How to Make Homemade Nettle Shampoo from Your Yard
If you are looking for a natural way to clean and strengthen your hair, the weeds in your backyard might hold the answer. Nettle has been used for centuries in hair care because it is packed with vitamins, minerals, and compounds that soothe the scalp and promote healthy hair. Making your own nettle shampoo is surprisingly simple, affordable, and keeps harsh chemicals away from your body.
The Best Nettle to Use
In the United States, the most common nettle found in yards, gardens, and along fences is the Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica). This is exactly the plant you want for your homemade shampoo. It is easy to identify by the jagged edges of its green leaves and the tiny, hair-like needles on the stems and leaves that cause a burning or stinging sensation when touched.
Because of the sting, you must wear thick gardening gloves and long sleeves when picking it. Do not worry about the sting in your shampoo, however. Once the nettle is dried, boiled, or crushed, the stinging hairs lose their power completely, making the plant perfectly safe and gentle for your scalp.
The Basic Nettle Shampoo Recipe
The easiest and most effective way to make homemade nettle shampoo is by creating a strong herbal tea (called an infusion) and combining it with a natural, unscented liquid soap, such as liquid castile soap. Castile soap can be found in almost any grocery store or drugstore.
Ingredients for the Base Recipe:
- 1 cup of fresh stinging nettle leaves (or 1/2 cup of dried nettle)
- 2 cups of boiling water
- 1/2 cup of liquid castile soap
Instructions:
- Steep the Nettle: Place your clean nettle leaves into a heat-safe bowl or glass jar. Pour the boiling water directly over the leaves. Cover the container and let it steep for at least 30 minutes. For a much stronger brew, you can leave it for a few hours.
- Strain the Liquid: Pour the mixture through a fine strainer or a piece of cheesecloth into a clean bottle or jug. Press the leaves to squeeze out all the dark, nutrient-rich liquid. Discard the used leaves in your compost.
- Mix the Shampoo: Add the liquid castile soap to your bottle of nettle tea. Close the bottle and shake gently to mix them together.
Your basic nettle shampoo is now ready to use. Because it does not contain artificial thickeners, it will be much more watery than store-bought shampoo. Just pour a small amount over your wet hair, massage it into your scalp, and rinse well.
Optional Additions to Improve Your Shampoo
While the basic recipe works great on its own, you can easily customize it to target specific hair needs. Here are some optional, simple ingredients you can add. If you choose to use them, here is exactly how and why they improve the mixture.
1. Horsetail (Common Yard Plant)
- Why it is better: Horsetail is another very common weed found in yards, gardens, and wet areas. It is incredibly rich in silica, a natural mineral that makes hair stronger, thicker, and less likely to snap or break.
- How to add it: Add a small handful of fresh or dried horsetail to the bowl at the same time you add your fresh nettle leaves. Pour the boiling water over both plants and steep them together. Strain the liquid just as you would for the basic recipe.
2. Rosemary (Common Garden Plant)
- Why it is better: Rosemary stimulates blood flow to the scalp, which can encourage hair growth and help clear up an itchy scalp or dandruff. It also gives the shampoo a very clean, fresh smell.
- How to add it: Toss two or three fresh rosemary sprigs into the hot water with the nettles while steeping. Strain the sprigs out with the other leaves before adding the soap.
3. Honey (Common Kitchen Ingredient)
- Why it is better: Honey is a natural humectant, meaning it draws and locks moisture into the hair. If you have dry, damaged, or frizzy hair, honey will make it softer and add a healthy shine.
- How to add it: Add one tablespoon of honey to your strained, warm nettle tea before you add the soap. Stir well until the honey is completely dissolved into the liquid, then add your castile soap.
4. Olive Oil or Coconut Oil (Common Kitchen Ingredient)
- Why it is better: Castile soap cleans very well but can sometimes feel a bit drying on the hair. Adding a small amount of oil puts healthy fat back into the shampoo, coating the hair strands and protecting the ends from drying out.
- How to add it: Add one teaspoon of your chosen oil directly into the final bottle along with the liquid soap. Because oil and water naturally separate, you will need to shake the bottle vigorously before every single use.
Important Safety Tips
Before using your new homemade shampoo, there are a few quick safety rules to keep in mind. First, always make sure you are picking plants from an area that has not been sprayed with chemical weed killers or bug sprays. Second, even though nettle and castile soap are natural, people can still be allergic to them. It is always best to test a small drop of the shampoo on the inside of your wrist and wait 24 hours to ensure your skin does not get red or itchy. Finally, remember that homemade shampoos do not contain the numbing chemicals found in commercial “tear-free” products. The soap will sting if it gets in your eyes, so be sure to keep your eyes tightly closed while rinsing your hair.
A Final Note on Storage
Because this homemade shampoo is made with a fresh, water-based plant tea and has no chemical preservatives, it will go bad if left in a warm, wet shower for too long. It is best to keep your bottle of nettle shampoo in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh there for about two to three weeks. If it ever starts to smell sour or look exceptionally cloudy, simply throw it out and make a fresh, easy batch.
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