4 all-natural shampoos and conditioners

These mild shampoos and conditioners leaves your hair clean and healthy without all the mysterious ingredients loaded into your local drugstore brands. Try these homemade concoctions and feel (and smell!) the difference.

• 175 ml (3/4 c) beer
• 250 ml (1 c) shampoo (any kind)

  In a nonreactive pan, boil the beer until it reduces to 50 millilitres (1/4 cup). Cool the beer and add it to the shampoo in a clean bottle with a tight cap. Wash your hair as usual.

• 1 handful fresh or dried chamomile flowers
• 300 ml (1 1/4 c) boiling water
• 45 ml (3 tbsp) pure soap flakes or leftover slivers of soap
• 15 ml (1 tbsp) glycerin
• 5 drops yellow food colouring

  1. Place the flowers in a heatproof bowl and add the boiling water. Let stand for 15 minutes, then strain into another heatproof bowl.

  2. Clean out the first bowl. Combine in it the soap flakes and the chamomile mixture and let them stand until the soap softens — a few minutes. Beat in the glycerin and food colouring until well blended.

  3. Pour the mixture into a clean 450 millilitre (14 ounce) bottle with a tight-fitting lid. Keep in a cool, dark place.

• 1/2 ripe avocado
• 50 ml (1/4 c) coconut milk, or as needed

  1. In a small bowl, mash the avocado with a spoon. Mix in the coconut milk to form a thick gel-like substance.

  2. Apply the entire recipe to clean hair and comb through. Leave the conditioner on the hair for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly.

• 30 ml (2 tbsp) olive oil
• 15 ml (1 tbsp) lemon juice
• 2 ml (1/2 tsp) apple cider vinegar
• 1 egg

  1. In the container of a blender, combine the oil, lemon juice, vinegar and egg and whirl until blended. Alternatively, whisk vigorously until combined.

  2. Use the entire batch to condition hair after a regular shampoo. Leave the conditioner on the hair for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse clean.