In my mid-forties, I began noticing significant changes in my hair—my hormones were clearly shifting. My hair became dry, brittle around the temples, and stopped growing as quickly as it used to. Worst of all, it started falling out, sometimes by the handful during a simple shampoo in the shower. It was devastating.
Even though I was getting older, I still dreamed of having thick, long hair.
Determined to find a solution, I dove into research, tried countless hair growth treatments, and experimented until I crafted my own homemade hair growth tonic. It worked phenomenally! My hair grew longer, thicker, and faster than it had ever grown before.
That was 10 years ago. It worked great all those years!
But about a year ago I lost a lot of weight. It’s been great for my health- I’m off all prescriptions, walk at least 10k steps a day, take Pilates, have good (mental & physical) energy, and can think clearly. I feel fabulous! But my hair took a hit- I had a lot of shedding and hair fall (sometimes fistfuls in the shower). My hair thinned all over, and I lost the most at my temples and front of my scalp.
This was hard for me. I’m a natural redhead, and my whole life I’ve loved having flaming copper hair, so losing my hair wasn’t something that I was going to take lightly. I got to work again just like I had 10 years ago when I first created my hair growth tonic (aka mermaid spray). I dove into research, tried countless hair growth shampoos, and experimented until I crafted my own hair growth shampoo that really works.
The results have been amazing! My hair is now growing thicker, faster, and longer. I’m seeing less breakage, minimal hair loss (just a few strands instead of handfuls), and my hair feels stronger, softer, and healthier overall. And the hair at my temples and around my forehead is growing back in full and strong.
I couldn’t be happier with the transformation!
What’s in my Hair Growth Shampoo
Admittedly this recipe has a lot of ingredients, but don’t let that stop you from making it. It’s actually very easy to make- you basically just mix things together.
And if you don’t have all the essential oils that I use that’s okay. You can always leave an oil out or find a substitute essential oil here. Plus, I list what each one does below so that you can decide whether you need it or not.
The same goes for the other ingredients. I use honey, coconut milk, and glycerin when I make my hair growth shampoo because that’s what I like. But you wouldn’t have to use all three of these if you didn’t want to. I have dry, curly hair that needs the extra moisturizing help, especially as I’m growing my hair longer and thicker. But if your hair isn’t dry, you wouldn’t have to use all of these. Or if you have coconut milk at home, but don’t have glycerin and honey; it’s okay to just use the coconut milk and see how that works for you.
You get the idea. Yes, there are a lot of ingredients, and yes, I love the results I get when I use all of these in my full recipe, but you can experiment with fewer ingredients and see how that works for you. Make it your own and have fun!
note: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Hemp Seed Oil
Let’s talk about a true hair care hero—hemp seed oil! This amazing oil is packed with hydration to keep your hair and scalp deeply moisturized, leaving your strands silky soft and super manageable. It also strengthens your hair, helping to prevent breakage and keep those locks strong and healthy.
Here’s the best part: hemp seed oil is loaded with omega-3, -6, and -9 fatty acids, which are known to promote thicker, faster, and longer hair growth—who doesn’t want that? Plus, it contains gamma-linoleic acid, a nutrient that nourishes your hair and supports keratin production for stronger, healthier locks.
Oh, and did I mention the shine? The natural lipids in hemp seed oil work wonders to enhance elasticity, boost volume, and add that gorgeous, radiant glow. It’s like giving your hair a much-needed hug! If you’re looking for vibrant, resilient hair (who isn’t?), hemp seed oil is your new best friend.
Vitamin E Oil
Vitamin E oil is known for its potential to stimulate blood circulation in the scalp, which may support hair growth. Additionally, it protects hair follicles from oxidative damage caused by free radicals, promoting overall hair health.
Key benefits of Vitamin E oil include:
- Reducing dryness, frizz, and breakage
- Strengthening hair and minimizing split ends
- Smoothing and coating the cuticle to give hair a healthy, radiant shine
Lavender Essential Oil
Research suggests that lavender essential oil can promote hair growth by increasing the number of hair follicles, helping hair grow faster, longer, and potentially aiding in the regrowth of thinning hair.
Additionally, lavender oil provides deep hydration, reducing damage and preventing breakage for healthier, stronger hair.
Not a fan of lavender? Explore alternative essential oils for hair growth here.
Rosemary Essential Oil
A 2015 study found that rosemary essential oil can significantly boost hair growth in individuals with androgenetic alopecia, a form of hair loss linked to genetics and hormones.
Rosemary oil works by improving blood circulation, stimulating hair follicles, and reducing hair loss. The result? Thicker, fuller, and longer hair.
Cedarwood Essential Oil
Much like rosemary oil, cedarwood is amazing for boosting blood circulation, which means more essential nutrients make their way to your hair follicles. The result? A scalp that’s ready to grow healthier, thicker hair!
Additionally, cedarwood oil also has natural antifungal and antibacterial properties. It can help tackle dandruff and keep your scalp feeling fresh and balanced.
Peppermint Essential Oil
Did you know peppermint essential oil can do wonders for your hair? A 2014 study found that it helps promote hair growth, thickness, and length—how exciting is that! It works by strengthening your hair roots and reducing hair loss, giving your scalp the love it needs.
Plus, peppermint oil increases blood flow, which rejuvenates and nourishes hair follicles. The result? Stronger, healthier hair and even more growth!
Carrot Seed Oil
A 2016 study discovered carrot seed oil’s natural antifungal properties and ability to stimulate hair growth. Packed with essential nutrients like vitamin E, potassium, and phosphorus, it’s here to give your hair the care it deserves.
Carrot seed oil not only promotes hair growth but also helps prevent hair loss. It strengthens your strands, reduces split ends, and adds a gorgeous shine and improved texture.
Natural Shampoo (like this)
- This sulfate-free shampoo lathers nicely and mildly cleanses the hair and scalp without stripping hair natural oils.
- It’s made from natural ingredients — No sulfates, parabens, fragrance, preservatives, silicones, phthalates or dyes.
- It’s pH-balanced formula preserves natural oils, keeping hair nourished and protected.
Coconut Milk (Canned, Full Fat)
- Rich in keratin, vitamins, and minerals, coconut milk deeply nourishes the scalp and strengthens hair follicles, encouraging healthier hair growth.
- Regular use can result in noticeably fuller, stronger hair that is long, silky, and smooth.
- Its natural moisturizing properties also help condition the hair, leaving it soft, manageable, and less prone to tangles.
Aloe Vera Gel
- Helps restore the scalp’s pH balance, soothing irritation and reducing hair loss.
- Strengthens and repairs hair strands
note: Make sure you use real aloe vera gel (like this). Did you know that a product labeled “aloe vera 100% gel” is often not pure aloe vera? This misleading labeling is very common. While it seems at first glance that it would be pure aloe vera gel, what it actually means is that it is “100% gel” with at least some aloe vera in it. Tricky, huh? And worse yet, those products with misleading labeling are often filled with ingredients like polysorbate-20, triethanolamine, carbomer, iodopropynol butylcarbanate, benzophenone-4, fragrance and artificial colors.
Raw Honey
Did you know honey can work wonders for your hair?
- Studies show that honey helps promote the growth of the outer layer of cells in hair follicles and ducts on the scalp—key players for healthy hair growth.
- Not only that, but honey strengthens your hair, preventing breakage and split ends. It’s like a natural shield for your strands!
- Plus, it adds much-needed moisture without stripping away your hair’s natural oils, leaving you with thicker, bouncier, and glossier locks.
Vegetable Glycerin
- Glycerin works wonders for hair by hydrating the strands, creating a healthy scalp environment, and balancing sebum production—essential factors for promoting hair growth.
- It also soothes the hair cuticle, leaving your locks feeling soft, reducing frizz, and enhancing shine.
5 Reasons Why Castile Soap Isn’t in My Hair Growth Shampoo
Castile soap is often used as a key ingredient in DIY “shampoos”. While I love Castile soap for many natural DIY projects—like my moisturizing hand soap, foaming face wash, shaving cream, and makeup remover—it’s far from ideal for shampoo. Here’s why:
1. High pH Levels
Soap is not shampoo. Soap is always alkaline, and shampoo is acidic. This matters.
Castile soap has a pH of 9-10, which is significantly more alkaline than your hair’s natural pH of 4-5. This imbalance disrupts your scalp’s delicate environment, stripping away essential natural oils, drying out your hair, and potentially leading to dandruff.
Healthy hair thrives in a slightly acidic environment. A balanced pH smooths the hair cuticle, reduces frizz and tangles, and leaves your hair soft, shiny, and easy to manage.
And rinsing with an acidic solution (like apple cider vinegar) after using Castile soap doesn’t make things any better. In fact, over time the repeated process of using a Castile soap “shampoo” followed by an apple cider vinegar rinse will harm your hair and likely lead to more breakage, thinning, and fallout — the exact opposite of what you want when you’re trying to growth your hair.
2. Over-Cleansing
Castile soap’s potent cleansing power is great for some uses but too harsh for your scalp. It strips away not just dirt and buildup but also the natural oils your hair needs to stay healthy. This leaves your scalp dry, irritated, and less supportive of hair growth.
A quality shampoo, by contrast, gently cleanses your hair, removing dirt and styling products without depleting the beneficial oils that protect and nourish your scalp.
3. Not Safe for Color-Treated Hair
If you have color-treated hair like me, steer clear of using Castile soap to make your DIY shampoo. Washing color-treated hair with Castile soap is a big non-no.
Here’s why: As I explained above, soap is always alkaline, and that alkalinity opens up your hair follicles. This is a problem for all hair types, but it creates an extra issue for those of us with dyed hair. That’s because hair dye is stored inside the hair follicles. When Castile soap causes your hair cuticles to open up, the hair dye comes out and your color will quickly fade.
4. Tangle Troubles
Castile soap tends to roughen the hair cuticle, leaving it open and unprotected. As a result, hair becomes dry, brittle, and more prone to tangling—an especially frustrating issue for those with long or fine hair.
A good shampoo, on the other hand, helps smooth and seal the cuticle, keeping it flat and closed to safeguard the hair beneath. This reduces tangles, prevents breakage, and makes your hair easier to style.
5. Not Formulated for Hair
Unlike shampoos carefully crafted for the specific needs of your hair and scalp, Castile soap lacks the nourishing ingredients that protect hair follicles and promote growth. It simply wasn’t designed to meet the unique demands of hair care.
While Castile soap has its place in my natural DIY arsenal, I steer clear of it when it comes to shampoo. Hair care deserves products specifically formulated to support healthy, hydrated, and strong locks—because your hair deserves nothing less.
How to Make Hair Growth Shampoo
step 1: In a glass bowl, thoroughly combine the oil-based ingredients to ensure the even distribution of essential oils throughout the shampoo. Once fully blended, set the mixture aside.
1/2 teaspoon hemp seed oil
1/4 teaspoon vitamin E oil
5 drops lavender essential oil
5 drops rosemary essential oil
5 drops cedarwood essential oil
5 drops peppermint essential oil
5 drops carrot seed oil
step 2: In a separate glass bowl or measuring cup, combine the following ingredients:
1/2 cup natural shampoo (like this)
1 tablespoon canned full-fat coconut milk
1 teaspoon aloe vera gel
1 teaspoon raw honey
1/2 teaspoon glycerin
step 3: Gently pour the step 2 mixture into the step 1 mixture. Stir thoroughly until both combine into a smooth, uniform consistency.
Step 4: Due to the water-based ingredients from step 2, this shampoo has a shelf life of about one week at room temperature. But don’t worry—if you want to make it last longer, I’ve got a great tip! Just pour the shampoo into ice cube trays (like these) and freeze it. This simple trick extends its shelf life to up to three months, so you’ll always have some ready when you need it. How handy is that?
Click here for free a printable of Hair Growth Shampoo Recipe
Yield: 10 Tbsp (typically, that’s enough for 5-10 shampoos)
For application, the amount of shampoo you’ll need depends on your hair type. Got short or thin hair? You’ll only need about 1 tablespoon per wash. If your hair is thick or long, you might want to use up to 2 tablespoons. It’s all about finding what works best for you!
This recipe makes about 10 tablespoons of shampoo in total. If you freeze it into 1-tablespoon cubes, you’ll have 10 individual shampoo portions—perfect for shorter or thinner hair. If you prefer 2-tablespoon cubes, you’ll get 5 portions, ideal for longer or thicker hair.
How to Use
- Start by wetting your hair thoroughly.
- For thin or short hair, use about 1 tablespoon of shampoo. If you have thick or long hair, go for up to 2 tablespoons.
- Gently massage the shampoo into your scalp—use your fingers or, for an extra boost, use a scalp massager/shampoo brush like this. Take your time and enjoy it! Then work it through the rest of your hair from roots to ends.
- Leave the shampoo on for about 3 minutes to let all those nutrients work their magic.
- Rinse it out thoroughly with cool or cold water. This helps close the hair cuticle and gives your hair a beautiful, shiny finish.
- Follow up with a conditioner! If your hair tends to be oily, you can use an apple cider vinegar rinse instead. Just mix 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar with 1/4 cup of purified water, and you’re good to go.
Tip #1: To keep your hair healthy and reduce dryness, breakage, and hair fall- shampoo just 1-2 times a week.
Tip #2: If you’re like me and store this amazing hair growth shampoo in the freezer to keep it fresh longer, don’t worry—it’s super easy to use! Just grab 1-2 cubes, let them thaw, and you’re ready to go.
Tip #3: If you’re new to natural shampoo, don’t worry if your hair feels a little different at first! It’s totally normal to go through a transition period as your hair adjusts—it just needs some time to get used to the natural formula. In the meantime, if your hair gets oily between washes, no problem! My dry shampoo recipe (below) is a lifesaver for keeping your hair fresh and maintaining your routine.
Tip #4: Use this hair growth shampoo along with these other homemade hair treatments for maximum hair growth:
- Mermaid Hair Growth Spray—This is super popular because it works— strengthens hair, moisturizes, prevents breakage for thick, fast-growing hair. To use: Simply spray on scalp, massage into scalp, comb through hair, (do NOT rinse out), and style hair as usual. Use daily. find my mermaid hair growth tonic recipe here
- Hair detangler spray — Tangles and knots increase hair loss. This easy-to-make hair detangler with essential oils smooths and conditions as it strengthens hair. The result? Less hair loss, more hair growth. Find the homemade hair detangler spray recipe here.
- Dry Shampoo — It’s best to only wash your hair once every 2-3 days so that it does not dry out and become brittle. Using a dry shampoo can help extend the time in between washings, keeping your hair moisturized, strong, and healthy. That helps hair grow longer faster. Find Dry shampoo powder (recipe here) and dry shampoo shampoo spray (recipe here)
- Hot oil treatment — warm 2 tablespoons jojoba oil and 2 tablespoons honey in microwave or on stovetop. Heat just until warm and viscous but not hot. Then add 3 drops peppermint essential oil and 2 drops rosemary essential oil. Stir. Apply to scalp and hair. Leave on hair for 20 minutes before washing out.
- Scalp exfoliator — Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp. Using a scalp exfoliator like this helps remove dead skin cells and open pores so that hair can grow properly. To make, simply combine 2 tablespoons rolled oats, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and 4 drops of tea tree oil. Mix together then apply to scalp, gently massage on scalp for 1-2 minutes, and then shampoo as normal.
Where to get supplies?
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
hemp seed oil – I use this one. It’s cold pressed, organic, unrefined, and 100% pure.
natural shampoo – I like this one. It lathers nicely and mildly cleanses the hair and scalp without stripping hair natural oils. Plus, it’s made from natural ingredients — No sulfates, parabens, fragrance, preservatives, silicones, phthalates or dyes.
Click here for free a printable recipe of DIY Shampoo for Hair Growth
Check Out These Other Essential Oil Recipes You Might Enjoy
DIY Hair Growth Tonic {aka Mermaid Hair}
DIY Dry Shampoo {blonde, redhead, & brunette versions}
Beachy-Waves Styling Hair Spray
12 Ways to Use Essential Oils for Dry Hair, Skin, & Nails
DIY Skin-Tightening Recipes using essential oils
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