Every year, Americans discard hundreds of millions of plastic shampoo and conditioner bottles. While many are technically recyclable, the reality is that most end up in landfills or, worse, our oceans. Making your own hair care products is one way to reduce this waste stream while taking control of what goes on your body—and down the drain.

DIY hair care has exploded in popularity over the past decade, from the “no-poo” movement to ancient remedies making a modern comeback. But not all homemade recipes are created equal. Understanding the science behind hair care—particularly pH balance—can help you choose methods that are both eco-friendly and genuinely good for your hair.

Why Make Your Own Hair Care Products?

In addition to the fun and rewarding feeling of making something yourself, the benefits include fewer plastic bottles, potential cost savings, and fewer industrial chemicals in your life. Commercial shampoos often contain synthetic surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), which helps create that satisfying lather. While SLS has developed a controversial reputation online, research published in Environmental Health Insights shows that it’s generally safe for human use when used in properly formulated products.

That said, concerns about SLS’s environmental impacts aren’t entirely unfounded. A 2023 Ecotoxicology & Environmental Safety study found evidence that SLS is toxic to aquatic life at various concentrations, despite its biodegradability. The environmental impact depends largely on local wastewater treatment infrastructure and the ecosystem’s sensitivity.

For those seeking alternatives—whether for environmental reasons, sensitive skin, or simply curiosity—here are four DIY options, ranging from clarifying treatments to deep-conditioning masks.

Classic Baking Soda Clarifying Wash

IMPORTANT UPDATE: This recipe, first published in 2015, suggests using baking soda, but many dermatologists and trichologists advise against using baking soda as a regular shampoo replacement. Baking soda has a pH of approximately 9, while healthy hair and scalp are in the 4.5-5.5 pH range. Research suggests that products with a pH above 5.5 can damage the hair cuticle, leading to dryness, breakage, and increased porosity over time. If you don’t use the apple cider conditioner each time you wash, consider this an occasional clarifying treatment rather than a daily shampoo.

Baking Soda Clarifying Wash with ACV Rinse

This classic “no-poo” recipe can help remove heavy product buildup when used occasionally. The apple cider vinegar rinse helps restore hair’s natural acidity after the alkaline wash.

Ingredients the Clarifying Wash:

• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 250 ml (about 8.5 oz) warm water

Conditioning Rinse ingredients:

• 1-2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
• 250 ml warm water

Steps:

1. Dissolve baking soda in warm water and pour over wet hair.
2. Massage into scalp, focusing on the crown and hairline, then rinse thoroughly.
3. Mix the vinegar or lemon juice with warm water.
4. Pour through rinsed hair, let sit for 1-2 minutes, then rinse well with cool water.

Tip: If you have hard or heavily chlorinated water, consider boiling and cooling the water before mixing. We suggest limiting use to once monthly as a clarifying treatment and discontinuing use if you notice dryness, breakage, or scalp irritation.

pH-Balanced Coconut Milk & Aloe Cleansing Shampoo

Looking for a gentler everyday alternative? This recipe from Deborah Harju at Hair Glow uses ingredients with naturally balanced pH levels that work with your hair’s chemistry rather than against it. Coconut milk (pH 6.0-7.0), aloe vera (pH 4.5), and raw honey (pH 4-5) combine to create a nourishing cleanser that won’t strip your hair’s protective oils.

Coconut Milk & Aloe Gentle Shampoo

Ingredients:

• 1 cup full-fat coconut milk
• ½ cup pure aloe vera gel
• 1 tablespoon raw honey
• 5-10 drops essential oil (optionally, lavender or rosemary works well)

Steps:

1. Blend all ingredients until smooth and well-combined.
2. Transfer to a squeeze bottle and refrigerate.
3. Apply to wet hair, massage into scalp, and rinse thoroughly.
4. Use within one week (no preservatives means limited shelf life).

Note: This shampoo won’t lather like commercial products—that’s normal. The cleansing action comes from the coconut milk’s natural surfactants. Your hair may need 2-3 weeks to adjust if you’re transitioning from conventional shampoo. Learn more about pH-balanced hair care at Hello Glow.

Fermented Rice Water Hair Rinse

The traditional Yao women of China’s Huangluo village, renowned for their floor-length hair that often stays dark well into old age, wash their hair with fermented rice water. While scientific research is still limited, the Cleveland Clinic notes that rice water contains inositol, a carbohydrate that may help strengthen hair and reduce friction.

The rice fermentation process lowers the pH and may enhance the nutrient content, making it gentler and potentially more beneficial than plain rice water.

Fermented Rice Water Strengthening Rinse

Ingredients:

• ½ cup uncooked rice (white, brown, or jasmine)
• 2 cups filtered water

Steps:

1. Rinse rice thoroughly to remove impurities.
2. Place rice in a bowl with 2 cups of water and let it soak for 30 minutes, swirling occasionally.
3. Strain the cloudy water into a clean glass jar with a lid.
4. Leave at room temperature for 24-48 hours to ferment (you’ll notice a slightly sour smell—that’s normal).
5. Refrigerate until ready to use (keeps up to one week).
6. After shampooing, pour rice water over hair, massage into scalp, and leave for 5-20 minutes.
7. Rinse thoroughly with cool water.

Tip: Don’t ferment longer than 48 hours, or the rice water may become too acidic. Use once weekly. The leftover rice is perfectly fine to cook and eat! For more details, see Medical News Today’s guide to rice water for hair.

Zero-waste bonus: Making rice water means you’re using a byproduct of cooking dinner. Soak your rice in the afternoon, strain it for your hair rinse, then cook it for your evening meal. Two birds, one stone, zero waste.

Honey & Aloe Vera Deep Conditioning Mask

When your hair needs serious hydration, this nourishing mask shared by Healthline delivers. For centuries, aloe vera has been used for its moisturizing and soothing properties, while raw honey acts as a humectant that draws moisture into the hair shaft and locks it in. Adding coconut oil provides additional slip and shine.

Honey & Aloe Deep Conditioning Mask

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons pure aloe vera gel (from plant or store-bought)
• 1 tablespoon raw honey
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil (melted)

Steps:

1. Mix all ingredients until smooth and well-blended.
2. Apply to damp, freshly washed hair, focusing on mid-lengths and ends.
3. Cover with a shower cap to trap heat and enhance absorption.
4. Leave for 20-30 minutes.
5. Rinse thoroughly with cool water, then style as usual.

Please note that raw honey can gradually lighten hair with repeated use, so those wanting to maintain dark color should use this mask sparingly—perhaps once or twice monthly. This mask is especially beneficial for dry, damaged, or color-treated hair. Find more ideas at Healthline’s aloe vera hair mask guide.

Tips for DIY Hair Care Success

Transitioning to homemade hair care requires patience, so take your time instead of leaping in with both fee. Here’s what to expect:

• Allow an adjustment period. Your scalp is accustomed to commercial products and may initially overproduce oil. Give it 2-4 weeks to adjust.
• Patch test first. Apply any new recipe to a small section of hair before applying it to the entire head, especially if you have sensitive skin or allergies.
• Watch for warning signs. If you experience persistent dryness, breakage, itching, or irritation, discontinue use and reassess your approach.
• Consider your water. Hard water can interfere with DIY products. A shower filter or using distilled water in your recipes may help.
• Store properly. Without preservatives, homemade products have short shelf lives. Refrigerate and use within the timeframes specified.

DIY hair care can be a rewarding way to reduce plastic waste and simplify your routine, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. What works beautifully for one person may not suit another’s hair type, water quality, or lifestyle. Start with gentler, pH-balanced options like the coconut milk shampoo or rice water rinse, and save the baking soda treatment for occasional deep clarifying when you have significant product buildup.

The most sustainable choice is the one you’ll actually stick with. If DIY doesn’t work for your hair, look for concentrated shampoo bars, refillable options, or brands using post-consumer recycled packaging. Every step toward reducing single-use plastic makes a difference.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on November 6, 2015, and was substantially updated with additional information and recipes in December 2025.