Looking for cheaper alternatives to washing your hair (or something with more natural ingredients)? I’ve moved the recipes for shampoo, conditioner and color rinses and tips onto this page for better organization, there’s a lot here to get you started. Enjoy!
First up, here’s an easy way to give natural color a boost without harsh chemicals or dyes.
Directions: Mix 1 cup of shampoo with 1 cup of the following:
- Blondes: Steep 1 tablespoon chamomile, calendula or powdered rhubarb root in 1 cup boiling water for thirty minutes.
- Brunettes: Add 1 cup strong black coffee *OR* water in which is steeped 1 tablespoon powdered black walnut shells, allspice, or cloves for thirty minutes.
- Redheads: Add 1 cup red wine and/or real orange juice, *OR* water in which 1 tablespoon red hibiscus or 2 tablespoons red clover have been steeped thirty minutes.
To Brighten: (with 1 cup of shampoo)
- Add a beaten egg white, leave this mixture on for 15 minutes before washing it.
- Blondes: Mix with an equal amount of strong chamomile tea (2 or 3 tablespoons to 1 cup of water).
- Dark/Brunettes: Add 4 TBS of crushed fresh blackberries.
- Redheads: Use raspberries instead of blackberries.
- Black (to increase shine): Mix with a cup of strong, freshly brewed black coffee.
Source: Ageless Natural Beauty By Sally Freeman
Bring Out Highlights:
Simmer the ingredients over low heat for 30 minutes. Remove from heat and strain. After washing hair as done normally, rinse with the infusion twice (catch the first batch with a big bowl so it can be used again a second time).
Use 2 cups of distilled water and 4 TBS of the following dried herbs…
- Blondes: chamomile blossoms
- Brunettes: rosemary or sage leaves
- Redheads: calendula blossoms
Tip: The more regularly these are used, the more effective they will be (and last longer).
The No Poo Alternative: The idea is to massage a baking soda and water paste into scalp then rinse off with an apple cider vinegar.
Herbal: A lovely way to utilize herbs and flowers from the garden, this is made with dried rosemary, dried rose petals, liquid castile soap, aloe vera juice, jojoba oil, pure rosemary EO.
Green Tea: Made with pure liquid castile soap, brewed green tea, olive oil and honey.
Foaming: Liquid Castille, good quality olive oil, baking soda and a few drops of tea tree or peppermint EO.
Coconut Milk: Foams nicely, made with coconut milk and liquid castile soap.
Pina Colada: Coconut milk, liquid castile, olive oil, pineapple aromatherapy oil.
Herbal: (Yields 8 ounces) Chamomile, lavender or rosemary, liquid soap, light vegetable oil, glycerin.
This not only helps nourish locks, it also helps remove much of the buildup from commercial products.
*Note: Some herbal combinations may affect light hair (blondes, grays) or dyed. It should be ok since it’s such a small amount of herbal vinegar that is well diluted, but just a heads up to test a small patch first.
Ingredients:
Apple Cider Vinegar
Fresh Herbs: lavender, rosemary, basil, sage
Citrus Peels: lemon peel, orange peel
Directions:
- Take a sterile jar of any size and fill half way with chosen herbs and citrus peels, make sure they are pesticide free.
- Next fill the jar to the top with apple cider vinegar.
- Seal, store in a cool, dark place and shake daily for three weeks. Strain & refrigerate the infused vinegar.
- Take 2 TBS of the herbal vinegar and put into a 12 to 16 ounce spray bottle. Top with water.
Spray on as much as needed after washing (first rinse off soap well, shake spray bottle before using), massage into scalp, rinse off. No application of commercial conditioner is needed.
1 tsp honey
4 cups warm water
Directions: Mix together the ingredients then after washing hair, douse it thoroughly with the honey mixture. Dry as done normally, do not rinse the mixture out.
Another treatment:
1/2 cup honey
2 to 4 TBS olive oil (use lesser amount for greasy hair)
Directions:
- Mix together then massage it in evenly.
- Cover head with a shower cap and allow the treatment to set for 30 minutes.
- Wash very well then rinse thoroughly.
You’ll find more masks & conditioning wraps on this page.
can I use white vinegar?
I use white vinegar and it works awesome!
Does that work better than apple cider vinegar?
I’ve been ‘poo free for almost a year, and I absolutely love it. I use baking soda mixed with water in a bottle, and I pour it over my scalp. I’m partial to diluted lemon juice as opposed to ACV for a rinse, but that’s just how my specific hair type turns out best.
I also add honey to my baking soda mixture. It’s very soothing for my scalp, which tends to be very flaky and itchy.
i am also ‘poo free! it’s awesome. in the baking soda i add a couple of drops of lavender EO, smells yummy, and i use a lemon chamomile, acv rinse. it works great for my pin straight, baby fine, never held a style hair. i’ll never go back to shampoo =)
Okay, 2 testimonials from ladies with straight, baby-fine hair, just like mine. I have to give this a try. I’ve been looking to get away from sodium lauryl sulfate & other chemicals anyway. 🙂
Is this ok for color treated hair?
I color my super-frizzy, shoulder length hair. I’ve been “poo free” for about 4 months now. I’ve noticed no difference in my color (its been colored probably 3 times) It doesn’t strip your hair, so I don’t worry about my color.
Not really safe for the more fun colored hair. If you’re doing reds, purple, whatever fun color…please know that baking soda and lemons will bleach out your colors!! I’ve learned the hard way. I’ve learned I can’t use the No “poo method of any kind…they all give me dread locks and super tangled, brittle, nasty hair. 🙁 not sure if it’s related to dying or not.
I use liquid castile soap mixed with water and a bit of canola oil for my hair and a white vinegar rinse about 2x per week. It took a full week of transition. I have moderately long curly hair and found I need a bit more castile soap that what is recommended.
I don’t have frizzy hair anymore, I can go longer than a day without washing and it doesn’t feel nasty oily.
No way I’ll go back to commercial poo/conditioner.
I switched to baking soda and vinegar about three months ago. It took a good six weeks for my hair to “convert,” but it did, and I couldn’t be happier. My hair is so soft and silky now that I can hardly keep my fingers out of it. I have very thick hair, so it works well for thick hair, too. I love this method!
Meagan,
Nope, it strips the color out. Voice of experience. 🙁
Can you pre-mix the baking soda and water so you have like a weeks worth a
Yes you can!! I do all the time and I love it.
This is to Meagan:
Did it strip all the color out? Or just part of it?
I would like to strip all of my off if its safe.
I want some feed back on this…please. Before I use a professional chemical.
Diane
It will strip most of the color..probly all if you let it sit for long periods of time. You can also use vit C to help naturally strip your colors. Depending on what color you’re trying to get rid of at least. Some may take longer. I have red, orange, and purple. Fades them all in a week or two.
Hello
This is great! However, my mother mentioned that it’s possible apple cider vinegar might make hair turn white earlier than normal?
Does anyone know anything about that?
Please let me know 🙂
Thanks!
I’ve been using the soda and vinegar on my hair since January, and it’s great. I use white vinegar and it seems fine. I mix soda and water in an old shampoo bottle and shake before applying. After rinsing with water, I spray vinegar/water using spray bottle that sits in the shower next to the soda bottle. I also use the vinegar spray for cleaning the shower.
Does the vinegar make your hair smell weird? Have you tried adding things like essential oils to the vinegar?
The first few times you use vinegar it will smell strong but you adjust fast. I tried using essential oils but it made my hair more oily than I liked it to be.
Im about to try this.. but can you add soemthing to this to make your hair stronger? Or like thicker?
i found that the method feels like it actually thickens the hair, had a bit of trouble blow drying it but if you let it dry naturall not only does it hold any curls it also doesnt go stiff/straw like.
this was great alternative as i found my hair to be falling out less than when i was using even the medicated shampoos. less expensive aswell- brilliant!
is it okay for everyday use?
do you pour the ACV dilution directly into the scalp?
thanks!
This is a fantastic idea, but I have very fine hair and it grows so slow.
I massage my scalp twice a day and have let the hair color grow out (almost
95% out now), cut my hair very short back in December and it’s still short.
I have a touch of gray which I don’t like but plan to use lemon juice this summer to give it a frosted look. Do you know if this new “poo-free” helps stimulate the hair growth? If you know of anything I can do to get my hair to grow, please let me know.
Thanks.
Lucy
I have no scientific proof, but I’ve taken a B12 supplement for years….recently I found out that Vitamin B12 encourages hair growth…..guess that’s why my hair is so thick that all my hairdressers over the years have commented on it….it grows long very fast also….give it a try. I take 1000mcg per day of vit B12.
Add some MSM to your diet. It is a supplement used mainly for arthritis. It thickens your hair and makes your nails nice.
Different hairdressers have told me that taking prenatal vitamins will increase your hair growth. It’s probably good for your health too!
Prenatal vitamins are meant for two people, it is too much for one person to take. Please do not try prenatal vitamins.
Biotin is a vitamin you can get at walmart and take up to 5 times a day. This works really well for me!
I am very interested in trying this! What does your hair look like during the “transitional period”?
ive found that it can come across as a bit dry within the first couple of days but after that it was fine, some light application of baby oil can fix that (very light), after that the scalps natural oils take over and the hair feels better.
Mine was greasy at the scalp for about two weeks. I stuck with it and used the “poo free” method every day during that period. I now only have to wash my hair every other day. Honestly, if I wasn’t so curly and looking like a mushroom by day 2, I could go to 3 days with no gross oil buildup.
You mentioned that you have curly hair. With using the no-poo and ACV as your hair washing method, what do you use to style your hair? I’ve read on other sites that if your using the no-poo and ACV hair cleansing method then not to use commercial hair products. So I’m a bit confused as to what to use between washing.
I’ve dread a lot of different articles about the no-poo and really wanna try it. But I don’t wanna waste all the products that currently have. So once they’re all used up, I will be converting! I’m excited to start!
This came just in time for me!!! My 11 year old daughter doesn’t do well with regular shampoos because of overly sensitive skin (eczema on the scalp) that makes it look as tho she has HORRIBLE dandruff. She’s hitting the age where she is VERY self conscious and has resorted to just wearing ponytails all the time to hide it. The shampoo we’ve had to use is VERY expensive for a VERY small bottle. I have been looking for ways to make my own shampoo for her and this is a WONDERFUL idea!!
Thanks sooooo much! I’ll be starting her on this tonight (and probably myself too! LOL)
ive heard goats milk soap products are good for eczema but then again that may be just for skin.
You may also want to try a little bit of tea tree oil in the baking soda mixture, I have heard it can be very effective in cases like your daughter has. 🙂
Kristi if you don’t mind me asking did this help or make your daughters scalp eczema any worse? What was your baking soda to water ratio and did you add the tea tree oil? The way you explain her hair is the same as myn is, it gets a bit painful sometimes especially when you scratch scabs from the habit of scratching, I am 32 now and have had it since i was 11 or 12. You right the shampoos are expensive and to top it they stop working after a while too. It would be much appreciated if you could give me your feedback. Thanx in advance
I think you may try coconut extract for a healthier hair. It can make your hair more stronger.
Just started this week sans ‘poo. One thing that immediately stunned me: I can still get a comb through my hair, despite the lack of conditioner! I have fairly long highlighted hair and never dreamed of attempting to go without conditioner. I’m happy! My question: how often does one “wash” one’s hair with this soda/acv mix? I washed my hair every other day with shampoo. Any thoughts?
good question! you’ll be able to tell when your hair is ready to be washed again, it should get greasy just like the shampoo, however i’d be careful as daily washing tended to dry my hair a bit, try every other day or better every third day. Also it depends on how much product you’d use for styling etc and the fact that its highlighted could mean it would dry out easier as dying strips the hair of nutrients while in the process of stripping the colour.
Oh happy day! I never dreamed my thick, curly waist length hair wouldn’t need conditioner! Not only that, before I never wore it down because it would tangle so horrendously, with a big rat’s nest at the back of my neck. Since going ‘poo free, I’ve worn it down 3 times!!! I bought some unrefined shea butter and I use it on the ends, whcich tend to dry out, and the bit of frizz at my temples and widows peak. The vinegar leaves it so soft and pretty. I can’t tell if the acv is making it a tad darker or not. I also like the fizzy chemical reaction, it’s very invigorating.
Yeah, my hair was down to my waist and it was thick, but bone straight. I used to have to wear it up all the time otherwise I would look like I had an afro at the back of my head by the end of the day! I had it curled once and it was a bit of a relief but I had to use so many products to keep it like that for even a week, and it was sill pretty bad if I wore it down.
I tried this a few times and it worked like magic (:
My hair is soft and shiny and I can wear it down whenever I want now!
Being able to wear your hair down feels pretty good (:
Hi Angel. My hair is down to my waist also. A thing that might help. I made a satin Pillow case. This way my hair NEVER gets tangled, nor does it get ratted, which causes split ends. I’m
Does anybody know if this will work for african hair?!
Yes, but you have to pay attention to how your hair responds to it and adjust the recipe accordingly. If your hair seems dry, use less baking soda and/or let the acv sit a little bit longer. Don’t increase the acv mix too much (2 Tbs of ACv should be max) Generally if you feel you need more acv, let it sit longer or increase it by 1/4 ts. You can also go one day with wash, and acv rinse, then next day just acv rinse. Tea tree essential oil is a nice additive to the baking soda although you may not like the smell, it will dissapatte as your hair dries and you can add another oil for scent…lemon grass oil is another option.
What is the ratio of baking soda to water that one would put into an old shampoo bottle? I mean are you all talking 1 cup baking soda to like 2 cups water?
And what is the ratio then of vinegar/lemon juice to water that one would spray on? half and half??
ok~ a couple of things for your no poo newbies! I went to Long hair forum and curly girls forum too and did research for a while before I went completely no poo-a year and 2 months ago- I have fine curly to wavy hair- I stopped using regular shampoo cuz it would irritate my scalp and my hair kept falling out and it would itch too. I’ve done the baking soda and water with the vinegar very nice for deep cleaning the baking soda is and the vinegar balances your ph that the baking soda takes (cleans) anyhoo after a couple of mos. of the rinses I read about using Suave conditioner instead and it works very well use the cocoa natural one and it’s cheap too and not as drying I found out. THIS WORKS VERY WELL FOR AFRICAN HAIR which mine resembles in elasticity. With the conditioner you massage the scalp and work it into the ends you want to let it sit on your head for a couple of minutes like while your shaving etc, and let it work- Suave natural cocoa has glycerin in the ingredients which is the same what is in castille soap but it’s not as drying- the reason you massage is to loosen the sebum (oil) from your scalp- my hair is thicker, almost no broken ends when I get a trim, the hair dresser doesn’t look at my hair anymore and make a face like what kind of products are you using- I also brush my hair bent at the waist with a gentle brush to increase circulation and I also scritch (you’ll have to look up that one) scritching is what we do when you take a comb and kind of scratch your scalp but your being a little gentler-I would recommend visiting those forums- go easy on the baking soda after your hair get’s used to not being washed and don’t forget your hair is meant to have it’s natural oils on it, that’s how it’s protected! 🙂 have a great day
I have fine, fine hair that is getting white rapidly. I am going to get it cut tomorrow and get the ingredients for this. I use biotin. It makes my nails grow and my hair, too, but doesn’t seem to fill in in the thin spots on top.
Try MSM. I mentioned this in an earlier reply. And also Biotin supplement. MSM is a supplement used for Arthritis. It thickens the hair. Biotin helps keep hair strong.
I and my daughter use pre-natal vitamins. Makes our hair and nails grow fast! Neither of us is pregnant.
I tried “no poo” but it didn’t work for me because the acv worked well the first time or two but then made my hair very dry. Then, I mixed a half cup of castile soap (liquid) with 6 cups of chamomile tea to make a batch of shampoo that lasted for several months. It lathers beautifully and my hair feels clean. I use my fingers and a wide tooth comb to gently scrub my scalp then rinse the soap out using the comb to make sure there are no tangles. My hair feels heavy (can’t think how else to describe it — definitely not the same feel as store bought shampoo and conditioner) but when it dries it feels normal.
I have a fair amount of grey hair that tends to be unruly but the castile soap tames it right down. Also, I only have to wash my hair twice a week instead of daily with other shampoo/conditioner.
Castile soap is known for making hair very dry….I always use essential oils or Olive Oil when I wash my hair. Just a little….
Hi, could you tell me the ratio of baking soda to water? Also how much cider vinegar to use at a time? Thank you in advance
In an old bath and body works body wash bottle I use up to 4 tablespoons of baking soda and the rest water. But I needed more baking soda than other people so you just have to experiment.
i am about to try this but i don’t know if i am still supposed to use conditionder or not can anybody help?
Lynn hi. You do not need to use Store Bought Conditioner…..What I do is use Soda Water on my hair for the Shampoo mind you with a little essential oil or olive oil as I wash it. I always rinse my hair with ACV dilluted with water. I keep it in a spray bottle actually and just spray my hair. also at the same time I use the same sprayer and spray down my walls and shower curtain. No soap scum, no mildew etc. Keeps the bathroom very clean.
1 Tablespoon Baking Soda to 8 oz. water
1 Tablespoon ACV to 8 oz. water
This is a good place to start, but don’t be afraid to play with ratios until you find the best mix for you.
If you have hard water like me you may find you have less than good results with the no’pooing unless you use distilled or boiled water. I boil my water for 5-7 minutes then let cool before mixing my BS in.
Here is my preferred hair treatment:
1 Tablespoon Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Honey
6-8 oz. water
In a squirt bottle – scrub scalp very well then leave on an additional 1-2 mins.
1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
6-8 oz. water
in a squirt bottle – scrub scalp very well then leave on an additional 1-2 mins.
A lot of gals prefer fresh squeezed lemon or chamomile tea for their rinse (instead of ACV) but I have not tried those yet. Do keep in mind both of those alternatives will bleach out your hair some when exposed to sun.
Another thing to note: BS is drying, if your hair is too dry reduce the baking soda a bit or try adding honey as I have.
We have hard water where we live, and I have to say that “less than good results” is putting it mildly!
I know people who are out of reach of mains water and so rely on rainwater tanks, and they’ve had great success with the No ‘Poo thing (that’s why I tried it…), but hard water does seem to be a bit of an impossible obstacle.
I haven’t seen this type of question….
I have a huge scalp perspiration issue. Can this mixture be used on a scalp with lots of perspiration? Thanks
i have been ‘poo free for a week now and i LOVE it! i add in a tsp of honey and 4 drops of tea tree oil to each 8 oz. i have only had to use it twice this week and no conditioner of any kind needed. i don’t even need to use a brush anymore, i just run my fingers through my hair and it is ready to go. i have body and shine! never thought it would be this awesome!!! thanks a bunch for the recipe!! keep them coming!!
I have natural spiral curls that I color. I currently have a chemical color in but have thought about using henna instead. How badly does this strip color? Any info would be a big help in my decision. Thanks.
A friend of mine had a little girl with beautiful curly, black hair. This is a black child. The white lady she worked for told her to use a baking soda paste to wash the baby’s hair instead of shampoo. My mother said all of the child’s hair fell out. My hair dresser said to use a baking soda hair rinse for dandruff. It works. Usually, though, one uses vinegar rinses because the hair should be acidic. I wouldn’t attempt changing types of hair color without consulting a hair expert/stylist.
I have a question…. Sorry if it’s really long or unneccessary information.
I have colored my hair several times in an attempt to lighten my hair – my natural color is black. My roots are coming back in, my hair grows slow so I only have about 2 inches or 3 of the black after probably 6 months or more since I colored. I want to dye it black again to hide the brassy color that resulted when I tried to lighten it. My hair is straight but can get a little wavy since I got a perm almost 4 years ago it gets wavy when wet and it will curl when I want it to but it doesn’t hold up well. My hair is very fine but I have a lot of it, which seems to fall out.
My question is… I have been reading comments and everybody says homemade shampoo will strip the color. I want the brassy orangey brown color off my ends but will it lighten my real hair? I wouldn’t think so but I want to be sure before I try this. Also will it help reduce damage? I’ve read some other comments claiming it does. I also don’t want my hair to be flat so I hope this does not make it go flat. I absolutely HATE flat hair I actually love to tease my hair when I have the energy but fibromyalgia seems to get in my way of that. If this will add some body and volume to my hair I would just absolutely love it.
Maybe somebody else with a similar situation with their hair has tried this and can help me 🙂
If you use a blue-black hair color, nothing, and I mean nothing, will strip that color. I dyed my hair that color in college and had to grow it out after many attempts to fade it.
Hi everyone. I have taken the pludge and I’m in 4 days and I must say my hair looks really good. I do think I’m using to much BS and today I used lemon juice. After reading post I have gooten a better idea on what I need to do. Question; do i rinse BS out with water then add ACV spray to my whole head or just the tips or the scalp and then rinse? Iam so excited to see what it will look and feel like next week.
Will this work for people with oily hair?
I too have oily hair, and have been using the bs/acv method. I found that I need more baking soda than everyone else, about a quarter cup. (Key thing is to let it sit in your hair until it starts to feel a little slippery.) The transition period is still an obstacle for me and I end up using a tiny bit of regular shampoo every two to three weeks just to fight back the greasy feeling. I really don’t think I’m saving money, but my hair does feel healthier.
I’ve been trying the No ‘Poo for a little bit now using the recipe listed somewhere in here. I have fine, soft hair, and love that the No ‘Poo gives my hair some texture. However, I live in a pretty dry climate and have been battling static in my hair like crazy. It’s driving me insane–enough to make me go back to commercial shampoo and conditioner for a while (but I hated it!). I add honey to my BS rinse, but what else can I do to decrease the static in my hair?
If you can get your hands on a small mist spray bottle that caps, fill it with water and a splash of vinegar, cap and store in your bag. When static hits–mist lightly (lightly!) then brush or comb (even running your fingers through the hair will work). Vinegar smell goes away quickly.
I remembered this from another article on here that I just read. Also, if you wear any hats or other head gear you can rub a new dryer sheet inside of them to reduce static.
Great stuff!
Love it I am an old Executive Chef and love Beautician related subject love the natural stuff used on hair
Than you for your web. This is fun!
Does anyone have any ideas on how to make gray hair shiny? Mine is a combination of gray and black but appears dull to me..Is there something I could add to my shampoo or conditioner?
Any ideas are appreciated.
Hi Connie, I have gray hair and before I went poo free I used a product from l’Oreal which contained a bluing agent and is good for gray hair, actually it is a shampoo for gray hair. It takes out the dullness in your hair. You may want to try that first, then continue on with the natural shampoo and conditioner.
I’ve been no poo for 2 years. Baking soda, ACV, an occasional honey rinse or cornstarch dry shampoo. Love it! And as far as the color question: No. It does not strip color. COMPLETELY color safe. I have rainbow hair, literally a rainbow, and my color has been strong for about 3 months and counting.
Hi Tiffany,
I am currently using a baking soda “shampoo” and ACV (with a bit of lemon juice) “conditioner” – I am brunette and want to do an ombré color on my hair, leaving the roots my natural brunette and dying the bottom purple and/or blue. This would mean that I will have to do a two-step dye process of lightening it and then putting in the fun colors. (Not sure if you are naturally blond and can go straight to the fun colors…) I am afraid to spend all the money and time to do this if my shampoo & conditioner are going to ruin it!
Can you please give me any other tips or specifics on how I can stick with natural shampoo/conditioner methods and not risk losing my color? Thanks!
I have bright pink hair done with a semi-permanent dye, and I really want to go no ‘poo. But I havent seen anything about semi-perm and the effects baking soda has on them. If your color is semi-perm that could definitely give me the confidence to try no ‘poo, because im really not ready to let go of my color!
I’m pretty excited to start doing this no poo thingy. one question tho, do I have to do it everyday or just follow my regular shampooing schedule?
I have natural hair and I love diy treatments. I tried the ginger shampoo and it gave me the curliest, fluffiest sky-high afro ever! I don’t shampoo often (mainly co-wash followed by a lemon or acv rinse) but I do shampoo a few times per month.
So here’s what I did. I whipped up a batch of the shampoo and put the rest in a new ice cube tray and put it in the freezer. After the shampoo cubes are frozen, I put them into individual bags and put all of the bags in to one quart sized Ziplock bag. Only one shampoo cube is needed for a wash. I do the same thing to coconut milk so I’ll have easy access to coconut milk without having to open a new can. No waste!
Hey I want to make something for my sisters blond hair for a Christmas gift. could you tell me how long these things last mixed with your shampoo or do you have to use it instantly?