I’ve been searching high and low for a chemical-free shampoo that works, and the search has been going on for some time. The qualifications I’ve been looking for are:
- it would not have any chemicals (or at least no chemicals rated above a “0″ on the Environmental Working Group’s hazard scale), and
- it would leave my hair looking and feeling clean.
As I prefer to shower only every other day, it also has to have “staying power”; i.e., keep my hair looking good for two days in a row. If you’ve ever gone on a similar quest, you understand how difficult it is to find completely safe body products that are as effective as their conventional counterparts.
The shampoo I have been using, although labeled “natural,” has a few chemicals rated in the 2-3 range on the EWG’s hazard scale (see this article on natural skin care). A couple of months ago I tried a homemade recipe using liquid castile soap. My hair looked clean enough, but felt sticky coming out of the shower and a tad greasy after drying. And it didn’t have the staying power I wanted.
Recently, a friend gave me a shampoo bar. It worked a little better than the homemade recipe but still left my hair a bit sticky. Also, it rates a “2″ on the EWG hazard scale. A chemical-free, all-herbal shampoo from the local health food store made my scalp itch.
Finally, using the EWG site, I found Nurture My Body brand of shampoo rated as a “0″. The ingredient list is mostly botanical, and none of the ingredients–as far as is known–causes any health concern. So I ordered it online, and used it the morning after it arrived.
And felt like I’d discovered a piece of heaven.
Although I had a little trouble getting the pump to work (my husband had to open the bottle and unstick the pump tube inside), the shampoo worked beautifully. It rinsed completely clean, and my hair felt like silk after it had dried. The next day, you couldn’t tell I hadn’t washed my hair that morning.
Nurture My Body shampoo does have two chemical-sounding ingredients, decyl polyglucose and lauryl polyglucose, but both are given a hazard rating of 0. Besides, the first one actually is derived from corn and other botanical sugars.
I believe my search for the perfect chemical-free shampoo is over. Nurture My Body is chemical-free enough for me. And it really does “Nurture My Body,” making me feel like I’ve been in a spa, while protecting me from nasty and potentially dangerous chemicals.
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Was your home made recipe just baking soda, water, and castile soap? Just curious as I am Bout to TTY out Lindsay’s recipe at http://www.passionatehomemaking.com
Actually, Courtney, the recipe was the castile soap with some water and a little bit of vegetable oil. I can totally see how baking soda might make a difference in how your hair feels. Let me know what you think about that recipe after you’ve tried it.