This DIY Moisturizing Shampoo recipe has been a long time in the making. I’ve previously tried different no-poo, baking soda then vinegar, and all kinds of solutions that left my hair heavy or too dry. I just couldn’t find the right shampoo recipe.
I even tried that new method of using conditioner before you shampooed. That didn’t really help or hurt my hair, but I didn’t love the results and I definitely didn’t feel like it was worth a two-step process.
Finally, I decided to focus my search and experiments around combining a clean-rinsing shampoo with a super-moisturizing conditioner and that’s where the magic happened.
I had previously used Castile soap as the main base when experimenting with different shampoo recipes. I think that’s actually what caused most of my complaints. The Castile soap was not rinsing clean from my hair and it felt like there was a film on my hair no matter what other ingredients I added to increase the cleaning power. I’ve read that this is a common issue with many people trying natural shampoo recipes.
Plus, since I’m going to be making my own recipe, I really wanted to find an all-natural variety that is free from all the harmful ingredients in store bought shampoos.
DIY Moisturizing Shampoo: The Base
Finally, after hunting for a base with everything I wanted and nothing I didn’t, I stumbled upon a solution that is simple and effective and it’s been my favorite shampoo base ever since.
The base of our Moisturizing Shampoo recipe is a vegan, gluten free organic shampoo that has no parabens, sodium lauryl/laureth sulfates, phthalates, phosphates, artificial fragrances and colors, or petroleum based ingredients.
It’s got so much that we love and it’s great at getting our hair really clean. The only thing is that it left my hair a little too dried out. I needed my hair to wash clean with just the right level of moisture.
So since I loved the cleansing power, I thought I would try and tweak it a little to add more shine and moisture. It worked!
DIY Moisturizing Shampoo: The Moisturizing Ingredients
When we combined the shampoo base, with coconut milk, jojoba oil, and essential oils we could tell that this recipe was a winner from the first use.
Coconut milk? Oh yes! It’s perfect for adding moisture and restoring health to damaged, dry hair.
Jojoba oil is one of our favorites for hair and skin as it’s easily absorbed and non-greasy. We talk more about it here.
The essential oils we chose are so great for skin and hair. They are cleansing and full of antioxidants that fight against damage. This will be great for cleaning and nourishing your hair and scalp.
- Joy essential oil is an uplifting blend of Bergamot, Ylang Ylang, Geranium, Lemon, Coriander, Tangerine, Jasmine, Roman Chamomile, Palmarosa, and Rose essential oils (and absolutes, in the case of Jasmine). The scent is divine!
- We combine it with Orange essential oil for a beautiful aroma experience in your shower. And best of all, the essential oils in this recipe are great for emotional balance!
DIY Moisturizing Shampoo: Testing Process & Results
I tested it on myself and two of my daughters. My middle daughter has easy hair. Not dry or oily, but very normal. The Moisturizing Shampoo works great on her long hair. It left her hair silky, smooth, and shiny without additional conditioner.
I’m always really nervous about natural recipes on my own fine hair because it’s hard to get the moisturizing elements from being too heavy. Honestly, most natural hair solutions usually leave my hair limp. But this recipe was perfect. The Moisturizing Shampoo left my hair soft and with lots of volume. I didn’t even use conditioner afterward! My hair feels clean and soft.
Finally, my oldest daughter has thick hair that gets dry and tangled pretty quickly. It’s coarse and there’s a LOT of it – so much thicker than the rest of the family. Additionally, we use control hair products to tame her hair for ballet and that stuff has to be cleaned out every day or things get gross and crunchy pretty fast.
All that being said, I really needed this shampoo recipe to clean her hair thoroughly and leave it manageable. The Moisturizing Shampoo definitely cleaned her hair and left it healthy-looking. I didn’t need to use conditioner on her hair either, but I will probably continue using our Homemade Detangler to add a touch more silkiness after she washes it.
Note: hair is very personal and based on individual chemistry etc. Just like I had to try many different variations of recipes before I found one that worked for me AND my daughters, you might have to experiment as well to find the perfect solution for you.
One supply tip:
This condiment bottle is the perfect size for this DIY shampoo recipe and a single squeeze dispenses the perfect amount to get a good lather going. It’s also made with HDPE plastic, which we feel safe using for our diluted recipes including ones that contain citrus essential oils like this one.
Optional Healthy Hair Ingredient:
I love to add Tea Tree essential oil to this recipe for family members that prefer a little extra cleaning power. Just add in 20 drops of Tea Tree to either variation and it will maintain health for your hair and scalp.
If you try the recipe, please let us know what you think in the comments below. We love feedback!
New to essential oils? Learn more about how we use them and why you should use them as well.
Moisturizing Shampoo
Ingredients
- 14 ounce squeeze bottle (we choose HDPE or PET containers)
- 1 cup Desert Essence Organics Pure Fragrance Free Shampoo
- 1/2 cup organic unsweetened coconut milk (canned)
- 2 teaspoons organic jojoba oil
- 20 drops Joy essential oil
- 20 drops Orange essential oil
- 20 drops Tea Tree essential oil, optional
Directions
- Open the squeeze bottle and pour in all ingredients.
- Replace the lid and make sure the top is on tight. Shake to combine.
- To use: Wet your hair. Apply shampoo to your hair and massage into your scalp. You can leave it on for a few minutes for extra moisturizing. Rinse. As with all shampoos, use caution not to get into your eyes.
- To store: Due to the canned coconut milk, please store in the refrigerator to keep fresh. Will keep in the fridge up to 10 days. Always shake well before each use. We like to take the shampoo out of the fridge about 30 minutes before using so that it’s not as cold.
- Storage note
Our storage recommendation is based on the fact that the coconut milk is labeled to be refrigerated after opening. Of course, it’s completely up to personal preference if you choose to store the shampoo somewhere else.
Alternative DIY Moisturizing Shampoo Recipe
If you’d like a refreshing and bright alternative, try replacing the essential oils in the recipe above with:
- 10 drops Rosemary essential oil
- 10 drops Peppermint essential oil
- 10 drops Lemon essential oil
This shampoo recipe variation is my favorite for wake-me-up-in-the-morning showers and it’s also a wonderful scent for the men in our family.
This recipe is included in our eBook, Essential Oil Recipes for Healthy Hair & Skin, along with more than 60 other tried & true recipes that we’ve created, tested, and personally use. Click HERE to see more information and purchase your digital copy today!
Thank you! I’ve been looking for something to moisturize my hair. Looking forward to trying out the recipe.
This sounds like a wish come true, we all have different hair textures in my house and always trying to find something without each having a different product. I have one question though. Is it safe on color treated hair?
We truly love this shampoo. However, we have not tested in on colored hair, so we don’t have a definitive answer for you. Sorry!
I made this without the coconut milk (I didn’t want to have cold shampoo!) and still LOVED it! My hair is very thin. Thank you for sharing your recipes!
Kay, what did you use in the milks place?
Curious since you use Young Living oils did you not like any of their shampoo?
I prefer this one as it meets the needs of our whole family and cleanses and moisturizes all in one step. Plus I can get the scent just like I like it!
Could FCO be substituted for the coconut milk or would that make the mixture too oily? Just curious since this would alleviate the need for refrigeration and would last longer…
Try it and let us know how you like it. Of course there is coconut oil IN coconut milk and I would think that you’re right – you’ll definitely need very little to get the moisturizing properties without the heaviness.
Did anyone come up with an alternative to the coconut milk ? I only wash my hair twice a week so this only lasting for 10 days is not ideal or cost effective.
We have another shampoo recipe coming out in our new ebook. Make sure to sign up for our newsletter to hear about it FIRST (and get exclusive coupons).
has the new recipe come out yet?
Our new shampoo recipe can be found in our e-Book. It is not posted on our site at this time.
I want to make this but cannot find canned coconut milk. All I find is in a half gallon carton, and I hate to buy that much for 1/2 cup. Any other alternatives?
You will have the most luck finding canned coconut milk in the ethnic food section. I’ve even found it my small town grocery store.
If you can’t get your hands on some, I’d recommend adding small amounts of jojoba oil for normal to oily hair or almond oil for normal to dry hair. Just a touch added to your shampoo will moisturize well.
I made this recipe with coconut milk about 8 weeks ago and store the shampoo in the shower. We have air conditioning during the summer but our bathroom gets a fair bit of sun and warms up during the summer. The ingredients in my shampoo are fine without refrigeration. I use a non-foaming hand soap pump to dispense the shampoo. Love it!
I tried coconut oil, it left my hair heavy and itchy. It did not feel clean and was hard to brush. Can preservatives be used & how?
I was afraid of that since this recipe wasn’t formulated with coconut oil, but coconut milk instead. I’ve not tested it with preservatives. Please let us know if you find a natural preservative option you love for shampoo.
What is your soap “base”?
Hi Stacey! The base in this recipe can be found here. We tested several bases, but this one had the best results.
Can you replace the fragrense free desert essence shampoo to make it completely homemade?
Hi Barbara! We did not have good results without the shampoo base. This recipe was tested over many months and we just didn’t get good results with any other formula. If you do try it, let us know how you like it 🙂
I bought the Desert Essence conditioner base, should I add anything else to it other than the 20 drops of Joy essential oil?
Hi Carrie! You can check out the full recipe above in our post.