Natural Homemade Shampoo and Scalp Serum for Oily Hair and Dandruff: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re dealing with oily hair or dandruff, I’ve got the perfect natural solution for you! Today, I’m excited to share a homemade shampoo and scalp serum recipe that will help balance your scalp, reduce dandruff, and leave your hair soft, shiny, and refreshed.

In this post, I’ll walk you through the ingredients, explain how they work, and show you how to incorporate these products into your hair care routine.

Key Ingredients and Their Benefits

These recipes are full of natural, powerful ingredients that work wonders for oily scalps and dandruff:

• Nettle and Sage: These herbs help balance oil production and reduce scalp inflammation. Sage also has antifungal properties that combat dandruff.
• Salicylic Acid: A gentle exfoliant that removes dead skin cells, preventing build-up on the scalp.
• Niacinamide (Vitamin B3): Supports scalp health, reduces inflammation, and promotes hair growth.
• Urea: Found in the scalp serum, it exfoliates and hydrates the scalp.
• Essential Oils: Tea tree, bergamot, eucalyptus, and lavender oils provide antibacterial and antifungal benefits while soothing the scalp.

How to Make the Natural Shampoo

This homemade shampoo is simple to make and incredibly effective for cleansing the scalp. Here's how:

1. Start with 3 tablespoons of each, dried nettle and sage
2. Pour 250 - 300 ml of distilled water over the herbs and let them infuse in a water bath for 15 minutes.
3. Strain the herbs and measure out 120 g of the infusion.
4. Add 4 g of salicylic acid to the warm infusion and stir until dissolved.
5. Add 2 g of xanthan gum and mix to get a gel-like consistency.
6.  Followed by 4 g of glyceryl oleate (which adds refatting properties to the shampoo) and 20 g of lauryl glucoside for it cleansing properties. Mix gently to avoid foaming.
7. Then, add 30 g of caprylyl glucoside and 10 g of glycerin. Mix after each added ingredient. 
8. Mix in 6 g of niacinamide.
9. And 10 drops each of tea tree, bergamot, eucalyptus, and lavender essential oils.
10. Lastly, add 30–40 drops of preservative and check the pH level, ensuring it's around 4.5 - 5. Adjust the pH of the serum by adding lactic / citric acid to lower it or baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) to raise it.

Pour your finished shampoo into a clean bottle, and it’s ready to use!

How to Make the Exfoliating Scalp Serum

This exfoliating serum deeply cleanses the scalp, removing build-up and promoting healthy hair growth. Here’s how you can make it:

1. Start with 36 g of aloe vera gel (The one I’m using is a supplement with 99.5% pure aloe vera juice, thickened with carrageenan). 
2. Add 7.5 g of urea and mix until dissolved.
3. Add 2.5 g of glycerin and 1 g of plant collagen (or substitute with hyaluronic acid).
4. Add 2.5 g of niacinamide and a preservative. If your aloe vera gel has no preservatives, add 8-10 drops.
5. Check the pH. Because of the citric acid in the aloe vera supplement, the pH of my serum is around 4. If you have sensitive skin, adjust to around 5 using a pinch of sodium bicarbonate.
   

Transfer the serum into a bottle with a dropper for easy application.

How to Use These Products in Your Hair Care Routine

1. Apply the scalp serum: Use the dropper to apply it directly to your scalp, massaging it in gently. Leave it on for about 10 minutes. Use this serum once a week, or every other week if you have sensitive skin.
2. Shampoo twice: Wash your hair twice with the homemade shampoo, focusing on your scalp. Avoid applying the shampoo to the ends of your hair.
3. Condition your ends: Apply conditioner only to the ends of your hair and rinse thoroughly.
4. Apple cider vinegar rinse: As the final step, mix a couple of spoons of raw apple cider vinegar with warm water. Pour it over your scalp and hair for added softness and shine. I leave it in, but you can rinse it out if preferred with lukewarm or cold water.

The Results

After following this routine, my hair feels soft, shiny, and incredibly lightweight. This natural routine helps balance the scalp, leaving my hair looking healthy and smooth to the touch.

I’d love to hear if you’ve tried making your own hair care products or if you’re planning to give these recipes a try. Let me know in the comments!