DIY All Natural Shampoo

Making your own Herbal Shampoo

   On my quest to find the perfect shampoo to effectively deal with my dry, frizzy, type 2 b/c curly hair, I experimented with various store-bought shampoos. You name it, I've tried it. From attempting to follow the curly girl method of anti-SLS shampoos, to scanning the ingredient list for any parabens and stripping chemicals. No matter how "chemical-free" the shampoo claimed to be, it always either dried my hair out or made it greasier than pre-shampoo. (As any dutiful Indian child knew, it was imperative to oil hair before washing.) So you'd think my hair would look glossy and nourished right? Wrong. Dry as a pile of hay.

Cut to the part where I was beginning to lose faith in the curly girl method. Began using a regular SLS rich shampoo and not giving two hoots, because no matter what I used it ended the same.
Thankfully that phase was interrupted when I stumbled upon the ultimate homemade herbal shampoo.

What was it?

A blend of Reetha (Indian Soapnut), Amla (Indian Gooseberry) and Shikakai (Acacia concinna). Scroll down for the step by step DIY

Reetha- loaded with iron which plays an important role in hair health. Its foaming properties have a cleansing effect.
Amla- stimulates hair growth. Rich in vitamin c and loaded with antioxidant properties. Maintains healthy hair and prevents premature greying.
Shikakai- It is an astringent which means it removes excess oil from your hair and aids in absorbing the goodness of amla and Reetha. Delays greying, prevents dandruff, hair fall and adds to shine.

Top to bottom: Shikakai, Amla and Reetha

First impression?
Since the surfactant properties were completely derived from a natural source, my hair wasn't robbed of its natural oils. The pre-shampoo oil on my scalp and shafts had miraculously washed off, leaving behind just the right amount to tame the frizz. 

➕ Pro tip:
Do not, I repeat, do not get this in your eyes or nose because like any store-bought shampoo this one stings like a bee. Except, it hurts way worse than regular shampoo and leaves you with bloodshot burning eyes and a runny nose.
Also, use an ACV (Apple cider Vinegar) rinse, post shampooing. It helps in balancing the slightly acidic nature of our hair.
If you're like me and use quite a bit of hair products, use a sulfate shampoo occasionally to get rid of the build-up

DIY:

Step 1- Soak about 20 grams of each of the three ingredients in two cups of water and leave it overnight. You could add more soapnut if you need more lather to get the extra oils out.

Step 2- The next day the colour would have changed. Put this concoction to a boil for 5 minutes, let it simmer and cool down.

Soaked overnight

Boil on high flame

Step 3- Once cooled, squeeze and strain using a muslin cloth and collect it in a glass container.  You could use it immediately or store this for a week in the fridge for later use. 

I like to use the entire concoction on dry hair, letting it soak for a bit before scrubbing and washing off. Over time I've noticed my hair health has improved and the hair fall has reduced. As for greying, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. 

Below are the before and after results for the first time I tried only the shampoo: 

Post-wash 

Pre-wash

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