Most shop-bought products are loaded with chemicals and harsh ingredients, which, overtime damage the hair and the scalp.
It is unfortunate that the damaging effects of these chemical laden products are hidden from us over the short term. Mostly because we are distracted by the synthetic smells and texture that these chemicals leave in our hair.
Over time though, the true damage begins to show from all of these chemicals (such as selenium sulfide). This leaves our hair vulnerable to hair loss, with an itchy and irritated scalp, dry, brittle hair and damaged hair follicles.
Much like making home-cooked meal, with your own homemade shampoos you will know exactly what ingredients have gone into it.
You can tailor the ingredients to suit your needs specifically. And you can save on the cost, just like eating at home rather than eating out.
Most of all, you don’t have to worry about the smell and texture of your shampoo, which is how most of us make our buying decisions, but these features require harsh chemicals and unnecessary perfumes.
As you’ll see, you can make your own shampoo that’s good enough to eat.
We all have different hair types and different skin types. So why use a one-size-fits-all approach. Why not use just natural ingredients that suit you best?
If the harsh chemicals found in commercial products do one thing that is more damaging than anything else, it is stripping away the natural oils from the scalp and the base of the hair follicle.
These oils are there for a reason – they protect and nourish the hair follicle. Without these natural oils the hair follicles are much more likely to wither and die.
Unfortunately our modern diets can produce an excess of unnatural sebum.
In this article we’ll use our base ingredients and then add to that a finely tuned mixture of essential oils.
We use essential oils because they are natural and are the perfect ingredients to protect the hair. They re also full of antioxidants which neutralize free-radicals in the scalp, boost hair growth and aid in the cellular repair process.
Essential oils also absorb naturally into your scalp, helping to nourish and protect it. Because they are natural, mostly from plants our body welcomes them.
Unlike harsh chemicals which the body rejects and doesn’t want getting inside the body so it reacts and creates a barrier.
This barrier caused by the chemicals our own natural oils can’t get out and the chemicals just sit on the scalp causing itching. This is why everything must be natural.
Because essential oils are extremely potent it is important to use them sparingly. Dilute any essential oil in a carrier oil, such as olive oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil.
As a rule of thumb, 1 drop of essential oil should be diluted with at least 5ml of carrier oil.
Using The Right Cleansing Agent and Container
You will need a good container to store the base formula in. You can re-use an old shampoo bottle or purchase a squeezable plastic bottle, which makes it extremely easy to apply on your hair.
In each shampoo recipe there is a base-cleansing agent. In these recipes we’ll use either baking soda, apple cider vinegar or liquid castile soap.
My go-to choice as a cleansing agent is 1 teaspoon of baking soda + 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar per wash of my hair. These ingredients are extremely easy to find and cheap to buy.
I particularly like to use the apple cider vinegar base for my shampoo if I’m in a hard water area where calcium carbonate deposits are more likely.
Liquid castile soap is a gentle cleansing agent made from plant-based oils like olive and coconut. It has a nice foaming effect so is popular for natural homemade shampoos.
How To Use These Shampoo Recipes Effectively
These recipes aren’t a magic bullet. They won’t re-grow your hair alone. But they are absolutely 100x better than any shop bought product.
I recommend you browse through the recipes and pick one that you like the sound of depending on your hair type (normal, dry or oily) and go from there.
Don’t be afraid to create your own as well. Just follow the formula of cleansing agent + carrier oil + essential oil and go from there. The herbs are also a great addition.
Our hair and our bodies need a variation of micro-nutrients and minerals, and the best way to get these is from a large variety of different sources.
Hair Loss Shampoo For Normal Hair
This is my maple syrup and carrot seed recipe which works great for normal hair types.
Ingredients:
- Liquid castile soap (1/2 cup)
- Maple syrup (2 tablespoons)
- Carrot seed essential oil (5-10 drops)
- Castor oil (10 drops)
Instructions:
Mix all of the ingredients thoroughly in a container of your choice. Pour over wet hair and massage into the scalp for 2-3 minutes before rinsing out thoroughly.
Hair benefits:
The carrot seed oil purifies and stimulates the scalp with its vitamin content and also has anti fungal properties. The carrot also improves circulation and can stimulate hair growth.
Maple syrup is soothing and nourishing, whilst also having antibacterial properties. Castor oil acts as the carrier oil for the carrot seed essential oil, in this situation and it nourishing and hydrating in itself.
Homemade Shampoo For Oily Hair
This is a particularly useful recipe for anyone with greasy or oily or scalp. The ingredients help work together to regulate the production of oils, whilst mopping up and absorbing and excess oil.
If you do have problems with excessively oily or greasy hair this can be fixed by optimising your diet. There are lots of things you can do to reduce this oil production, for example, removing as much processed foods from your diet as possible.
One quick way to remove this excess oil from your body is by taking a greens supplement everyday.
For example, a mixture of wheatgrass powder, spirulina powder, chlorella powder will immediately help to absorb excess oils and are full of chlorophyll which helps deliver oxygen to the follicles.
Anyway, here is the shampoo recipe for greasy hair.
Ingredients:
- Warm Water (1 cup)
- Baking Soda (1 tablespoon)
- Apple cider vinegar (1 tablespoon)
- Citrus Essential Oil (5 drops)
- Grapefruit Juice (1/3 cup)
- Grapeseed Oil (2-3 teaspoons)
Instructions:
Mix the ingredients thoroughly in your container of choice, be careful about the apple cider vinegar and baking soda reacting to create extra gas – don’t make the container airtight. Apply to wet hair and massage into the scalp before rinsing out.
Hair benefits:
Baking soda + apple cider vinegar is one of the best and most natural cleansing agents there is, and its perfect for greasy hair where is gently dissolves and washes away excess oils without stripping any essential oils like regular shampoos.
The citrus essential oil is perfect for cleansing oily hair and removing the oily sebum from an unhealthy diet. Citrus contains antioxidants, magnesium, potassium and folate. You can also add a few drops of magnesium oil which will help with hair loss by reducing calcification of the hair follicles.
Grapefruit juice cleans and revitalizes with high vitamin content and gentle acidic structure.
Grapeseed has been known to reduce hair loss and provide omega-3 fatty acids, which protect the scalp and hair follicles.
My Shampoo Recipe For Dry and Brittle Hair
Ingredients:
- Water (1/2 cup)
- Liquid Castile Soap (1/2 cup)
- Aloe Vera Gel (1/3 cup)
- Olive oil (1 teaspoon)
- Almond Oil (2-3 teaspoons)
- Geranium Essential Oil (10 drops)
Instructions:
Mix the ingredients thoroughly and lather on to wet hair before massaging into the hair and scalp for complete coverage. You can keep the mixture in for 1-3 minutes before rinsing out thoroughly and towel drying. Use within a month or so.
Hair benefits:
The aloe vera contains enzymes that help to naturally balance the pH level of your scalp, which helps to promote hair growth and combat baldness. Olive oil helps to hydrate and protect the hair from breakage without being greasy and clogging the skin.
Almond oil has high quantities of magnesium and is moisturizing and stimulating, and also helps to soothe inflammation and irritation in the scalp.
Geranium essential oil is a great way to boost circulation to the scalp thereby improving hair health and reducing hair loss considerably and is also considered to be an anti-inflammatory.
Hair Loss Shampoo For Dandruff
Dandruff is a very common problem and can also be connected with hair loss. For this reason I’ve also been on the hunt for a good dandruff shampoo.
Unfortunately, most dandruff shampoos that you can buy from a shop are useless and only make the matter worse in the long term because of all the harsh chemicals they use. Here’s my review of Head and Shoulders.
The quickest and most effective way to fix dandruff is through your diet. There really is no other way that makes such a big impact.
You’ll want to clean your diet of all processed foods and start eating a lot more high quality natural plant-based fats. Nuts, seeds and avocados are your priority. Coconut water and oil should also make it into your diet.
Also, drink more water. Another thing to keep in mind is that really hot showers will quickly dry out your scalp causing dandruff. If you’re worried at all about dandruff then make sure you use cool, or mild-warm water in your shower and to wash your hair.
Okay, here’s my favourite dandruff shampoo recipe, and trust me, this is so much better than any expensive shampoo you can buy from a shop.
Just look at all those natural, wonderful ingredients that will soothe and hydrate your scalp and reduce inflammation.
Ingredients:
- Apple Cider Vinegar (1 cup)
- Water (1 cup)
- Rosemary (1 bunch)
- Jojoba Oil (1/4 cup)
- Peppermint Essential Oil (10 drops)
Instructions:
Take the rosemary and steep in the boiling water until the water cools, then remove the rosemary. Mix the ingredients thoroughly inside your container of choice and lather on to wet hair.
Massage the mixture deep into your scalp and allow to absorb for 1-3 minutes before washing out thoroughly.
Hair benefits:
The rosemary tea is incredibly soothing and helps to reduce the inflammation that leads to dandruff. The jojoba oil adds extra hydration and dilutes the peppermint essential oil.
Jojoba is similar to our natural sebum so that it adds elasticity whilst protecting the scalp which reduces flakiness, and without being greasy.
Peppermint is a powerful way to fight dandruff because it helps to regulate the pH of your scalp. It has a soothing, cooling effect that helps with an irritation. Peppermint essential oil has been clinically proven to promote hair growth.
Shampoo For Stimulating Hair Growth
Although the other recipes in this guide are great for hair loss/growth, and a much better alternative to commercial shampoos, I wanted to give a recipe that is really designed to boost hair growth, and stabilize hair loss in every possible way. This is that recipe.
Ingredients:
- Nettle (2-3 bunches)
- Coconut Oil (1 teaspoon)
- Rosemary Essential Oil (10 drops)
- Powdered Tumeric (1 teaspoon)
- Apple cider vinegar (1 cup)
- Baking soda (1 teaspoon)
Instructions:
Steep the nettles in close-to-boiling water and allow to cool before straining the water. Add the other ingredients to the nettle tea and mix thoroughly. Lather on to wet hair and allow to absorb for 2-5 minutes before rinsing out thoroughly.
Hair benefits:
Stinging nettle is extremely rich in hair growth boosting vitamins A, B, C, D and K, which also help to stimulate the scalp and helps with BPH. The rosemary essential oil has antiseptic properties and can aid new hair growth.
Turmeric is a well known and powerful spice that has long medical history. The turmeric in this recipe will rejuvenate and soothe your scalp whilst providing rare nutrients and minerals that are essential for hair growth.
It is also a powerful anti-inflammatory and helps with itching and irritation. Coconut oil hydrates and protects the scalp and hair.
Hair Mask For Stimulating Hair Growth
Ingredients:
- Avocado (1 half)
- Vanilla Essential Oil (10 drops)
- Cherries (6, peeled and pitted)
- Water (1/2 cup)
- Herbs (nettle, chamomile, reishi)
Instructions:
Take the mushroom and herbs including the nettle that you have available and steep in hot water until the water cools, then remove the solids. Add the cherries, avocado and vanilla essential oil and blend the mixture at high speed until it is smooth.
Apply the mask to wet hair and massage into the scalp for 2-3 minutes. Now leave the mask to absorb in for a further 15-20 minutes before rinsing out and towel drying.
Hair benefits:
This hair mask will deeply nourish and moisturize your hair and scalp while it absorbs in for twenty minutes. Essential minerals and nutrients from the avocado protect the scalp whilst providing nutrition. The cherries provide antioxidants and vitamin C.
Vanilla essential oil stimulates hair growth and the reishi mushroom acts as a 5-alpha-reducate inhibitor so it can help lower the amount of DHT on the scalp.
Hello,
I have not used this shampoo and conditioner. Ingredients such as coconut, castor oil and other are like winning a lottery.I believe these products deserve more than 4 stars but let us be sure. That’s why I need these products. Thanks for the recommendation and good content.
Best regards
Vitamins for your hair? What more could you ask for…looks like great shampoo and conditioner for everyone, even without hair loss. I like that it has coconut oil. I sometimes put coconut oil on my hair and let it soak in for a couple hours before shampooing. My hair feels really soft and nourished afterwards. Thank you for writing about these great products!
Hi Maja- thanks for sharing your thoughts! I’m looking forward to seeing what this shampoo and conditioner can do for me over the long term.
Even though I don’t use them personally my wife does and has these particular products here at the house matter of fact. She has been struggling with hair issues her entire life. Until she started using these products. I can’t remember exactly how long it was before she started noticeing results. But now you cant tell if she ever needed it.
That’s so awesome that Vitamins Shampoo & Conditioner works for your wife! Thanks for sharing your experience with this product.
Great, this shampoo and conditioner looks superb and must be very very effective as I can see what it contains especially argon oil, one of the best best oil for hair growth. I think I should give it a try this amazing product and I am sure it will work. Thank you so much for sharing a lot of useful information about hair fall.
Hello, another great review. Unfortunately, as with a lot of hair and beauty treatments, this product contains aloe. I’m allergic to aloe vera so have to avoid anything with it in its content – even tissues! Do you know of many products without aloe vera?
Regards,
Megan
I love the ingredients in this shampoo and conditioner so I can see why many probably buy it, having vitamins in a hair product is very tempting. I like the benefits that it claims to help too, I mean alopecia and receding hairlines, that is something. I can’t wait to see your update. Thanks for another great review!
My city water is loaded with chlorine. The smell is especially strong. My hair gets so dry every time I wash it. And recently I tried to install a shower filter, but it did not fit. I am sure my hair is badly damaged by chlorine. Do you think washing my hair with this product will help to combat the dryness?
Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts!
Hi Penelope!!
Hi Dad!
Looks like a great shampoo! I would definitely consider giving this one to my girlfriend, I think she’d find it might work pretty well in keeping her hair healthy! Thanks for another awesome article:)
Love the look of this little beauty I must say. How can it not be fantastic with such a great list of ingredients! I cannot believe it has caviar extract, this makes it sound really posh and it is also great for hair. I really like the sound of this hair loss shampoo and conditioner as, like most women, and men of course, I am always on the look out for products that will give me more lustrous locks.
You say you have bought this product for yourself so would be really interested to know how it is working for you so far. Though I do understand that when it comes to thinning hair then results can often take months.
Thanks for the review anyway.
Thanks for reading, Stefanie! I will come update this post with my thoughts about using it after I try it out for awhile. I mainly wanted to share with the world that I’d nailed down the complete ingredients list, and my thoughts on it so far. The caviar is sure fascinating!
Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts! Hope your girlfriend likes it – btw this shampoo/conditioner is unisex, so you won’t smell all girly if you happen to use it, too 🙂
thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts!!
Oh, this shampoo and conditioner have pretty good albeit long ingredients list. It’s great to see the product has a generous 30 day money back guarantee especially considering the price tag. The positive reviews are definitely a great selling point.
I had no idea that caviar had any benefits other than tasting good and making people feel sophisticated. I am interested to see what this product smells like, even though I’m sure the presence of caviar extract wouldn’t be detectable! Would love to see an update on how it’s working out for you.
Im amazed by all the vitamins both the shampoo and conditioner have….wow, it truly has a fitting name.
It’s the first time i hear about it and sounds promising.
May i ask as i do not know that much about it but, having that many vitamins combined, won’t they affect the effectiveness of each other?
Ièm not sure if ièm making sense or not….I have hear that some vitamins null the effects of each other when combined.
I still want to give it a try 🙂
Thanks for reading, Lace! I agree, 30 days is definitely enough time ot know if something is gonna work out…I always return stuff that doesn’t!
Thank you, Valerie! I intend to leave some updates here after I’ve had a chance to use this for awhile. And yeah, there is something inherently fancy about caviar, isn’t there?!
This set of shampoo and conditioner looks very good from your review. It’s really nice of you to consider your readers’ options and take a chance and try it. I haven’t heard of Caviar extract either so this is the first time I am hearing that it is beneficial for hair growth. I have dandruff in my hair and have been trying to get rid of it so I always look for shampoos that have some anti-dandruff ingredients. Do you know if this shampoo has any?
I love how this shampoo and conditioner is packed with vitamins and natural oils! Right now I’m really trying to encourage faster hair growth by using a caster oil/olive oil/peppermint oil mask 1-2/week. In addition to washing my hair less and using this mask consistently, do you think this shampoo and conditioner would accelerate my hair growth additionally? I’m wondering how fast this might speed up the process…anyway thanks for sharing!
wow, this vitamin shampoo and conditioner looks amazing and effective, the basic tip for hair care is to use shampoo and conditioner that really works as we do wash our hair routinely, this combo of vitamin shampoo and conditioner are amazing as you have explained the ingredients in them, a proper tonic for our scalp and hair.
Thanks for the feedback, Mary! I agree, shampooing and conditionering is a part of our routine anyway, and we may as well shift into higher quality products that nurture our scalps.
Hi Penelope,
I have lost quite a bit of hair over the Winter and I’m reluctant to try any new hair products. I normally have VERY thick, naturally curly hair and it’s now thinned out.
It’s nice to see the first ingredients for the shampoo has coconut along with the other ingredients. The vitamines and seeing caviar is interesting.
There is so much great information and the price seems fair for both! along with the refund policy. I’ll have to go see my doctor first since I have allergies to make sure before I consider to buy anything.
Thanks, this was an interesting article! I just subscribed for more : )
Patsy
Hi Patsy, thanks so much for the kind comment and for sharing your unfortunate experience with hair loss. I totally understand the reluctance to try new products especially if you have a sensitivity to certain chemicals or plant based ingredients. I support your choice to talk to your doctor and get her input on your best treatment plan. be in touch if you ever need recommendations or have any questions!
-Penelope
Thanks Will for the wonderful recipes. The proportions you mention are they for a single use or multiple use .
Can we make these recipes and bottle and keep them to use for a month or so or would it get rancid ?
It would be a bit impractical to have to make these everyday for me personally.
Thanks
SG
Thanks, I typically make the recipes just for one use, since I like to experiment and try different variations. I don’t think you need to wash your hair everyday since this can strip too many of the natural oils away from the hair and scalp. If the ingredients can be left out of the fridge without going rancid then you can prepare these in advance and add any more ingredients that goo off easily later on.
Thank you so much. I will definitely be using them!
Where does one get nettle? Ca you use dried nettle loose leaf tea?
Nettle grows naturally in many places, so if its available in that form then use it like that. If not you can buy it as an extract, tea of loose nettle leaf quite easily from health shops or online.
How much water is needed to make nettle tea?
Its up to you depending on how concentrated you want it to be. Start by using half a cup and adjust from there.
In winter i couldn’t find fresh nettle. What can i use instead of it?
You can use dried nettle, which is easy to buy online or from a health food shop.
I love this. I have very dry frizzy hair. Its a little more tangled when i first come out of the shower but as soon as it dries what a difference. Seriously everytime i use it he frizz level gets lower. NExt time i try making my own coconut milk too.
I have dandruff and I need my hair to grow. Do i use both shampoos per shower? Are these mixtures something i have to do very regularly? Will there be negative effects if I only use once or twice and then forget?
Create a simple shampoo you like from some of the ingredients I’ve listed and then use it consistently. It won’t if you go back to your regular shampoo which has lots of chemicals in it. Also, if you have dandruff then add a high quality oil mixture to your diet. I recommend starting with pumpkin seed oil.
Hey, loved your blog. I like your DIY hair loss shampoo. Thanks
Dear sir,
Can I use Nettle leaf extract powder for home made regrowth hair shapmo? And plz send me the method. Tanks
Hi, yes you can use nettle leaf extract in the shampoo. Please read this article: https://www.hairguard.com/stinging-nettle-for-hair-loss-results/
Thank you for the recipes. How many times would you recommend washing hair with the hair growth recipe per week? Also how long would you think it would take to see new hair growth?
I would recommend no more than 2x per week. This is only one small part of regrowing hair. You will need to do other things to to see real results, the shampoo won’t make too much difference to the health of the hair follicles. There are underlying reasons that cause the hair to fall out in the first place.
I am now making the hair stimulant shampoo. It calls for 1 cup of apple cider vinegar in addition to the 1/2 cup of water needed to make the steeped nettle tea. If this mixture is a one time use, it is at least 1 1/2 cups of shampoo. Can we save this for future shampoos and how can we store it?
Yes you can store it for later use, or just make a smaller amount.
Any information on avacado oil and hairloss? Can you use the liquid castile soap in conjunction with the baking soda or apple cider vinegar to get the lather or foaming affect?
Hi Kevin, there is more information about avocado oil here. I’ve never tried using those 2 together, but it would be interesting to try.
Hi, could you use any of these to make hair grow FASTER, and LONGER? I have no hair loss problems but I would like longer hair.
Hi Ashley, by reducing lost hair you’ll help your hair grow faster and longer, because when a long hair falls out it will be replaced by a short hair. So stopping the ‘turnover’ of hair fall increases speed of growth and overall length. Yes, these shampoos will help with that 🙂 You can also try some changes to your diet, for example bone broth contains lots of the raw materials needed for hair growth, so try that if you want your hair to grow faster.
Will
Hi Will, I have read other articles on hair rinses – using stuff like nettle, ACV, green tea, bentonite clay etc…
Is it necessary to make home-made shampoo if I am doing the rinses? Surely they will clean / stimulate enough?
Hi Jamie, I personally only use ACV once per week for my ‘shampoo.’ You can add as many other hair rinses as you like on top of this but you don’t want to ‘clean’ too much since this also strips away the natural protective oils.
Ok cool, I will leave out the homemade shampoo’s and just use the rinses with nettle, clay and ACV!
Hello Will, how many times per week should I use the stimulating hair growth shampoo ?
Being a gardener I need to wash it daily?
Hi Shaun, maximum twice per week. Anymore and you are in danger of removing too much of the protective oils from the hair and scalp.
Hi Will,
Thank you for taking your time to share your experiences and for helping us in addressing this problem. Truly appreciated. Can you please tell me if it is wrong to wash my hair every day with a commerical shampoo? I do not feel comfortable if I do not wash my hair everyday. Besides that I also apply sesame oil + castor oil + jojoba oil+ Rosemary EO+ Thyme EO+ Cedarwood EO+ Lavender EO blend everyday and massage my hair for 2-5 mins and cover it up with shower cap for atleast 30 minutes before i go to shower. In this case what shampoo can I use daily, without damaging my hair? Can I use soapnut boiled in water as my base cleanser instead of liquid castille for everyday use?Sorry for too many questions, bit I need a safe shampoo that I can incorporate into my daily hair washing routine and I am too confused and scared to use commercial shampoos now. Hoping to get some expert advise from you.
Thanks.
I’ve been using the Regenepure Hair loss system on my beard, as my beard was very patchy and thin. I’ve been using their products for over 1 year now. The Regenepure DR contains a lot of beneficial ingredients that help fight against hair loss. Their Biotin conditioner is great and has plenty of ingredients that help promote volume and strengthening of the hair follicles. I’m also using their minoxidil precision spray applicator which is another great product to help fight against hair loss and promote hair growth. None of their products contains parabens or sulfates. I’m very satisfied with the hair growth that were a result of using their line over the past year. I will continue the use of their products even after I’ve reached my goal for my beard.
Hi Will,
Thank you for your excellent website and advice. I only have one question.
Where do I start??
There’s a lot of info about different supplements and oil but I don’t know where to start!
Appreciate any help.
Hi Dave,
Will’s Scalp Secrets guide is a great place to start: https://www.hairguard.com/scalp-secrets/
-Steph
Hi Will,
What a simply (for us) informative site. Thank you so much for sharing.
I’m wondering if you’re familiar with effects of these shampoos on color treated hair and which ingredients might be best to preserve color. Also, does the baking soda dissolve or remain abrasive in this particular mixture?
Hi Kris, I’m not sure about coloured hair to be honest. You could try the most simple mixture of ACV 1-2 times per week and see how that goes.
Hi Will,
Congratulations on your job! I’m really proud of being part of your followers.
I have some doubts about treating seborrheic dermatitis. Could you please recommend something to treat it? I have seborreheic and some dandruff crusts affixed to my scalp. Do you recommend some narturally home remedies for it on the scalp? I’m really worried about it because it affects me a lot.
Thank you,
Best wishes!!!
Hi Dom,
Thanks for your support!
I think you’ll find this article on seborrheic dermatitis to be helpful: https://www.hairguard.com/seborrheic-dermatitis/
Regards,
Steph
Best receipies I have ever read. Thanks.
Thanks Sumiko.
Would this recipe be safe to use? 1 cup water, 2 TBS apple cider vinegar, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 drop each jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, castor oil and 1 drop each lavender, peppermint, clary sage, cedarwood, tea tree and rosemary essential oils.
Hi Jason, at first glance that looks good. Depending on how much hair you have though, you probably wouldn’t need that much for one wash. It’s important not to ‘overwash’ the hair.
Thanks Will.
Hi Will,
In regards to your Grogenx Shampoo, just had a few questions:
Is It a hair rinse or Shampoo ?
Does your shampoo replace me needing to do my current usual routine of washing my hair with Apple Cider Vinegar?
Also I use Alpecin shampoo at the moment which is a caffeine formulated shampoo which you leave on hair for a few mins. If I use your shampoo will this be the same as using Alpecin?
Any reviews?
Thanks!
Hi Dan,
The Grogenix Caffeine Shampoo is for cleaning the hair (whereas the tonic is just for adding beneficial compounds to the scalp) so it’s not a case of either or. Since you don’t want to ‘wash’ your hair more than 2x per week (it removes protective oils) you can use the hair rinse in between.
It would replace washing your hair with ACV yes.
Yes I would personally replace Alpecin with our Caffeine Shampoo.
Just take a look at some of the ingredients in Alpecin: Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Laureth-2, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium Chloride, Caffeine, Panthenol, Parfum, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium Citrate, Menthol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Polyquaternium-7…
No thanks!
You really don’t want these chemicals on your scalp, disrupting skin pH, killing the natural microbiome and absorbing into the bloodstream.
Will
Thanks Will.
So instead of making things myself as it shows on the site, would you recommend just using:
This Shampoo two times per week:
https://www.hairguard.com/caffeine-shampoo-details/
This hair rinse say once a week:
https://shop.hairguard.com/scalp-tonic-details/
FYI I don’t want to wash my hair more than three times per week.
Also is the above good for stopping dandruff?
Lastly, would you say these products are better for the scalp and regrowing the hair than using other shampoos out there ?
Best,
D
Yes Dan, thanks. We’ve designed these to be the best products on the market and I think that they are. The feedback we’re getting also suggests this to be true.
Hi Will,
I still have the GRO2 spray. Would drinking this or one of the GROGENIX products help hair growth on the scalp? If so, which?
Please bear in mind I don’t want hair everywhere, only on the scalp 🙂
Thanks,
D
Hi Dan,
We strongly recommend against drinking any of the products.
Instead, you should apply to the scalp nightly.
– Steph
Hi Will, please can you kindly answer the questions…
So instead of making things myself as it shows on the site, would you recommend just using:
This Shampoo two times per week:
https://www.hairguard.com/grogenix/shampoo/
This hair rinse say once a week:
https://www.hairguard.com/grogenix/tonic/
FYI I don’t want to wash my hair more than three times per week.
Also is the above good for stopping dandruff?
Lastly, would you say these products are better for the scalp and regrowing the hair than using other shampoos out there ?
Best,
D
Hello Daniel,
Yes I would definitely recommend using our Grogenix shampoo, it is absolutely my favourite shampoo on the market and it is getting amazing reviews from other people. It should also help you dandruff, but you should also optimize your nutrition to reduce your dandruff from the inside-out.
Generally we recommend not shampooing more than 2x per week. If you need to do it more than that because your hair gets greasy and oily quickly it might be a sign that your body is trying to detox through the skin. In which case you need to improve your nutrition, especially removing foods containing vegetable oils.
Hi Will for the stimulating hair shampoo, so I have to use fresh nettle? Is there a powder or liquid nettle alternative to fresh?
Hi Nathan, the liquid extract is probably the best bet. It is sometimes called a ‘tincture’. Powder would be okay, but the texture wouldn’t be very nice on your hair. Fresh nettle is always a good option, but of course it takes time and effort to go for that option.
Hi Mister Will
Thank you for all e-mails you send me for more than 5 months. I am convinced of your objective and scientific and professional analyzes in the cappillary field. your expertise is demonstrated through your advice and recommendations based on hard facts and scientific and proven by research and serious studies.
I inform you that I am 46 years old and I have androgenetic alopecia for many years.
since adolescence I have started to have greasy hair that started to fall but with a moderate frequency. I used shampoo for oily hair but hair loss continued. I had dense hair
Since the year 2003 I used Neways shampoo “2nd chance” against oily hair and I continued to use this shampoo for more than 10 years. it gave me beautiful and thick hair and allowed me to space washes. this shampoo contains essential oils including bergamot and also ylang ylang … but I think it was harmful for my scalp because it has dried all the oils of the scalp. he accentuated the hair loss. in 2016 Neways has to stop the production of this shampoo.
I searched a lot on the internet to find a shampoo that suits me because I am starting to have an accelerated hair loss and thinning hair.
on the internet there is a lot of scams and people have a commercial concern more than a scientific and objective interest. so they do marketing to sell their products. it’s hard to find the right product.
I look for natural and organic products and I tested two popular shampoo in the usa and amazon
1- gold pura gold label
2- surge hair from ultrax lab
for the first shampoo pura gold I think that after a year of use, I start to have more or less positive results. the hair loss has decreased and I find that the number of hair that falls during the shower has decreased. clear areas begin to fill relatively. but my hair is becoming thinner and greasy quickly and frizz. I also take a supplement for hair “pronexa” I think it also helps to achieve these results.
for the second product “surge hair” with caffeine. this one did not suit me it caused me itching and hair loss was accentuated. I do not know why even if it contains caffeine and essential oil of peppermint and ketocenazol. I believe that sulfates contain either the parfum that caused me these problems.
Now I am interested in your grogenix shampoo because it contains only natural and proven products for hair loss. I like that answer a few questions:
1-can I continue to use gold pura. how would I do to make my hair thicker and fight against the greasy look?
2- Is “surge hair” shampoo a good product. if so, why did not he give me good results?
3- does grogenix contain fragrance because it causes me irritation and allergies.
4- Mr. Will, you have always advised us to look for economical products. why your shampoo is so expensive $ 47 for only 150 ml ($ 60 surge hair for 236 ml). is oleuropein expensive for example?
I hope you lead me to the right way. and I’m ready to buy your shampoo.
5- Is ELEXIR necessary also as a complement?
Thank you very much.
Mourad
Hi Mourad,
Thanks for your in-depth questions. I’ll try my best to answer them in the short time I have.
Firstly, a shampoo is only one way that you can fight against hair loss. To be honest, a good shampoo will only ever make a small difference because it doesn’t really address the true root cause of genetic baldness. So I do recommend some things like an optimised diet (which will help with scalp oiliness.) An optimised diet will also help reduce inflammation in the body (a real cause of alopecia.)
I would check to see if your current shampoo contains any chemicals? Ask yourself if you would be happy if you ate a teaspoon of it. Because these chemicals will affect the health of your scalp over time. I am not sure about Hair Surge actually, I’ve never used it myself. But again, if it contains chemicals then I would personally steer clear.
Grogenix Shampoo doesn’t contain any fragrance for the sake of fragrance. But it does contain peppermint because some studies showed peppermint and rosemary could be useful for hair regrowth.
It’s a good question. Most shampoos you buy ‘off the shelf’ are basically made with industrial chemicals like SLS and others. They are cheap and easy to produce. We put a lot of time into researching and testing our products and of course the ingredients such as Oleuropein are much more expensive. We also decided to use only the highest quality ingredients we can find. This is because I personally use the shampoo and I don’t want to sacrifice quality just to lower the price a little bit.
The Elixir is not necessary, but it can be a useful addition, a good alternative to minoxidil if you want to try.
Again, don’t focus on products like topical treatments and shampoos. Get your diet optimised first. And make sure you are doing the scalp exercises and massages that relive scalp tension. This will probably help the most.
Will,
Do you have any info on how much the caffeine is absorbed into the blood. I am not supposed to have caffeine, so when I tried another hair product with caffeine on the label, I only left it on my scalp for a few minutes. The Grogenix Scalp Elixir would leave caffeine on my scalp all night. I’m worried that doing so would cause put caffeine in my blood and cause me problems. Do other people have trouble sleeping while using G Scalp Elixir?
Thank you for such great info.
Hi Scooter, this is a good point. Although we don’t have any scientific data on it, I have tested this myself. I personally don’t drink coffee and rarely drink tea with caffeine in it. My caffeine tolerance is very low and my body takes a long time to metabolise it. So we made sure, when designing the elixir that the caffeine content wouldn’t interrupt sleep for people with a low tolerance.
Hey,
Thanks for such an informational article!
I just have a quick question ” What is the shelf life of these shampoos?” “Can I prescribe and give them to my patients after making them?” “Any specific storage conditions?”
Thanks.
Given the ingredients are stable by themselves then the shampoos themselves will last a long time. Apple cider vinegar has a long shelf life so formulas based on these usually are fine to store for 6-12 months.
Will, I’ve been reading your articles on hair loss because i’m experiencing some excessive hair shedding. I’ve had blood work and have no deficiencies. I’m scrambling to find the cause. I’m a massage therapist and because I work with oils and lotions everyday, it seems to make my skin and scalp extra greasy. I cannot go more than 24 hours without washing my hair or I will look like I haven’t showered in a week. however, the rest of my hair from about 2 inches from my scalp and down are as dry as the sahara desert. it tangles after a shower and trying to comb through it is pulling out more hair. I literally have polar opposite hair conditions going on and I don’t know which of your shampoos might be best for me. If i try to fix one problem, the other gets worse. any suggestions you have would be appreciated. I tried a dry shampoo for a while but when the excessive hair shedding started, i stopped using it for fear it was causing it, which sometimes can happen. any advise? thanks…
Hi Will!
I am 22 & am experiencing hair loss. I have gone through almost all of your website and posts. Regarding the shampoo thing, I have one question what formula or ingredients list will you recommend for all hair types? I am asking this because I cannot perfectly determine what kind of scalp do I have. I am sure I have a scalp that this too full of dandruff but apart from that it is also
Hi V,
Yes, most people just have ‘normal type.’ I would recommend having a look at the details page of our own shampoo here. Find out more about dandruff here.
Will
Hi Will, you said we should not wash our hair more than twice per week, but I live in tropical country which is very hot. And my scalp is too dry that it secrets excessive oil that clogs the pores. If I only wash 2 times per week, I think my scalp will become worse. What do you suggest for my case? thank you
Hi Will. Just wanna ask, should I rinse my hair with ACV after shampooing or before shampooing my hair? Gotta say the smell of ACV sure sticks to the hair.
Hi Zesty,
The ACV rinse should actually replace one of your weekly shampoo sessions. The smell can be a bit overwhelming, but the results can be worth it. You could also try diluting the ACV with water (in a 1:1 ratio) if that helps.
– Steph
How much of this mixture for dandruff do we use for 1 wash? All of it?
Hi Patryk,
You could use half of the mixture for each wash.
– Steph
Does the washing your hair no more than 2 times per week rule apply if you exercise everyday? I ask because my hair gets drenched in sweat each day. Thanks!
Hi Cord,
Yes, it does.
Washing your hair too often can lead to excess sebum production and dryness: https://www.hairguard.com/sebum-buildup/
You can always quickly rinse with water after your workouts.
– Steph
Hi Will
Have a question here,
i wash my hair daily but use shampoo thrice a week. IS this ok?
Hi R,
Well it’s not recommended (as it can dry out the scalp and increase sebum production), if you aren’t having any trouble than you could continue.
I would recommend at least dropping your shampoo routine from thrice per week to twice.
– Steph
For the dandruff recipe, would it be okay to use rosemary oil instead of making rosemary tea?
Hi,
We recommend rosemary tea over rosemary oil as it’s gentler and not as potent. This is important when you’re battling dandruff, as you could experience discomfort/pain from the application of rosemary oil.
– Steph
Hey just I have thining/fine hair near the crown… has been last couple years… hasn’t gotten better or worse really with any shampoos I’ve use. Was about to start nioxin but was wondering from you what could be my best natural solution to fight this… also with my hair I feel like I have to wash every morning because it looks greasy and is everywhere..
Hello Jacob, if you have to wash your hair every morning because it looks greasy then this could be a sign that your body is detoxing oils and wastes through your scalp, in which case you need to optimise your diet better. I recommend only shampooing once per week. Your hair will take a while to get used to it but will eventually stop producing so much oil if your diet is better.
Hi, my name is Andreea, I am 34 and I suffer from androgenic alopecia. I have recently started using a combination of essential oils ( mixture of rosemary, cedar wood, lavender and thyme) with jojoba and grapeseed as a base. I apply this to my hair everyday. My question is: would the natural shampoo recipes you have on the website be ok to be used everyday? The oils leave my hair quite greasy, so I feel I need to wash it after every application. Thank you in advance.
Hi Andreea,
It’s best to avoid overwashing, as this can lead to dryness and increased sebum production.
However, you can rinse the oils with water only on a daily basis, or reduce the amount of oils you’re applying at one time.
– Steph
Hi Tammy – that’s cool that you use straight up coconut oil! I always recommend it as a carrier oil for scalp massages with hair-friendly essential oils. Very cool that you have a routine to let it soak in 🙂
Hi Hong- thanks for sharing your experience with chlorinated water, which is something so many of us can relate to. I’d say return that filter and try a different one – anything you can do to reduce your exposure to chlorine is really helpful. Until then, definitely look into deep conditioning treatment and scalp masks, to offset the drying effect.
Thanks so much for sharing and for your question. This is a tough one, because it’s in SO many different hair loss products. Here is one shampoo with no aloe – Ultrax labs hair surge. This stuff is the bomb – check it out!
That’s a great question, whether they all work in concert or compete when all thrown together. I have to trust that the folks who make these products research them quite a bit before drawing up these formulations. But I do tend to see two different kinds of products – ones like this, that throw the “kitchen sink” at hair loss causes, and others that just target a couple of ingredients known to help, like OGX Fight Fallout. THe biggest concern I would have for kitchen sink products like this is the potential for any allergic reaction to any of the many ingredients. thanks for reading and for the thoughtful question!
Hello, I just want to know if I can storage the shampoo and what will be the best way to do it (room temperature, refrigerator, etc). I am busy so it is hard for me to make it all the time. Thank you I will be pending about your answer.
Hi Yuko,
We recommend you store the shampoo in a cool, dry environment. A cabinet or pantry should do.
The length of time that you can keep the shampoo will depend on the ingredients. I’d say about one week is the limit, but there may be some recipes that you’ll find will stay fresh even longer. You can tell by the smell (has the scent faded? Does it smell off?) and the color.
Regards,
Steph
Hi Will, what are your thoughts on the lipogaine shampoos, and would you recommend doing a acv rinse even after using your caffeine shampoo?
Hi Alex, it don’t think it’s necassary to do an ACV rinse after a shampoo, since our Grogenix shampoo contains ACV.
Hi Will,
Thanks for your posts.
I am having flaky dandruff scalp. I went to dermatology to check my scalp they have suggested a shampoo called Keraglo – Ad Anti-Dandruff Shampoo. I am using it but i don’t see good results. When i comb my hair when these flakes fall on my face i see paining pimples on. Do you have any best suggestion on it. Also i have an hair fall problem too.
Thank you in advance.
Thanks,
Mahesh
Hi Manesh, I am not a bog fan of so called ‘anti dandruff shampoos.’ The problem is, dandruff is really an internal issue, meaning there is something going on inside your body causing the problem. You will need to optimize your nutrition to fix the problem in the long term. One of the best things you can do is add healthy fats to your diet. For example, avocados and chia seeds. I’ve written a longer article about dandruff here.
I’m using dried nettle tea, not fresh so hopefully that’s ok too?
Hi again. will the dry brittle hair shampoo be good for traction alopecia? since it is anti inflammatory like you mentioned.
I used Keranique shampoo, conditioner and serum for the scalp (all with Minoxidil) for 6 months. Over that time my hair thickened considerably. Since stopping it, my very fine hair has got a lot thinner, with a constantly itchy and flaky scalp! It is driving me crazy. What can you recommend please? I am getting desperate. I am in NZ and can’t find anything suitable here.
Hello Yvonne, why did you stop using it if you were getting good results? Was it because you were getting side-effects from the minoxidil?
What should be the ratio of ACV, Baking Soda and Liquid Castile soap for the shampoo?
Also should I add some water to the above mixture?
Please suggest me some brand for Liquid castile soap to buy online
Hi Will,
thank you so, so much for the valuable information that you’re putting out there!
I just came across your website a few days ago and I can not stop absorbing it like a sponge.
I will put out some questions on other topics on your website, but before I can order some oils etc for a homemade shampoo – does the rosemary oil eg needs to be organic or is “100% natural” fine? It makes a big difference in the price.
Cheers for now,
Hi Nadine,
The 100% natural is fine.
Regards,
Steph
Hello Will,
I have (another) question:
As I am having both – dry scalp with a bit of dandruff and I need to regrow my hair – my question is: Can I create a mixture of the two recommended natural shampoos above? Or do I have to wash my scalp twice? The thing is – I just need to wash my (long, thinning) hair twice a week without having greasy hair.. So I don’t have the cance to put the shampoo on my scalp to often. I’d love to get started this week!
Thanks again,
Hi Nadine,
You can certainly make both shampoos, and then alternate their use.
– Steph
Hi Will,
Its been 2 months i am following your treatment . Now i have got some hair.. But don’t know as the hair is growing i am seeing the lil born hair is falling every day 2-3 ..i am worried any help or suggestion. Please let me know if you need more details.
Thanks,
Mahesh
Hi Mahesh,
In the initial phases of treatment, it’s very common for shedding to increase. It’s also common to see ‘baby’ hairs begin to grow, and then shed almost immediately.
As you continue with treatment, these baby hairs should grow thicker and longer. This will occur as miniaturization of the follicle reverses.
The important thing is to remain consistent.
– Steph
Hi
I would really like to try the Hair Mask For Stimulating Hair Growth recipe but I find it a bit confusing. How much reishi do I use and why is it put alongside the herbs? Do I use the solid parts or the liquid to make the mask.
2 or 3 bunches of nettle with how much water exactly? You guys aren’t specific.
Hi Will,
I just purchased your shampoo and elixir. You mention that we should only use the shampoo twice per week (ideally). If I need to wash my hair more than twice a week should I be using a different all-natural shampoo or stick with only using yours? I ask because I have used other hair growth shampoos that say to only use it once or twice a week and to use different shampoo for any additional cleanings.
Hey will,
After using the dandruff shampoo above with apple cider vinegar, etc; is it necessary to use a different shampoo after or something specific to make sure everything is washed out? Especially the apple cider vinegar, as that could have a lasting scent.
Thanks for your help and time on these articles and website in general, a lot of good information.
Hi Moe, the scent (which many people don’t like the smell of) of the ACV will fade quickly. I would just recommend a thorough rinse with (cool) water. I want to re-emphasise again that you shouldn’t be shampooing too much. I rarely do more so than once per week these days. If your hair is getting oily quickly this has more to do with your nutrition. If you’ve shampooed very regularly in the past it will take some time for your scalp to adjust and stop producing so much oil. I would slowly increase the time between each shampoo.
I want to try the shampoo with the stinging nettles, but we just recently moved and there are no stinging nettles here 🙁 Do you know where I can buy them OR if I bought the capsules and opened them and did everything else the same, would it have the same effect?
Hi Kristi,
While the capsules won’t be as beneficial as fresh stinging nettles, they are still likely to provide quite a bit of benefit. It’s definitely worth it to give them a shot.
Regards,
Steph
Hi thanks for the info. Please advice which is the best coconut oil to use and where can I buy this from. Thanks
Hello Aamar, generally coconut oils are mostly the same and are easily available from many stores online and offline.
I tried the Dandruff one today, so far so good. Just two questions, what measurements you use, is it US legal cup (240 mL); on here it says 1/4 cup Jojoba oil, on hairguard.com/ketoconazole-shampoo/ it says 20 drops. So what will it be ? 😀
Regards
Daniel
Hi Daniel,
We’d recommend you use 1/4 cup.
Regards,
Steph
Hi, all very interesting shampoo recipes. However they do contain ingredients I would never think to purchase but I have many other ingredients on hand. I was wondering if adding castile soap to the stimulating growth recipe would be ok as a base? This is the one ingredient that would actually allow the mixture to seem and feel like a shampoo therefore feeling like a normal shampoo. Please advise- thank you.
Hi,
how is it possible to get nettles?
Thanks in advance.
Hi, All the ingredients are excellent, but in case I used some oils for my hair, did the shampoo combinations I mentioned clean the hair well about the oils applied to the hair?
Hi,
I want to make hair regrowth shampoo for oil hair. You have described as below
Ingredients:
Warm Water (1 cup)
Baking Soda (1 tablespoon)
Apple cider vinegar (1 tablespoon)
Citrus Essential Oil (5 drops)
Grapefruit Juice (1/3 cup)
Grapeseed Oil (2-3 teaspoons)
What is the foaming agent here? as I have started applying natural organic oil for hair loss. So once I wash my hair, I want grease free