Homemade Hair Shampoo Recipes

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

I tried the egg yolk to wash my hair. It worked very well, but I smelled like egg all day. Even rinsing with lemon juice did not eliminate the smell. Tisk!

Has anybody got a cure for oily hair or at least help with as I have it and I am sure there must be others. Thanks

Hello Suseeq from Australia,

Re ...dealing with oily hair.

Something may be going on at the roots of the hair and I've had success with "shampooing" with Borax. I put a tablespoon in a cup of warm water and dissolve. I take into shower with the solution in a plastic container in case I drop it...the Borax is slippery. Without wetting my hair I douse generously on hair until the whole scalp is saturated. I'm always surprised that the Borax solution lathers up like shampoo. I massage scalp vigorously. I also use some of the solution in ears and eyelids. This solution has never stung my eyes. I let the solution sit in scalp for many minutes then rinse out. Amazing results; soft manageable hair, and takes away the stinging I sometimes get from being allergic to acidic foods like tomatoes.

I use this formula (Borax in cup of warm water) to shampoo with on a once a week basis.

Much relief from an oily condition. Perhaps the underlying problem is microscopic and the boron is killing microbes. Just a guess on that point.

Thanks Dave. Can't wait to get some borax and try.

Dear Dave from FI, SC, When referring to "Borax", is this the "Mule Team" brand? The same stuff for laundry and has also been recommended to ingest? I thought it was poison.

Hi there Kt...

In re; what kind of Borax was I referring to;

yes, you are correct ... good old 20 Mule Team Borax.

dave

What did she do to get out pollution and dirt out of her hair?

Better But With Side Effects

I chose to stop coloring my hair and stop using commercial shampoo and conditioners. I tried baking soda and was unsatisfied with results and began using my home made castille (olive oil) soap for shampooing and rinsing with 1 teaspoon vinegar in 1 quart warm water. I was unhappy with results yet chose to stick with my program. I figured since commercial products hyper dry hair and scalp there may be a period of adjustment. Dry scalp will overproduce sebum, a naturally produced waxy substance, and my scalp substantially overproduced for approximately 2 weeks and I immediately noticed burning, itching, soreness with nasty smelling stuff coating roots of my hair especially over ears and along neck hairline about 2 inches wide. (Old commercial product residue my skin was forced to store?) I also noticed 'stuff' in the crown area. Symptoms diminished steadily and by 5 weeks scalp was symptom free and hair was looking substantially improved.

Six years have passed and my fine hair has thickened, strengthened and is beautifully shiny. I intend to add borax to my hair and skin regimen. Sometimes patience is required to remove all the crap ignorantly put into the body and all the icky, smelly stuff bodies exude are signs of grateful release of all the garbage the body was forced to endure

Here is Hulda Clark's shampoo recipe which I found online. She says that the borax needs to be rinsed with citric acid otherwise you won't get rid of the borax. I wanted to try the borax hair rinse today but I guess I won't till I get more advice from any of you on this, especially Kimberly. I have no idea where to buy citric acid. I have ascorbic acid crystals but that seems to be a different thing. I think that Kimberly washed her hair a few times a week, maybe every day so she wouldn't notice if the hair doesn't look too good after a few days. One thing is find a solution to make your hair good for maybe one day, another one is to have your hair in really good condition meaning you can go for a few days without washing it. I hope anybody can help me with this dilema, I have the borax ready and waiting but I have no idea whether using it without the citric acid rinse will damage my hair!

Shampoo
Borax liquid is ready to use as shampoo, too. It does not lather but goes right to work removing sweat and soil without stripping your color or natural oils. It inhibits scalp bacteria and stops flaking and itching. Hair gets squeaky clean so quickly (just a few squirts does it) that you might think nothing has happened! You will soon be accustomed to non-lathery soap. Rinse very thoroughly because you should leave your scalp slightly acidic. Take a pint container to the shower with you. Put 1/4 tsp. Citric (not ascorbic) acid crystals (see Sources) in it. For long hair use a quart of rinse. Only citric acid is strong enough to get the borax out, lemon juice and vinegar are not. After shampooing, fill the container with water and rinse. Rinse your whole body, too, since citric acid is also anti-bacterial. All hair shampoo penetrates the eye lids and gets into the eyes although you do not feel it. It is important to use this natural rinse to neutralize the shampoo in your eyes. (Some people have stated that citric acid makes their hair curlier or reddens it. If this is undesirable, use only half as much citric acid. ) Citric acid also conditions and gives body and sheen to hair.

Citric Acid is in the baking isle of your supermarket, it should be alongside baking soda, baking powder, tartaric acid etc. It's very common but if your supermarket doesn't stock it, the chemist will probably do so.

Christine, thanks for your tip! I found it today in a pharmacy. I don't think they sell it in the supermarket here but what is it used for? Baking I suppose..... I will probably give it a try as a hair rinse, I hope I don't lose all my hair trying to make it more beautiful..... So far I am ok shampooing it with conditioner and nothing else!

Hi Kimberly, thanks for telling us that your hair is colored. Mostly people forget that detail but it is really important as colored hair reacts differently from natural hair! I think that I have a bit the same quality of hair you have, except for the curls, I don't have any! I am going to see if I find Borax in a pharmacy (Switzerland is not big on anything but pharmaceuticals, unfortunately, at least in this canton). Right now I am trying washing with conditioner and it seems to be working well although I have only done it twice. Let's see how it works out with the Borax. Baking soda as a rinse or instead of shampoo didn't work because my hair became very dry.

Hi Kimberly, do you rinse the borax from your hair? If I understand well you put a couple of tspoons in a cup of water?

Isn't the arsenic in borax a health concern?

There is no arsenic in borax.

BORAX FOR HAIR DERMATITE

good morning I am french which type of borax can I use for hair shampoo thanks JPS

20 Mule Team Borax is sold on the same aisle as laundry detergent.

I'm a caregiver for my husband, and use the commercial "rinse-free" shampoo on days when he can't or won't shower & shampoo his hair. You massage it in, and towel dry, without needing any water, at all. The product is very expensive, so I wondered if there is a home-grown alternative?

The main ingredients in these dry-shampoo formulas are either talcum powder or corn starch. Apply very lightly, by parting the hair multiple times across your scalp and dusting the powder against your scalp as you go. Once you're all done, let it sit for a couple minutes before rubbing it in with your fingers.

Do you use baking soda mixed with water or the powder on its own to wash the roots of your hair? I have dyed hair, no idea whether this will work...

I mixed approximately two tablespoons of the baking soda, with some water, and I made a paste out of it, then I applied it to my scalp and I massaged it in. You may require less, or more, depending on your hair type...mine is long, so I tried 2 tablespoons...and then I mixed the vinegar with water as well.

So, did you just use the vinegar on the tips or did you use it on all the hair?

I do this too ad I find a half gallon container, fill the bottom half an inch to an inch of apple cider vinegar then fill the rest with water and dump it in my damp hair then I rinse it out in a minute.

Are you using water from the faucet or shower head to wash your hair in or filtered water? I do not have a whole house filtration system, will this still work?

I think you make a good point here. It is very easy to assume we know the reputation of a certain chemical when really we are confusing it for something else or just not accurately educated. This was very helpful for me! Thank you

Is there boxes of powdered food grade Borax that can be bought at pharmacies like Rite Aid, Walgreens, CVS and stores like that? I've seen Borax on this site recommended for internal use for some ailments, but have no idea where to find it. I asked at a very good health food store and they said they don't carry it. Can the same product that could be taken internally also used as a laundry additive and therefore available at large supermarkets in the laundry section? Thanks in advance for even partial answers on where to get borax.

Accomplicekim - I have been following the Lorraine Massey protocol for about two months now and it has worked wonders for my hair. I always thought that pregnancy had contributed to my bad hair(curls gone, dries out etc.) but it turns out that sulphates in shampoo don't suit me anymore. Anyway because this is working so well I am always looking for alternatives to sulphate shampoo's. So I have a question. This system involves using conditioner & brown sugar as a shampoo and then condition as normal. This allows the natural hair oils to work their way down the hair shaft but also leaves a lot of product on the hair. When I want to colour my hair (and, boy, do I need to) I have to use a sulphate shampoo first. This irritates the living daylights out of my scalp and tears my hair assunder again. Do you think that if I followed your way would a colour take in my hair without the sulphate shampoo first. Also, Are you using the cocoa butter on your body skin or on your scalp. Thanks.

I think that it is important to moisturize our scalps too. In fact, I believe stimulating the scalp and moisturizing is important. Someone else pointed out the benefits of the natural bristle brushes.

Start colouring your hair with henna. I'm 32 and most of my hair is white already, and it makes me look very tired :( I started using henna instead of commercial colouring, and oh boy is my hair beautiful now :)

Also I would deeply recommend argan oil as conditioner, especially since henna and baking soda both can dry out the hair. Argan oil, try and get it pure is the BEST oil I've ever tried on my scin and hair. It is made from argan tree, which is only to be found in morocco, and it is one of the most nutritious oils we have, much more than coconut and olive.

Also, I used to pluck my eyebrows really thin ever since my teenagers, a year ago I stopped and tried making it grow back out, and it was just so thin :( I've been rubbing argan oil in it every night for a month, and I can already see it is much much fuller. So I have started rubbing my lashes as well :) good luck ladies, and thank you for the tips you shared :)

Do you use the Argan Oil before you rinse your hair, before you wash, a little big every day?

Thank you for the baking soda/ACV/Argan oil tips! I will start using them as suggested here and report back ladies!

FYI, Most pure Argan Oil comes from Israel, been using it for a while now on my hair with great results. Plenty of argan tree orchards there as well.

I have a question what ratio of borax to water should I use if I am using it as a shampoo?

Hi I was wondering how much baking soda, borax, and water to use if I use all three? I want the lightening effect so that won't be a problem. Also Can I use this daily? If not daily than what should I do? Do I use commercial shampoo in between uses or just not wash my hair everyday? Thanks

Do you mix the borax with water and then with the shampoo, or do you mix the powder directly into your shampoo? How do you do it exactly? I will skip the baking soda then as I like my hair dark as it normally is (dyed now in its natural color).

Thank you, I tried this today because I had put a lot of coconut oil on my hair as a conditioning treatment the day before and needed to wash it out. I didn't want to use some chemical shampoo after all that conditioning, so I tried the egg yolks. I was amazed at well it emulsified the oil in my hair and cleaned it but kept it soft. It really detangled it also! I used the lime juice rinse, but didn't rinse it out with water afterward becuase I wanted to keep some lime smell to offset the eggy smell... I still smelled a bit sulfurous, but My hair is looking so conditioned and my curls are so pretty today!

I too use the Wen product... It does make my hair greasy so I only use it for a conditioner. But I was told that I should try the other kind they have but I don't know what it is but it has less oil in it. I have called the company and told them to exchange my next order for that kind... My hair is butt length. I love the stuff and I even color my hair and it stays colored so much longer. I also periodically put honey on my hair and let it sits for a while.... then wash out.

Martha, isn't the honey difficult to apply on the hair? Do you dilute it with a bit of water maybe, or warm it up? Any kind of honey?

I started using Wen too at the beginning of this year, and I haven't used shampoo since. Wen is fantastic although I do find it quite expensive, but you can actually use ANY conditioner to wash your hair with and never need to use shampoo again. I alternate the Wen with about 3 other supermarket brand conditioners (instead of shampoo) to keep the cost down, but I will try the egg recipe on here as it sounds great.

That sounds great, how often do you wash your hair?

Until about a month ago I too was using those same commercial shampoos etc. until I happened to come across some information by accident. I was searching for some homemade shampoo recipes etc. and the reason I was searching is because I had noticed for quite some time that my hair was not in the condition that I thought it should be especially since I haven't had any chemicals ie hair dyes in it since 1996. The only thing I have put in my hair has been Henna the real kind from plants not that fake a** stuff you can buy in beauty stores. I DC my hair twice a month with castor oil and rosemary/lavender EO combo oil yet my hair looked damaged. I kept wondering what is the problem? The ONLY other things I was using on my hair was shampoo and conditioner. Hmm...could there be a link?

So, when I found this link and clicked on it and it talked about recipes and such and how there are so many dangerous chemicals a vast majority of the shampoos etc. on the market today and have been for a long time. I was shocked. I knew that there were alcohols in shampoos as well as some other stuff but I didn't realize it was this bad and I had no idea how hazardous some of those chemicals could be to one's health!

By accident I found this cosmetic database website called cosmeticdatabase.com and looked up some of the ingredients of the some of the shampoos and conditioners I have been using on my hair for years and what I found pissed me off royally. Did you know that some of chemicals that are used in our shampoos and conditioners etc. here in the United States have been banned in Canada and Japan? That right there is a BIG red flag.

Needless to say after finding all this out I went on a mission to find a company that made chemical free shampoo. In the past I have done business with a internet company (Emporiumnaturals.com) but at that time wasn't aware of the harmful chems in shampoo etc., well it turns out that they make their own shampoo and the ingredients are virtually chemical free they are: Coconut, Castor, Palm, Jojoba, Distilled Water, Soy Protein, Vegetable Glycerin, and Potassium Hydroxide.

So, I purchased some and I really like it the ONLY downside was that with me being African American I needed more moisture so I separated some shampoo into a 4oz bottle and added two small capfulls of castor oil and one capfull of jojoba oil and my hair felt wonderful! My goal is to eventually make my own shampoo but until then this shampoo is great!

I am going to try some of the washes on this website too and think that with time my hair will get better and better. I will update and let everyone know.

Thanks

To: 04/17/2008: Dee from Philadelphia... I also looked up ingredients on cosmeticdatabase.com
Hate to tell you this, but Potassium Hydroxide, one of the ingredients in Emporiumnaturals.com shampoo,
is considered toxic as well.

Sodium Hydroxide in natural products is an ingredient that when mixed with any fats like coconut oil etc..forms a salt which is HARMLESS. The end product of the reaction will not contain sodium hydroxide. Some natural companies like to include that on their list, and some companies don't, they put "soap base" or something not to cause confusion since the end product itself doesnt contain it.

Potassium hydroxide is lye, the only way to make soap. Potassium hydroxide is eliminated during the soap making process through a reaction called saponification. It's no longer caustic at this point.

HI U KAREN, , , , , , , , , guess I missed your point, because the soap my Mississippi GrandMaw made from wood ash and lard would take the hair off your arms. 'Course that was some 70 years ago and maybe chemistry has changed since then.

======ORH=============

Baking soda reduces oily hair and cleans up product build up. Mix 1/4 to 1/2 (more for longer hair) of baking soda with water and mix it with water to make a thick paste. Put the paste on wet hair and scrub into roots/focusing on the more greasy areas. Scrub in and leave in for 5 minutes, then rinse.

Your hair will feel dry or cottony when its wet, but once dry it will be soft. You can use conditioner after use, but not needed. I used this on my oily hair without washing my hair with shampoo first, actually i didnt use shampoo at all, and my hair was swqueeky clean!

I agree that baking soda is a useful cleanser. I think that people should be careful of the heavy toxins found in most commercial products. There are some good naturals out there on the market that use very pure ingredients and blends. Does Baking Soda cleansing have any negative side effects?

I've been using baking soda as a standard basis of my home - made natural shampoo but I've also begun experimenting with other products to create scented products for a more refined yet still cheap and cheerful product that can be made at home.

If you want free weekly tips for keeping your hair shipshape on the cheap let me know and I'll send you a link to my website.

Cheers! Rob

Hi~ I would like the information you wrote about, concerning home-made shampoo. Thank you in advance!!

What do we use for making dry hair shine but scalp dry and oil free?

Bicarb is awesome depending on where you get it. In Australia there's only really one brand that every supermarket sells (blue box). It's pure white and goes dissolves really easily.

I do the 'vodka/bicarb skin clean' regularly and have been soap free for ages. It's awesome when I use that Australian Brand.

After spending some months in Fiji and now New Zealand I've discovered that all brands of sodium bicarbonate are not equal. Every other I have tried has been comparatively nasty.. only partially dissolves.. remains grey coloured instead of pure white, is abrasive on my skin.. smells slightly of urea. I question it's purity and how it might affect my health.

My point is not to judge the bicarb skin cleaner as bad if the product you buy is gritty and won't fully dissolve. An ultra pure version of the stuff may not be available in your country. This being the case, try one of the alternatives.

I am currently using a method called the maximum hydration method that uses ACV and BS with a variety of other applications to the hair with amazing results. I apply the regimen every 3-5 days followed by a conditioner for a minimum of 30 min and bentonite Clay. Again phenomenal results. How often are you treating your hair? BTW I have kinky/coily hair and never have washed my hair daily.

Baking soda or Bicarb which it is called here...is fantastic to wash hair with I use 1/4 cup of bicarb mixed with a cup of warm water in the shower and just tip onto my hair and rub for just a couple of seconds...then rinse...its amazing when it dries its like ive used shampoo... soft and bouncy if hair is a tad dry at times...iI just add a very small amount of organic conditioner to the ends ..and yes I use organic cold pressed coconut oil for a monthly deep condition...

what is the best way to get rid of hair loss in women? I have tried massage, aloes, castor oil. I did not follow any instructions in terms of measurement. just went by hear say and experimented.

EC: Please check out https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/hair_loss.html

Hey there this is in response to the question of hair loss... May I recommend OIL PULLING. I started 4 months ago and am shocked at what great results I've got. Check out my website I'm doing a little write up (right now) on everything I've experienced with it and the benefits.. Truly the cheapest hair restoration and dental therapy available. Check it out Karonv. Wordpress

FOR HAIR LOSS USE BAO SHI FOR WOMAN. IT IS $25 OR SO, ITS NATURAL, MY HUSBAND AND HIS BROTHER TAKE IT! AROUND THE 2-3RD MONTH, YOU WILL SEE RESULTS. YOU CAN GET IT AT AMAZON. NOW MY IN-LAWS ARE TAKING IT. I JUST ASK THAT U SPREAD THE WORD 2 HELP OTHERS! BEST WISHES :-D HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

Thanks for sugar shampoo. I will try. I know it should work for scrub. Does anyone know how to make coco glucoside from coconut? Any scientific publication about that? I search through but still don't find one.

I mixed your recipe with lemon juice and milk and olive oil and my hair is super soft. I have not tried the original recipe.

Nellie, I tried to find the recipe for Alice's egg and honey shampoo but I don't manage, would you mind posting it here? I will also try the sugar and honey shampoo. Right now I am trying out a few things in order to see what works best for my hair. So far no luck but tomorrow I am going to try washing with Borax and then using citric acid as a conditioner!

@ Francisca... you'll find Alice's recipe here: https://www.earthclinic.com/remedies/hair_shampoo.html near the bottom of the page. It's actually listed under the heading "EGG YOLK AND APPLE CIDER VINEGAR" but it's her recipe for egg yolk & honey "recipe".

Linda :-)

I could not agree more! I began searching for eco-friendly, organic, raw products to use on my skin and hair and I did find a reliable source. They are informative and real. Their products are everything they claim and they really seem different!

I did some extensive research on the ingredients and then I tried them and now I love them.

did you feel the smell of egg yolks after washing?

How much borax should you use as a shampoo? Do you mix it with warm water? Does it affect color treated hair?

I have the same inquiry about using Borax shampoo on color treated hair. Will the Borax change the color at all? I have chronic scalp (and skin itching) like biting and crawling but no bumps, rashes or visible sign of fungus or infestation. In addition to the intense itchiness, I often feel like another woman here mentioned, 'like my hair is not strongly rooted in my scalp and have the inclination to pull it. I am experiencing hair falling out and looking thin and scraggly. I am anxious to try the Borax shampoo to be rid of the constant itching.

Hi Can someone reply to Nanette's entry as I have the same problem. Itchy scalp. Keep pulling for relief. Suspect fungal infection. Where it has been severely itchy, the hair has then fallen out. Sore pimples in the itchy areas. I am in UK and can't get borax off the shelf. Any alternative to using with Apple Cider Vinegar?

Hi there

Chronic itching and dry scalps can be relieved by spraying or rinsing it with Organic Apple Cider Vinegar but it won't solve the problem permanently. (Add two caps of ACV plus water in a water sprayer bottle or whatever you can put it in - Spray it on your hair after coming out of shower and leave it for half hour and re - rinse it with cold water. )

The problem will be with how much toxic shampoos / hair dyes/ head lice solution you have used on your head in your total life time, contributing to these problems of itching! 24/7.

This is the most natural solution I have found but another problem is trying to find a shampoo containing very simple natural ingredients without adding like 30 herbal ingredients in it or harsh chemicals ruining the surface of the scalps.

Nanette & Vanessa,

I haven't started using this yet but I'm about to. I have read today (and in the thread above yours) the Borax lightens coloured hair less than Baking Soda. I read on 2 sites that it will strip the color from your colour treated hair (as it appears to strip natural color a little also?) but you need to wash your hair less than with commercial shampoos it shouldn't be too bad. Other than that, from what I've read, there are no 'reactions' with coloured hair. I hope not as I colour and I'm going to try it. All the best!

Vanessa, I forget to add that you can get Borax in some Boots or they'll order it in and in some Tesco's in their Naturally cleaning range.

I agree with Teri, about the tea tree and almond oil , it works for itching scalp is great. And thank you for all your tips.

Hello,

I'm using borax as a shampoo and I saw that we got to use acid citric (1/4 tsp diluted in 2 cups) as a final rinse. (the only thing that can remove borax from your scalp)

I've never use a condidionner (short hair) so I don't know how to proceed. Do I have to rinse the acid citric with water? If yes do I have to let the acid citric sit on my scalp a bit before washing?

And finally do I have to rinse the borax solution with water before pour the acid citric? Or rinse directly the borax solution with acid citric?

Thanks, Kévin

Hi read Jackie's post a week or so ago regarding her results with borax and water to shampoo hair. I gave it a try and my hair felt great. I have long, heavy hair and it felt clean, soft and not dried out at all. Is anyone else doing this? I'm curious to see if anyone else had done this long-term as I want to make sure I'm not going to destroy my color-treated hair in the long run. I found a shampoo recipe online last week that included borax, castille soap, glycerin and a couple other ingredients. It turned out to be a disaster - after using a second time, my hair was a matted mess. I'm thinking it was the Dr. Bronner castille soap - which I love for face cleansing, but not on my hair. I used the straight borax and water this morning and my hair feels soft and clean again.

Hello, I have been using borax on my hair for about 2 weeks, now. I lost my hair (,chemo treatment about 10 years ago) and have been coloring my hair for about 10 years. My hair color is remaining true, it is soft and seems thicker than it has been in 10 years. I am rinsing with lemon juice because I have not been able to get a hold of any citric acid. YEAH!! Thank you to BORAX.

EC: Kathy, we found a huge jar of citric acid in an Asian grocery store for just a couple of dollars! Think it was in the spice section...

Found this when researching what Borax was:

http://chemistry.about.com/od/howthingsworkfaqs/a/howboraxworks.htm

"Risks Associated with Borax

Borax is natural, but that does not mean it is automatically safer for you or for 'the environment' than man-made chemicals. Although plants need boron, too much of it will kill them, so borax can be used as an herbicide. Borax may also be used to kill roaches, ants, and fleas. In fact, it is also toxic to people. Signs of chronic toxic exposure include red and peeling skin, seizures, and kidney failure. The estimated lethal dose (ingested) for adults is 15-20 grams; less than 5 grams can kill a child or pet. For this reason, borax should not be used around food. More commonly, borax is associated with skin, eye, or respiratory irritation. It is also important to point out that exposure to borax may impair fertility or cause damage to an unborn child."

Personally, I would not use this on my skin or scalp. It sounds just as bad as commercial shampoos.

Warning

Boron and Borax are two different elements. I have seen this twice on this site. Look it up. Confusion can stigmatize a good thing.

Thank you Bill: I really look forward to your posts. Thanks for further alleviating my concerns about 20 mule team. I am about to do something very similar. What I mean is the product I am going to try is not from the health food store but from the vet supply place. This product I am referring to is called Diatomaceous Earth. I have tracked down a manufacturer, the middel supplier and the farm supply store. Only 2 stops. I believe it will be safe but I am concerned. Have you any experience with this product? I recently got a bio feedback analysis and was told I was loaded with yeast, fungus, worms and a tape worm. I was horrified but I have to agree I have NO energy. I do feed my dogs the raw diet and maybe somehow I was contaminated.

Any info you have, or even anyone else reading this would be greatly appreciated.

Have you tried a cleanse? I'm doing Dr. Natura colonix and toxinout 2-3month program. It targets parasites.... Also there are Chinese herbs that are good for getting rid of parasites and yeast... talk to an acupuncturist/herbalist. Good luck

PLEASE be careful when using Borax. As someone already stated, Borax can be very toxic!

For anyone confused, Borax is the salt form of boric acid, and when you add borax to water, it dissolves to become boric acid and sodium. Boric acid is dangerous!

For more information, check out wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borax

It states very clearly that borax can be toxic, especially to infants!

Toxicity

Sufficient exposure to borax dust can cause respiratory and skin irritation. Ingestion may cause gastrointestinal distress including nausea, persistent vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Effects on the vascular system and brain include headaches and lethargy, but are less frequent. "In severe poisonings, a beefy red skin rash affecting palms, soles, buttocks and scrotum has been described. With severe poisoning, erythematous and exfoliative rash, unconsciousness, respiratory depression, and renal failure." ^[19]

It can be so complicated... And for those of us who have trouble following along, I will say this: I prefer to leave it to the experts at my favorite Organic Haircare Specialists' website. I can trust their quality and their system is easy to use.

I used Borax 20 mule team mixed 1/4 cup into a quart of hot water and rinsed my colored hair with it for over a year. My hair grew longer than it ever had before (I live in the desert and it was impossible to get it past my shoulders because of dryness) BUT - after about 14 months it became very brittle and just broke off like crazy, until I cut my hair into a bob. I stopped coloring, and am now about to go back to using the borax - but this time without the coloring and most importantly, I am going to use an ascorbic acid rinse to neutralize. I think that was the mistake I was making, not neutralizing. I did try at first to use ACV, but it is not strong enough, I think, and I didn't like smelling like an easter egg ;)

Using Borax allows the natural oils to migrate down the hair shaft, and eventually it can feel waxy when wet. When you pour the borax water over your hair it won't feel clean, but it is! When it dries your hair is very soft, and if you have waves it will hold a curl. Just make sure to neutralize. Also, for itching - grapeseed or jojoba oil mixed with ascorbic acid and vegetable glycerin make a nice scalp "mask" for dryness. Leave on and rinse out. Also - you can spritz a little glycerin w/oil and water on your hair for dryness. Make sur eto include the grapeseed oil if you live in a dry area!!

I have a Purebred Turkish Angora Cat that is 18 years old now & has never been sick a day in her life.(From My own secret food recipes). So experimenting I decided to mix a few drops Pure Lemon Oil into my hand with natural Organic Shampoo & bathed her in that mixture. It rids her of any Fleas and Itching & makes her white long hair shiny & bright! It does not dry out her skin. So I decided to use just a drop or two of pure Lemon, Lavender & Rosemary oil mixed with my shampoo a large amount on my hand & left it on for a minute or so & then rinsed very well. I then Conditioned with Organic Conditioner or Marine Conditioner from the Sea & now my hair stops falling out, the itching has stopped from dry scalp & my hair is thick, very long down to my lower back and shiny.

Question for Pati Orangevale Ca. She has the 18 year old Turkish Angora cat. Would she share her own secret food recipes. I have 3 cats and would like to make my own cat food. Also is molasses good for cats? thx val

I've heard that both tea tree oil and lavendar has been linked to abnormal cell growth (read: cancer) in humans. A woman who had survived breast cancer was warning people on another homemade body products forum about the risks. I personally haven't read the studies but I would recommend looking it up.

Regarding your concern about tea tree and it's link to cancer. I read an article from the American Cancer Foundation and it says that Tea Tree Oil is toxic when swallowed but that otherwise it is believed by many people to help with skin rashes, it can be used in natural cleaners... Etc. Etc. So, basically it's totally fine to use as a topical treatment, just don't eat it.

If you mix baking soda and shampoo in your hand once a week it will not only remove all hair spray, styling gels, and other products, it will remove impurities from the water and lighten your hair. I learned this from my hair stylist! Also, mix baking soda with hair conditioner in your hand and condition the ends of your hair it will give your hair more volume, body and health.

I am told by my colorist that baking soda would inadvertently remove the professional coloring from my hair? Is it like sulfates in that regard?

Hi Janie, it would be interesting to know whether it is true or not! I also have dyed hair and was about to try to wash it only with baking soda as some people seem to have very good results with it but no one ever says whether their hair is colored or not.