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| Shampoo: 1 tbsp. baking soda + 1 c warm water Conditioner: 1 tbsp. Apple Cider Vinegar + 1 c. water + dropps of essential oil (as you'd like) |
Replacing your shampoo and conditioner with homemade versions may sound rather nutty, but I love the switch and would highly recommend doing so. It cleans well and saves money.
Cost Savings
My definition of frugality is to come to depend on consuming less purchased products. Therefore, I try to focus on maintaining my home with mulit-use products. The "shampoo" consists of water and baking soda. I already use the baking soda for an all-purpose cleaner, dishwasher detergent and cooking. The conditioner is vinegar, water, and essential oil. I use vinegar in an all-purpose cleaner, laundry softener and cooking. The essential oil, used to mask the vinegar smell, is also used in a rice heating pad and carpet freshner. I sinply use the products I already stock in my home to make my own shampoo and conditioner and by doing so save myself from having to buy the single purpose items of conventional shampoo and conditioner.
Cleaning
Occassionally I get in a hurry and don't pay as close of attention to making sure I rinse all the shampoo out of my hair. The result is an itchy scalp the rest of the day. Thankfully, the baking soda & water solution will not have the same effect. If a bit of it remains unrinsed in the hair, it isn't noticable. The "shampoo" doesn't sud like conventional shampoo, but is still easy to apply and work in. Conventional conditioners require careful selection because most of them have a waxy component, which is not good for oilier hair such as mine. The vinegar solution "conditioner" will add a smoothness and shine to the hair without leaving a waxy residue. Both require leaving them in for a minute before rinsing (just shave a leg in the meantime. hah).
Anyone else have some great personal care recipes?
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