Organic Shampoo and Conditioner

For a cheap organic shampoo and conditioner you can use a combination of baking soda and water (shampoo) and apple cider vinegar and water (conditioner).

It may seem odd in today's chemical society to think that baking soda and apple cider vinegar can effectively clean and condition your hair, but it works great. After a while of using the baking soda and vinegar, the chemicals built up in your hair will dissipate and you will find that your hair is much healthier and that the natural oils will come back to your hair.

The baking soda is a weak (gentle) alkaline. The apple cider vinegar is mildly acidic and counteracts the alkalinity of the baking soda. Together, the baking soda and the apple cider vinegar make a great hair cleaning and conditioning combination. However, used alone, the baking soda can make your hair dry and frizzy (unless some sort of conditioner is used). The apple cider vinegar, however, will work with any shampoo.

The baking soda will gently strip the build up of styling products and conditioners from your hair and help restore your hair to its natural, healthy condition; leaving you with soft and glimmering hair. The baking soda also helps to strengthen the hair shaft. The apple cider vinegar will balance your hair's PH level, kill bacteria, and help cure dandruff.


I have read a lot of differing recipes which are all fairly similar. Some recipes to consider are:

Shampoo - 

• Mix 1/4 to 1/2 baking soda to water mixture (1 part baking soda to 4 or  parts water) to make a thick paste. Put the paste on wet hair, rub into the the roots, wait 5 minutes, rinse.
• Use a 1:5 (1 part baking soda, 5 parts water) mixture in a bottle. Shake well before and during use. Apply the mixture to dry scalp and massage into the roots and scalp. Let it sit if you like, rinse well.
• 1 tablespoon of baking soda to one cup of water (this is closer to the recipe that I personally use on my hair).

Considering the above recipes, I have found that using an old bottle (with a resealable cap) and filling the bottle with baking soda approximately 1/8 to 1/4 full of baking soda. Then, I add water to the bottle each time I wash my hair to make the mixture the consistency I prefer. Then I apply to my hair and rinse after a couple of minutes. With a little trial and error I am sure that you will find the right mixture for you.

Conditioner - 

• Apple cider vinegar 1:5 mixture (1 part apple cider vinegar, 5 parts water). Apply to the hair and let sit 5 minutes to 30 minutes. Rinse.
• 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar to 1 quart of water. Leave it in for a few seconds and rinse. 
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar to 1 cup water.

Again, I have found that using an old bottle with a resealable cap is a simple and cheap applicator. I fill the bottle 1/8 to 1/4 of the way full with apple cider vinegar and add water to make the mixture the strength I prefer. Then I apply to my hair and rinse after a couple of minutes.

Note: A word of warning for those with colored/dyed hair - The baking soda may strip the color from your hair. I have read that the apple cider vinegar will not harm your color treated hair and is still a great conditioner (although I recommend consulting your hair professional to confirm this).