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Making your life greener - one bite at a time.

 Making your own liquid castile soap for use in skin and hair care recipes is quite easy although it does take some patience.

In the following shampoo recipes you can use either fresh herbs or essential oils, but remember that a shampoo using fresh herbs won't last as long without preservatives as one that uses essential oils. Homemade Egg Shampoo

1 organic egg
1 teaspoon organic coconut oil
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon castile soap
1/2 cup water or herbal tea
Drop of fragrant essential oil of your choice (optional)
Combine all in blender and whip until smooth. Shampoo with mixture using warm, not hot water for the shampoo and rinse. Store any remaining shampoo in the refrigerator for use the next day.

Take the yolks of two organic eggs, add the juice of two lemons, mix, and use instead of shampoo.

Herbal Homemade Shampoo

1/4 cup of your favourite herbal tea, strongly brewed
8 oz liquid castile soap
Add soap to tea. Stir over low heat until well blended. Store in a capped bottle.

Dry Shampoo

Take orris root, ground rosemary or arrowroot or a combination of any of them. Dry thoroughly in the oven, grind to a powder and brush though hair. The powder should take both grease and dirt with it.

Chamomile Shampoo

Make a cup of hot chamomile tea by pouring boiling water over a dessertspoon of dried flowers and leaving it to steep for five minutes. Drain the tea off the flowers, add a teaspoon of grated soap (castille or vegetable soap) and an optional teaspoon of borax. Mix well. Use the whole cupful to wash your hair. Chamomile tea is a brightening rinse for fair hair.

Castile Shampoo

3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary  + lavender + 1 cup distilled water + 3/4 cup castile liquid soap or 20 drops lavender essential oil + 10 drops rosemary essential oil + 3/4 cup liquid Castile soap.

For the herbal option, simmer the herbs and water in a covered pan for 30 minutes. Stand overnight, if possible. Strain, pour back into the pan and simmer, covered, until reduced to 1/4 cup. Strain through coffee filter paper, add to the castile soap, mix and then bottle.

For the essential oil option, add the essential oils to the Castile soap and mix well. Up-end the bottle a couple of times before use.

Follow with a floral vinegar rinse.

http://ecobites.com/eco-news-articles/holistic-beauty/356--diy-hair-products

Liquid Castile Soap Recipe

1 cup firmly packed grated Castile soap (about two 4 oz. bars)
4 cups water
2 tablespoons vegetable glycerin
 
Before you begin, grate the castile soap with a cheese grater. Try to shred it as fine as possible since it will take less time to melt the soap down if the pieces are small.
 
Mix the grated castile soap with the water in a large pot. Set over low heat, stirring occasionally until the castile soap has dissolved. Add glycerin. Keep your eye on it! Once dissolved, transfer to a jar and cover tightly. This makes a thick liquid soap. For a thinner liquid soap, add more water until desired consistency is reached.
 
What to do with your Liquid Castile Soap
 
Bubble bath is always a great use for liquid castile soap. To the liquid castile soap recipe, add your favorite fragrant oils or essential oils, about 5 to 10 drops total. Pour about a cup or so of the bubble bath mix into the running bath water.
 
To make a really decadent bubble bath, add 2 ounces of coconut oil to the mix. The oil will help moisturize your skin. Good skin care includes relaxation and lots of bubbles! (Be careful getting in and out of the tub as the oil will make things slippery.)
 
Shampoo recipe. In a blender, blend together a half cup of liquid castile soap with a beaten egg, 1 teaspoon of olive oil, and a teaspoon of lemon juice. Whip until smooth. Use immediately and follow with a hair rinse. Put any leftovers into the refrigerator and use the next day.
 
Liquid castille soap can be used for a shaving lather
 
Used as a pet shampoo
 
Great for washing clothes and diapers
 
General cleaning, diluted and used in a spray bottle
 
Heavy duty degreasing

Enjoy!