DIY Clarifying Shampoo
Cleanse your hair with this DIY clarifying shampoo made with gentle surfactants. It helps remove buildup without using Castile soap and leaves hair clean and soft.
Servings 200 g
Ingredients
- 88 g distilled water (or infusion, or floral water)
- 40 g coco betaine
- 25 g coco glucoside
- 25 g decyl glucoside
- 10 g glycerin
- 2 g xanthan gum
- 4 g d-panthenol
- 2 g peppermint essential oil or other essential oils of choice
- 2 g preservative (use the recommended amount for your preservative)
Instructions
- Mix the xanthan gum into the glycerin until fully incorporated. This helps prevent clumping later on when it’s added to the rest of the shampoo.
- Once the xanthan gum is fully incorporated, begin adding the remaining ingredients, stirring gently as you go. Avoid mixing too vigorously, as this can create excess foam and make the shampoo harder to work with.
- Once everything is fully mixed, check the pH using a test strip. You want it to fall within a slightly acidic range, ideally around pH 4–5.5, and to be compatible with the preservative you’re using.
- If needed, adjust the pH with a few drops of lactic acid to lower it, or a small amount of baking soda or sodium hydroxide (lye) to raise it. Once it’s where you want it, the shampoo is ready to bottle and use.
Notes
I’ve reduced the amount of xanthan gum slightly. Depending on the type you use, the original version could end up quite thick, so this gives a more consistent result. If you prefer a thicker shampoo, you can increase the xanthan gum slightly.
Because this recipe contains water, a preservative is important to keep it safe to use over time. Be sure to use one at the recommended rate for the preservative you choose.
You can use distilled water, floral waters, or simple infusions like peppermint or nettle in place of the water. Just keep in mind that using an infusion can change the color of the final shampoo.