep things simple, we have selected three easy and effective recipes, each tailored to a specific hair type: oily, dry or normal.
Homemade shampoo for oily hair
Ingredients:
2 tbsp rhassoul (or green clay)
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp aloe vera
4 drops tea tree essential oil
Preparation:
Mix the rhassoul clay with a little warm water until you obtain a smooth paste.
Add the apple cider vinegar and aloe vera, then mix again.
Stir in the tea tree essential oil.
Apply directly to wet hair, gently massaging the scalp.
Leave on for 2 to 3 minutes before rinsing thoroughly.
Homemade shampoo for dry hair
Ingredients:
30 g grated Castile (or Marseille) soap
200 ml hot water
1 tbsp coconut or jojoba oil
4 drops ylang-ylang essential oil
Preparation:
Heat the water in a small saucepan.
Add the grated soap and let it melt gently while stirring.
Remove from heat, stir in the plant oil and mix well.
Add the ylang-ylang essential oil.
Allow to cool, then pour into a reusable bottle.
Use just like a regular shampoo and rinse thoroughly.
Homemade shampoo for normal hair
Ingredients:
200 ml warm water
2 tbsp shikakai powder
1 tbsp runny honey
3 drops lavender essential oil
Preparation:
Mix the shikakai powder with warm water to obtain a smooth, fluid consistency.
Add the runny honey and blend thoroughly until smooth.
Stir in the lavender essential oil.
Apply to wet hair, massaging the scalp and lengths.
Leave on for 2 minutes before rinsing thoroughly.
A universal recipe for the whole family
For those who prefer a more versatile option, here is a simple recipe suitable for all hair types.
Ingredients (for approx. 1 L):
600 ml tap water
30 g Marseille soap
3 tbsp green clay
1 tbsp bicarbonate of soda
2 tbsp jojoba oil
13 drops tea tree essential oil
Preparation:
Blend the Marseille soap into a fine powder: this will form the base of your shampoo.
Gently heat the water over low heat and add the powdered soap. Stir until you achieve a smooth texture, then leave to cool.
Add the green clay, bicarbonate of soda and tea tree essential oil. Mix well.
Add the jojoba oil gradually until you reach the desired consistency.
You now have an effective shampoo to cleanse all hair types. We have shared a simple recipe here. Below, you will find other ingredients to tailor your shampoo to your specific needs:
Castile soap
✅ Gentle, moisturising, biodegradable, versatile (olive, coconut, jojoba).
❌ Can sometimes be too rich; texture needs adjusting.
Black soap
✅ Cleansing, gentle, multi-purpose (olive or flaxseed, body and hair).
❌ Strong scent; requires thorough rinsing.
Rhassoul (Moroccan clay)
✅ Purifies, removes excess sebum, adds shine.
❌ Does not lather; texture could be improved.
Plant bases (soapwort, soapberries, hibiscus)
✅ Natural and eco-friendly alternatives.
❌ Varying availability; consistency needs adjusting.
At Zèta, we create eco-friendly trainers made from repurposed resources and recycled materials such as grape, corn or coffee grounds. Our mission: to prove that fashion, sustainability and respect for the environment can go hand in hand.
By sharing our DIY tips and natural remedies, we want to go beyond trainers and guide everyone towards a more conscious, mindful lifestyle.
1 comment
Merci pour la recette.
Et la découverte de votre site grace à Gaetan Gabriel . Je m interroge sur la durée de vie moyenne de vos baskets ?