:: Make your Own: Rosemary Peppermint Shampoo ::
{{ UPDATE! }} A cost breakdown below!
I’ve been making shampoo for our family for about two years now. I enjoy being able to switch essential oils if we want a change in the scent, and I also enjoy being able to make and store a surplus for just pennies!
I have adapted the recipe I found at Ashley’s Homemade Adventures – just tweaking it to suit us each time I made it until my daughters and I found it was thick enough and traveled well throughout our hair.
(We have A LOT of hair!)
The cost breakdown for this shampoo is incredible!
At 1/2 cup of baking soda per gallon of shampoo, that’s $.22 (costco’s 13.5 lb bag of baking soda is $5.99 yielding enough for 27 batches!)
At 1/2 bar of castile soap per gallon, that’s $.55 (I buy Walmart’s 3 bar pack of Kirk’s for $3.28)
At 6 tsp of xanthan gum per gallon, that’s $1.62 (to avoid shipping, I buy Bob’s Red Mill xanthan gum at Whole Foods for $12.99)
I don’t really count the essential oils because it’s so hard to judge the breakdown when using drops, and I’ve also made the shampoo many many times without the oil and I enjoy it just as well.
That brings me to a grand total of $2.39 for a gallon!
You’ll need:
- Rosemary (If you don’t have a lot of rosemary, you may enjoy making Peppermint Tea Shampoo!)
- 1/2 cup Baking Soda
- 1/2 bar Castile Soap
- 6 tsp xanthan gum
- 30 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
- 1 gallon Water
- Containers – old pump shampoo bottles perhaps
I begin with cooking down rosemary – lots of rosemary! I use probably 3 quarts of water and put about 7-9 good sized branches of rosemary in it, simmering at least an hour. I set the rosemary water aside and let it cool enough to handle.
At the same time, I grate 1/2 a bar of Kirk’s Castile Soap into 2 cups of hot water and let it dissolve, stirring occasionally.
Then, strain out the rosemary, (you can even use chamomile tea) and add enough water to the rosemary liquid to equal 1 gallon.
Add the baking soda and stir.
Next, I take portions of this mixture into my blender (a blender-full at a time) and I blend 1 rounded teaspoon of xanthan gum in. This thickens the recipe so nicely and we found it helped it work through our hair!
Once each blender-full is done mixing, I pour it into a stainless steel bowl. Once I’ve blended it all, I fold in my liquid castile soap and my peppermint essential oil. Then I fill my containers (I saved some pump bottles from previously purchased shampoo – I liked the size and the pump a lot!)
And there you have it! It’s been making my teenage daughters and myself happy for quite some time – I hope you enjoy as well! And certainly please let us know your thoughts as well. If you try it, please tell us what you think! Do you have a homemade shampoo recipe that you make?
I am wondering if I could use liquid castille soap instead of grating a bar and melting it in hot water. If so, what volume would you use?
Hi Julie! So glad you dropped us a line! Yes, absolutely – liquid castile soap can be used – Dr. Bronner’s is a great brand. In my recipe I make it quite “concentrated” as far as liquifying your own, so I believe if you used a prepared liquid you would use less volume than I do. I would say for the gallon of shampoo this recipe makes, use at least 1/2 cup of a liquid castile. I started out with less of the grate-your-own but kept increasing because I found I wanted more ‘soap umph’ 🙂 Let us know if you try it and how you found the results! – Jayne
Hey Jayne! I’m wondering if you have done the cost breakdown? 3 girls here- lotta shampoo!
Amanda recently posted…The Doers Of Small Things
Hi there Amanda! I have – and to begin with a sad story that my massive rosemary plant was lost to this past devastating winter, I’ll have to find a good resource for some economical chamomile tea now 🙁
At 1/2 cup of baking soda per gallon of shampoo, that’s $.22 (costco’s 13.5 lb bag of baking soda is $5.99 yielding enough for 27 batches!)
At 1/2 bar of castile soap per gallon, that’s $.55 (I buy Walmart’s 3 bar pack of Kirk’s for $3.28)
At 6 tsp of xanthan gum per gallon, that’s $1.62 (to avoid shipping, I buy Bob’s Red Mill xanthan gum at Whole Foods for $12.99)
I don’t really count the essential oils because it’s so hard to judge the breakdown when using drops, and I’ve also made the shampoo many many times without the oil and I enjoy it just as well. My daughter just got an incredible deal on a trial variety pack of essential oils that had tea tree in it and I may try that!
That brings me to a grand total of $2.39 for a gallon. 🙂
~Jayne
Amanda, I just wanted to add that I do find myself using more of this shampoo. 1)I own a farm and I get VERY dirty so by the time I take a shower – I mean business. 2) the lather factor is low with this shampoo by nature. But it is still super economical and I LOVE that I’m not putting chemicals on my head ever time I turn around.
Wow, this is very interesting.
I have a giant rosemary bush in the garden and so far we only use it for cooking with the lamb.
agatapokutycka recently posted…Infographic – Pet vs. Partner Gifting
agatapokutycka, you’re so fortunate… when I realized mine was completely lost from this past winter I wanted to cry. It was huge!!! The little plant I’ve replaced it with will have to stay in it’s pot and be brought in this winter I guess 🙁 ~Jayne
Wow! I would have never thought about making my own shampoo. Very creative and economical.
I use rosemary shampoo quite often but it is store bought. Thanks for the recipe, I’ll need to try it out. Pinning for later.
Louida recently posted…What Not to Share on the Internet
Louida, Thanks! Rosemary has some WONDERFUL clarifying and hair-growth promoting properties! ~Jayne
Wow, I love the idea of making something homemade. Do you know where I would find the xantham gum and castile soap?
Barbara recently posted…Learning Through Storytelling: Increasing Education of Children
Barbara, xanthan gum and castile soap (bar or liquified) are available on amazon but I get my xanthan gum at Whole Foods (try any health food store that would carry Bob’s Red Mill items) and I buy the 3 bar pack of Kirk’s castile soap at Walmart. I’m going to paste in the price break down for you in another reply.
To begin with a sad story that my massive rosemary plant was lost to this past devastating winter, I’ll have to find a good resource for some economical chamomile tea now 🙁
At 1/2 cup of baking soda per gallon of shampoo, that’s $.22 (costco’s 13.5 lb bag of baking soda is $5.99 yielding enough for 27 batches!)
At 1/2 bar of castile soap per gallon, that’s $.55 (I buy Walmart’s 3 bar pack of Kirk’s for $3.28)
At 6 tsp of xanthan gum per gallon, that’s $1.62 (to avoid shipping, I buy Bob’s Red Mill xanthan gum at Whole Foods for $12.99)
I don’t really count the essential oils because it’s so hard to judge the breakdown when using drops, and I’ve also made the shampoo many many times without the oil and I enjoy it just as well. My daughter just got an incredible deal on a trial variety pack of essential oils that had tea tree in it and I may try that!
That brings me to a grand total of $2.39 for a gallon. 🙂
~Jayne
Wow! What a great idea, I bet it smells heavenly!
Rena McDaniel-The Diary of an Alzheimer’s Caregiver recently posted…THE TROUBLE WITH ALZHEIMER’S
Rena, Thanks! It’s very aromatic! ~Jayne
This looks wonderful! I LOVE rosemary. It’s so much fun to work with. I’ve never tried to make my own shampoo before. I will have to check this out. Thanks!!
Crystal @ Simply Playful Fare recently posted…Kiss Me Organics Matcha Green Tea Latte
Thanks Crystal – I will miss my beautiful rosemary bush – very bad winter here 🙁 ~Jayne
That has to smell so good.. Rosemary if i am not mistaken also makes so that lice stays away..
thank goodness! 😀
This would be good for dogs too. My MIL cleared up a skin condition on her Westie using peppermint shampoo. I bet it smells great too. I like the non-toxic solutions. I would try this out in the future!
Meredith Elizabeth recently posted…You’re not asking too much
Meredith – Thanks! I prefer natural as well. If you try it, let us know how you like it! ~Jayne
I had no idea it was so easy to make shampoo! That is awesome you have been making your own for 2 years. I am excited to try this!
Jen recently posted…Sweet Potato Coconut Oatmeal Pancakes (with Cinnamon Apple Syrup)
Jen, I have to change my recipe:( My rosemary bush died and I had to replace it with this tiny little thing. I’m going to go back to using tea I guess – chamomile is great for hair but I amy try green tea? Not sure… ~Jayne
I so have to do this! Any type of peppermint shampoo makes my hair (and scalp) smile. Instead of shelling out to acquire more, I need to be thrifty and make it from now on 🙂 Thanks!
Dawn @ Pin-n-Tell recently posted…Pinner of the Week {My Un-Entitled Life}
Dawn, ohhhh peppermint… makes me so happy!!! I think the next batch (since my rosemary bush died) I’ll do the recipe with chamomile tea or even green tea and use some new grapefruit essential oil along with tea tree. I can’t wait to see how it turns out! ~Jayne
How awesome! I have been making some homemade cleaning products, so it’s only natural (ha – see what I did there?) that personal cleaning products would be the next step. I’m definitely pinning this. 🙂
Jenn, ((I see what you did there!)) 🙂 I really do love it. I haven’t enjoyed making liquid hand soap, but the shampoo is a real winner! I’m really glad you liked it. ~Jayne