🌿 DIY Herbal Shampoo – 1.5 Months in the Making!
Finally, my homemade herbal shampoo tutorial is here! 💧✨
I’ve struggled with oily scalp, itchiness, and hair fall for so long. Tried countless shampoos – nothing worked. The more I washed, the worse it got: oilier, itchier, and more hair loss 😩.
So I decided to test this ancient herbal formula for you guys – let’s see if it really works, and hopefully save you from wasting time & money 🚫💸.
🧾 Ingredients (all in grams)
Polygonum multiflorum (Fo-ti / He Shou Wu) – 60g
Kuding Tea (Ilex kudingcha) – 25g
Tea Seed Cake Powder (Camellia seed powder) – 100g
Glossy Privet Fruit (Ligustrum lucidum) – 20g
Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) – 15g (specifically for itch relief)
Mulberry Leaf (Morus alba) – 30g
Soapberry (Sapindus mukorossi) – 80g
Ginseng (Panax ginseng root) – 50g
Chinese Honeylocust Fruit (Gleditsia sinensis / Zao Jiao) – 100g
Chinese Arborvitae Leaf (Platycladus orientalis / Ce Bai) – 100g
Old Ginger (Zingiber officinale) – 80g
Angelica Root (Angelica sinensis / Dang Gui) – 50g
Plus:
2.5L rice water 🍚💧
Elm bark shavings (for natural smoothness & thickness)
½ lemon juice (for freshness & preservation) 🍋
🥣 Method
1️⃣ Soak all herbs except Safflower & Tea Seed Powder overnight.
2️⃣ Slow boil for 2 hours.
3️⃣ Add Safflower + Tea Seed Powder → simmer for 30 mins.
4️⃣ Add Elm bark shavings, simmer 10 mins, stir occasionally.
➝ This releases natural mucilage, making the shampoo smooth & slightly thick.
5️⃣ Turn off heat, let sit 2 hours for full extraction.
6️⃣ Bottle & store. For extra foam: increase Soapberry + Honeylocust.
7️⃣ In hot weather: refrigerate ❄️, add lemon juice for freshness.
🌸 My Experience
One batch = multiple 350ml bottles, lasts 2–3 months.
After 2 weeks:
✅ Oiliness reduced (wash every 3 days, scalp still fresh).
✅ Itchiness almost gone.
✅ Noticeably less hair fall.
No side effects or discomfort at all.
✨ Except for the prep being a bit tedious, the process is simple.
✨ End result: smooth, healthy, shiny black hair 🖤🌿.
💡 Tip: This isn’t just a DIY shampoo – it’s a scalp treatment passed down for generations. Truly natural, gentle & effective!
Herbal shampoos have gained popularity as natural alternatives to commercial hair care products due to their gentle, therapeutic benefits for scalp health. This particular DIY shampoo combines ancient Chinese herbal ingredients such as Polygonum multiflorum (Fo-ti), Ginseng root, Soapberry, and Kuding Tea, each known for unique healing properties. Fo-ti (He Shou Wu) is traditionally used to nourish hair follicles and promote hair pigmentation, supporting hair growth and shine. Ginseng root invigorates the scalp by enhancing blood circulation, which can strengthen hair roots and reduce hair fall. Soapberry (Sapindus mukorossi) acts as a natural cleanser, producing rich foam while being mild on the scalp, making it suitable for sensitive and oily scalps. Kuding Tea (Ilex kudingcha) is often used for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, helping to soothe scalp irritation and reduce itchiness. The addition of Tea Seed Cake Powder (Camellia seed powder) and Elm bark shavings helps release natural mucilage, contributing to shampoo thickness and hair smoothness. This shampoo’s preparation method involving soaking, slow boiling, and simmering extracts maximum beneficial compounds from the herbs, optimizing their effectiveness. The 2-week usage results indicate notable improvements in controlling oiliness, alleviating itchiness, and reducing hair shedding – demonstrating the shampoo’s scalp treatment potential rather than just surface cleansing. Incorporating lemon juice in storage not only preserves freshness but also adds a refreshing fragrance while controlling microbial growth, especially when refrigerated during hot weather. Users seeking DIY herbal remedies can customize the formulation by adjusting Soapberry and Honeylocust levels to enhance foam production as preferred. For best results, this shampoo suits individuals suffering from oily scalp, itchy sensations, and excessive hair fall looking for a chemical-free, traditional remedy. Due to its gentle nature, it can complement holistic scalp care routines, including regular scalp massage and balanced nutrition, to maintain hair vitality. Overall, this herbal shampoo is a credible and professional scalp treatment option, combining ancestral wisdom with modern DIY convenience.
Where do I purchase the ingredients?