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Soap Nuts Shampoo

Katie Wells Avatar
Katie Wells

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Soap Nuts Shampoo Recipe- easy and natural
Wellness Mama » Blog » Beauty » Soap Nuts Shampoo

I’ve written before about how I use soap nuts for laundry, and I’ve gotten several questions since that post about how I also use them for shampoo.

Finding a natural shampoo that works for your hair type can be difficult. Coconut milk based shampoo works great for some people, and some people do great with the no-poo method (not me!). If neither of those has worked for you, this is another that you can try.

According to Mountain Rose Herbs:

Soap nuts are found in both the eastern and western hemispheres, but are native to India and Nepal. They have recently become a popular environmentally friendly alternative to chemical detergent, and are a gentle option for those with allergies to chemicals in regular detergents. They have traditionally been used as an expectorant, and in Ayurvedic medicine as a treatment for eczema and psoriasis. Soap nuts contain saponin, a natural detergent. The soap nut shell absorbs water and releases the saponins which circulate as a natural surfactant in the wash water, freeing dirt, grime, and oils from clothing.

Soap nuts can be used to make a really easy natural shampoo or body wash that is soothing to eczema or psoriasis. Soap nuts shampoo is also incredibly inexpensive to make and completely natural. Tip: If you make a full batch, store in ice cube trays and freeze for individual use sizes or store in a peri bottle in the fridge and just take out when you shower.

If you aren’t up for making it and want a more involved (but still natural) solution, you can buy pre-made Soap Nuts Shampoo.

Soap Nuts Shampoo Ingredients

Soap Nuts Shampoo Instructions

  • If you have one, place soap nuts in a small muslin bag.
  • Place in a medium saucepan with 2 cups of the water and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
  • Add 1 cup of water and simmer for 10 more minutes.
  • Remove from heat and let cook.
  • Squeeze out the bag until it suds. Rinse with cool water and squeeze in to the pan again.
  • Store in a glass jar in the fridge until use.
  • To use: Massage a small amount in to hair and let sit for 5 minutes. Rinse well. Can also be used as a soothing wash for skin, especially in those with eczema and psoriasis.

Have you ever used soap nuts? How did you use them? Tell me below!

Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

210 responses to “Soap Nuts Shampoo”

  1. Susan Avatar
    Susan

    Am wondering how much to apply? My hair is just past shoulder length, and I’ve been using a small shot glass full daily for past 4 days. Hair feels a bit waxy though. Am I maybe using too much?

    Reply
  2. Julie Henderson Avatar
    Julie Henderson

    how long will it last in fridge or freezer? will we be able to smell if it has gone bad over our essential oils weve added?? and is it harmful to use once its gone bad? a friend mad a batch for me and i didnt know it had to be in the fridge and ive had the liquid sitting out for a few weeks and have been using it!!! it doesnt smell bad so i didnt know it could be bad

    Reply
  3. Tiffany Avatar
    Tiffany

    Hello to all of you having used some sort of gum to thicken the soapnut liquid.
    How much did you use please?

    Wellnessmama, could we maybe use gelatin as a thickening agent – you have stated it’s benefits for hair in other articles – do you think?

    How about adding the soapnut liquid to clay to make a thicker shampoo – how long do you think this would keep for in the fridge? Maybe by adding citric acid we could lengthen it’s life?

    Thanks all! Love your blog Katie,
    XXX Tiffany, ze fan from Paris

    Reply
  4. Jodi Rolph Avatar
    Jodi Rolph

    Hi
    I have been using this recipe for 3 weeks now (approx 1-2 times weekly) and I am still experiencing strange waxy hair that clumps together and looks stringy. I have tried multiple washings in one go, and ensuring I have rinsed thoroughly as well. I have tried ACV rinse a few times and that made it worse! I am hoping to start applying for jobs soon post baby, and I CAN’T go meet prospective employers with my hair like this!!! The dry shampoo is ok for home or the local shops but that is all. I use a boar bristle brush that I wash out with hot water daily to clean it. I have no idea what else to try. I have ordered some shikakai powder to use with the shampoo to see if that helps, or try it on its own.

    Can anyone please offer any suggestions why I am getting the same results after 3+ weeks???

    Thanks
    Jodi

    Reply
    1. Jodi Rolph Avatar
      Jodi Rolph

      I forgot to add that the greasy stringy waxiness is down the length of my hair after washing, not just at the roots, so it is like it is not being removed at all in the first place. Even when I tried multiple washings it was still like the waxiness coated my hair like glue. When I brush with the BBB it is covered in fluff and grease after just a few strokes.

      Reply
      1. Wellness Mama Avatar
        Wellness Mama

        Your hair may simply not like this shampoo. Hair reacts in very strange ways to things that don’t work with it. You could be experiencing an excess of protein, or a detox react, or a reaction with another product you are also using (although you didn’t mention any others). You might try a different shampoo for a few days to see if that helps.

        Reply
        1. Jodi Rolph Avatar
          Jodi Rolph

          Thanks Wellness Mama – after a few other attempts I did a bentonite clay detox and that did wonders. Very happy to be rid of that horrible waxiness off my hair! I really appreciate the detox suggestion. Now it will be interesting to see how my hair proceeds from here, and whether soapnuts will be a viable option or not.

          Cheers
          Jodi

          Reply
          1. Larissa Avatar
            Larissa

            Hi Jodi,

            I’m curious as to whether you were able to continue using the soap nuts shampoo on your hair or not? I’ve been experiencing the same issue that you had: my hair is greasy, waxy and stringy and then has been really dandruffy as well even though I stopped using store bought shampoos more than 4 months ago. I know I should be doing weekly clay detoxes, but just wondering if once I’m doing that continually I can get natural shampoo method to work? Please let me know what you use now to shampoo and condition. Thanks!

  5. Sarah Avatar
    Sarah

    How long does a batch of this shampoo last in the fridge as well as in the freezer? Thanks!

    Reply
  8. Mirjam Avatar
    Mirjam

    Today, i made nut-shampoo with glycerine. Just thicken the water from the nuts, and mix it with glycerine. Soooo soft for skin and hair. Shake well before use.

    Reply
    1. Radha Avatar
      Radha

      Hi Mirjam,
      Does the glycerin provide any kind of preservative effect that will allow me to keep it out of the fridge and in the shower where it belongs? Also do you find the glycerin to make your scalp oily?

      Reply
  9. Ayesha Avatar
    Ayesha

    So I have not applied it yet but I have used 18 nuts in four cups of water for it to be more concentrated would that make any difference or is it too concentrated. Do we have to follow recipe word by word?

    Reply
    1. Wellness Mama Avatar
      Wellness Mama

      I can’t think it would be harmful, but I’m not sure why you would want it more concentrated. Do you plan to dilute it? If used at that strength it might be a bit drying to your hair.

      Reply
  10. Shamika Avatar
    Shamika

    Sorry if I missed it in the comments…but where can I buy the soap nuts? My daughter just turned 1 and I am on the hunt for something natural to use on her extremely sensitive skin. She has eczema and it’s on her little cheeks (face) and Im trying to get rid of it before she starts scratching and makes is worse.

    Reply
    2. geri Avatar
      geri

      About the eczema. Bendsoap.com uses their goat milk soap to make their boy’s eczema completely go away. They have more info on their website how that works. geri

      Reply
  11. Emily Avatar
    Emily

    Is it safe to use a regular cooking pot to boil the soap nuts, or should it be done in a non-food pot?
    Thanks!

    Reply
    1. Wellness Mama Avatar
      Wellness Mama

      It should be OK in a regular pot, but if you are concerned you can always use a non-food pot. Better to safe than sorry!

      Reply
  12. mary Avatar
    mary

    Why two cups of water and simmer for 20 minutes, then add one cup and cook 10 more? Wouldn’t 3 cups of water for 30 minutes work the same? Or did I miss /misread something?
    Thanks, if anyone has a response to this…

    Reply
  13. Evelyn Avatar
    Evelyn

    I made the shampoo from soap nuts powder. First of all, it didn’t lather at all, so I just massaged it into my hair and left it on for a few minutes. The first time I got it in my eye and it was very irritating – like I had dirt in it. OUCH! Anyway, it made my hair feel way fuller and much more manageable with lots of body, but a little . . . I don’t know . . . greasy or something. Is that the way it’s supposed to feel? I’ve always used a daily clarifying shampoo and my hair never felt the way it does with the soap nuts. Did I do something wrong?

    Reply
    1. gaby Avatar
      gaby

      it won’t lather. regular shampoos do that because of the chemicals added to them(which are only added because of “consumer demand”. we are under the impression that if a shampoo produces enough foam to drown in it will clean better-which might not be the case).
      your hair is greasy because it’s not used to this kind of treatment. it was used to having its oils stripped off daily so it produced more than necessary in an attempt to compensate. it should get back to being ok in a while.

      Reply
  14. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    I know this is an older post, but hoping I can still get my questions answered. I don’t think I’ll use this much in just a week. I’ve read other places saying you can add tea tree oil for a preservative. Does anyone know if this would work and how much to use/how long I can keep it out for? Also, could I just make a big batch and freeze it, and just take out the amount I need for the week? Or is it possible to make a “half batch”? I tried the coconut milk shampoo last night and I think I used too much, or it didn’t get all the way out of my hair because the back of my head is pretty filmy/oily. I’m hoping this will be better for my fine, long hair!

    Reply
    1. Jen A. Avatar
      Jen A.

      Hi Amy. I’m not an expert by any means but if it helps I’ll share my experience.
      I just started detoxing my hair from commercial products about a month ago. I think that if I would have used this one first that I would have just given up. Not that this is not a great recipe, but my hair needed more detoxifying before trying something as ‘gentle’ as this. Our hair is so used to having all of the natural oils stripped out of it that it overcompensates with sebum production when we take away the product we’ve been using to ‘strip’ it with. I found that at this point that my hair needs the detoxifying mud about once of twice a week. I think as time goes on it needs it less and less. Katie – Wellness Mama- has the recipes for it here on her site if you haven’t tried it yet. I highly recommend it as often as you need it while your hair is going through it’s adjustment phase. And it will pass. You just have to be patient!
      As far as the length of time the soap nuts shampoo will last before spoilage– I’ve kept mine in the bathroom for about 2 weeks without issue. I think it probably also depends on where you live. I’m in Colorado so things tend to last a little longer here due to the lack of humidity and the altitude. Good luck!

      Reply
  15. Melissa Avatar
    Melissa

    I started using the soap nut shampoo a couple weeks ago and although the first week was great and I loved how soft my hair felt, after the first week my hair started to still look and feel greasy after washing. I used to have problems with dandruff, and that is completely gone and hasn’t come back with the use of this shampoo, but I was wondering if my hair is going through an adjustment phase or if it is normal to have the hair suddenly start being greasy feeling after working great for a week? I need to make a new batch as mine ran out, so maybe it was just that the other stuff was getting old and not working as well? I really hope it starts working again as I really loved the way it make my hair feel when it worked! I am also in love with using them for our laundry! Our clothes are so soft now! Can’t wait to try soap nuts for more things!

    Reply
    1. Lorraine Avatar
      Lorraine

      Hi. I’m not an expert nor have I tried this yet. Just was waiting eagerly on my non toxic pots to cook it in. Well until I heard you can soak it in glass bowl which I did but I used water from my bath tap boiled in metal kettle which probably defeats the purpose of no chemical ridden cleaning method. But for now it was for a desperate cause. My shampoo running out and my reluctance and cashless need to replace it.
      But if this is your first try with the soap nuts and it’s greasy at first. My first bet would be on that your hair is at a detox stage. The chemicals or oil stripping is imbalanced your hair. And with this cleaning method perhaps your head is readjusting or detoxing even. I’m not sure if this cleaning method is just as harsh on oil balance from the head or not. But I sure do know how picky heads can be with needing changes of chemical products every once in a while.
      But I say stick with it and see if it improves.
      I have recently tried dry shampoo. Which is solely arrowroot powder dab in (in my case I lathered it all on all over my hair lol last time I couldn’t get it into my thick hair prorperly) and then I go about preening and glamour in myself and getting ready to go out before brushing it out. So far so good with that. Though my hair was a little frizzy and dull but it was most certainly thick volume and clean and soft. So perhaps in between washes you can try arrowroot powder during adjustments with soap nuts ; )
      Hope it’s somewhat helpful

      Reply
  16. Christine Avatar
    Christine

    Has anyone ever got some in your eye, I did and it stings pretty good, is it harmful in anyway, probably a silly question but just checking

    Thanks

    Reply
    1. Leela Avatar
      Leela

      Yes…this is what we used in our childhood as shampoo.. The best natural way to clean ur hair wid no harmful chemicals… It does sting badly once it goes in ur eye…just clean ur eyes wid water… It is not harmful but makes ur eye red as we tend to rub our eyes badly.

      Reply
  17. Matt Johnson Avatar
    Matt Johnson

    I think soap nuts liquid for the hair is great. The one difficulty I find with it, though, is that it has the consistency of water. I have been considering adding Xanthum gum as a thickener. Also, citric acid is the best preservative to keep it from spoiling.

    Reply
  18. Sarah Avatar
    Sarah

    I really like soap nuts! Thanks for the introduction to them for laundry and hair. Somehow I missed the part about putting it in the fridge. The first time I made a single batch. The second time I doubled it and added Apple cider vinegar to clean and condition all at once. I never noticed a rancid smell even though it wasn’t’ t refrigerated. I have short, thin hair with no natural body. My hair has been soft, shiny and very manageable with the soap nut/Apple cider mix. It was very thin so I just used a peri-bottle from a past birth and squeezed it right onto my scalp let it sit while I did other stuff and then rinsed. My older kids have been using it, but it is a bit strong in smell and it does sting a bit too so I don’t use it on my little ones. My husband doesn’t really like it though. No one that uses it has any lasting smell once their hair dries. It is working too for my son who has coarse, curly hair, most shampoo makes his hair either dry and frizzy or greasy. I just love soap nuts and reusable wool dryer balls! Have been telling all my friends. We have nine kids so we do quite a large amount of laundry. Everything comes out with little work-we only change nuts every 5-6 loads. Beets left on a baby bib and white onesie overnight came completely out! Yeah for soap nuts! Thanks again.

    Reply
  19. Gaby Avatar
    Gaby

    I have a few questions:
    Can you reuse the same nuts more than once? I know that wen you use them to wash clothes you can and i was wondering if it was possible/necesary with this shampoo as well.
    I noticed that a lot of foam remained in the muslin bag even after sqeezing it a few times. Do i need to try harder and get everything out and into my bottle or is the shampoo strong enough even without it?
    For how long can i keep it in the fridge? Can i also store it outside(in the bathroom)? How can i tell it’s gone bad?

    Reply
    1. Katie - Wellness Mama Avatar
      Katie – Wellness Mama

      It should be strong enough even if it still has suds. You can re-use but would want to store in the fridge until then. They definitely get an off-smell when they go bad

      Reply
      1. Beth Sherrow Avatar
        Beth Sherrow

        If I add a natural preservative can it stay room temp without going bad?

        Reply
  20. Lottie Chaney Avatar
    Lottie Chaney

    I have tried every homemade shampoo recipe going, but for some reason have not come accross using soapnuts! Ive used them cleaning laundry for a few years on and off so I had bag already in my cupboard.

    I used this recipe but added xanthan gum to thicken it up… and I have to say my hair feels amazing!!! Ive washed it a few times now and its considerably less frizzy, softer, shinier and feels so clean. Ive been sk disappointed with previous recipes ive tried but I love this one and so does my family.

    I know I cant use this on my 18 month olds hair as it could get in her eyes… any suggestions of shampoo I could make that is tear free??

    Reply
    1. Kristine Avatar
      Kristine

      How much xanthan gum did you use? I’ve been using baking soda and apple cider vinegar for the past couple of years, and every couple of months I scour the internet for simple shampoo recipes that are thicker and actually have more of a shampoo consistency. This looks like it could work how I want it to. So excited to try it!

      Reply
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