There are lots of reasons to stop using commercial shampoos.
Buying one less item in a plastic bottle is just one of them. I had read that commercial shampoos contain
lots of chemicals and additives that quite honestly I don’t want on my body, absorbed through my skin into my body or washed down the plughole
back to the rivers. As I had just
started to dip my toes in the craft bath of home soapmaking I decided to have a
go at making my own shampoo bars.
I found a recipe from the Nerdy Farm Wife for Rosemary and Mint shampoo bars. Using the cold processed method I substituted
the plain olive oil for extra virgin olive oil infused with rosemary picked fresh
from my garden and used sweet almond oil in place of sunflower. I also added peppermint essential oil and a few drops of tea
tree.
So far I’m quite pleased with how it’s turned out. It’s less
bubbly than hand soap, it feels more lotion-y which I guess is due to the
castor oil content. I know the source of
and can pronounce every ingredient and it leaves my hair and scalp feeling
clean.
I was already undergoing treatment for breast cancer so
giving up commercial shampoo was a no brainer. I wanted to avoid parabens
(linked to higher oestrogen levels) and phthalates (plastic softeners and
fragrance enhancers linked to all sorts of health concerns including breast
cancer). I was also hoping that the ingredients in my homemade shampoo bars
might help the bald patches caused by the treatment grow back quicker. I’ll
have to report back on its efficacy in a few months’ time.
If you are interested you can read more about the chemicals
in your shampoo in this article from the Guardian. What's in your shampoo
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