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Soap Nuts Shampoo

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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

211 responses to “Soap Nuts Shampoo”

  1. Ritu Avatar
    Ritu

    Hello, Is there a reason we cannot boil soap nuts directly in water and need to put in a muslin bag?
    Thanks!!

    Reply
  2. Mel Avatar
    Mel

    I have used soap nuts for years for just about everything that needs cleaning, but soap nut shampoo needs to be made from the liquid version and you need very little to clean your hair. if you use it like ordinary shampoo it will leave your hair sticky.( and gallons of water to rinse out) It takes only about 5 to 10 millilitres to wash your hair. It is definitely a case of less does more with this shampoo!

    Reply
    1. Mehwish Avatar
      Mehwish

      Hi there ! I did not quite understand what you meant by the liquid version; isn’t this recipe a liquid version ? Please enlighten, thanks ! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Hortense Avatar
    Hortense

    Hi, thanks a lot for this recipe! I thought I’d take the opportunity of the coronavirus confinement to go no-poo, with not much success after a month, so ready to try other things. We use soap nuts for our laundry, so I was very excited to try it, but after the first use my hair was at least as greasy as before the wash, and even became sticky, although I rinsed a lot. The next day, I washed my hair with water only, and the stickiness was still there, as if I had put some honey in my hair…. Do you know what I could have done wrong when preparing the recipe? Thanks!!!

    Reply
    1. Ashley Avatar
      Ashley

      The same thing has happened to me. I’m going to try to do an apple cider vinegar mixed with water rinse after shampooing. Hoping this gets rid of the stickyness.

      Reply
    2. Justyna Avatar
      Justyna

      Have you tried using soap nut powder (Reetha/Aritha powder)? You just mix a bit with water to make a paste and leave it on hair… Worked for me! 🙂

      Reply
    3. Beth Ann Porter Avatar
      Beth Ann Porter

      Greetings Hortense!
      If you were using traditional hair care products, they contain plasticizers that coat the hair to reduce frizz and add fake plastic shine. It will take several shampoos with the soap nuts to loosen the plastics and remove the stickiness left behind by traditional shampoo & hair care products.! But it’s worth the effort to finally feel your hair without any plastic stickiness and see the real shine of clean, healthy hair!
      Using a baking soda paste can help loosen the plastic, but it’s also high on the alkaline scale, so it will be drying…especially if used regularly to strip plastics from your hair.
      That’s why hair feels like straw if baking soda is used as a no poo method of cleaning hair.
      Using 1-2 drops of Argan oil, depending on the length & density of your hair, will help restore moisture & shine after a baking soda cleanse. Coconut oil works well for some people, but the Aragon oil works best for my fine hair.
      Soap nuts shampoo is the best product I have ever used on my hair & skin & for my laundry as well!
      Since it has to be kept in the refrigerator for hair & skin, it can be challenging, but buying a foaming soap bottle will make it even easier to use a safe, healthy product for hair & skin care!
      I also use Tropical Traditions Natural Soaps & the pump on their 8 oz. liquid soap bottle is designed to mix air with the product and create foam. So after one is empty, I rinse it out & use it to foam my Soap Nuts shampoo & store in the refrigerator.
      Some people are able to use Tropical Tradition soaps for hair & body care, but they were too drying for me.
      Hope this helps!

      Reply
  4. Pam Avatar
    Pam

    I have been using a king soda and vinegar on m hair for two years. My hair is dry. Switched to soap nuts. First time amazing. Second it is twice dry again! Can’t use vinegar for a rinse anymore. Skin doesn’t like it suggestions? Allergic to just about all oils

    Reply
    1. Natalie Avatar
      Natalie

      Have you tried using rye flour? It sounds totally crazy but it works well for my hair. It does take a fair bit of rinsing but a thorough rinse and once my hair is dry a brush through with a tampico fiber brush (a cruelty-free alternative to boar bristle brush) is enough to remove any remaining flour flakes. I tried it initially after developing dandruff when I moved into a place with very hard water, and it worked! So I’ve stuck with it.

      Reply
  5. Dorothy Avatar
    Dorothy

    I looked up the peri bottle you recommend Cor storing soap nut shampoo in. Is this one of the exceptions to not using plastic storage, not that I’m there yet, but just wondering?

    Reply
  6. Dorothy Avatar
    Dorothy

    I’m a fan of Wellnessmama, with two of your books and regular emails. But I rarely join in the conversations. Anyway, this is just what I needed as we’ve been using a shampoo bar, better than most shampoos, but it still seems to strip the oils from the scalp and my hair feels a bit frizzy. I was on a website today looking at organic and non-toxic shampoos, and they’re pricey, to say the least. I’m already using soap nuts for laundry with a shake of baking soda and sometimes Katie’s homemade bleach. So this looks like another good solution and I look forward to trying it. Rosemary is good for dandruff, but any essential oil probably loses some of its effectiveness if you use it all the time, according to a person who has lots of experience with essential oils. Thanks for the recipe!!

    Reply
  7. Jamie Avatar
    Jamie

    Hey, just wondering…has anybody tried the soapnuts combined with coconut milk? Make sure you don’t get soapnut liquid in your eyes..stings real bad…but love the stuff..Jamie

    Reply
  8. dawn Avatar
    dawn

    i’ll be making soapnut liquid for the very first time. been looking on the internet for recipes and they can differ quite a bit when it comes to the water–15 soapnuts with 5,6,8, or 10 cups of water. quite a range. up to double the amount of water. can you tell me what made you choose your measurements?

    Reply
  9. Joanie Avatar
    Joanie

    This recipe is the only thing that works for my husband’s psoriasis AND it tremendeously helped my baby daughter with cradle cap. I was so awed by the results that I am using on my hair too now. I used to buy those very expensive shampoo and conditionners… Not anymore !!! Thank you!!!

    Reply
  10. liz Avatar
    liz

    Do you put on dry hair? Or wet?

    Also do you find your hair is frizzy like when you don’t use conditioner?

    I really want less chemicals on my hair….but
    I struggle without conditioner

    Reply
  11. Sonja Avatar
    Sonja

    Can you reuse the soap nuts again like when you use then in the laundry machine?
    Love your site!

    Reply
  12. Yvonne Fernandrs Avatar
    Yvonne Fernandrs

    I am so fortunate to have a Soap nut (Reetha) tree in my garden .
    I live in Goa ,India .
    I didn’t know the use of them until a few years later….how sad …
    Now I have them in abundance .
    I notice that all recipes show dried nuts .
    As mine fall are fresh and green ,with lots of soap .Can I use the when not dried to have the same effect .
    I have dried too .
    I’m just beginning to experiment .
    I use the to clean everything .
    Yvonne .

    Reply
  14. sami Avatar
    sami

    Thanks for all the tips and posts. I’m allergic to coconut products, including oil and milk (castile soaps are the worst!), also allergic to milk (actual allergy), babassu (cousin to coconut) and I think aloe! So its pretty well impossible to find a shampoo. Will give soap nuts a try. Prob i’ll be allergic to that too- i tried some nuts in a cup shaken with water and samples it on some hair clippings. my nose and eye is burning now…will see. I have been using it to handwash clothes and was ok. Also eager to try the arrowhead root dry shampoo that someone mentioned

    on moutain rose herbs – I’ve bought things from there which are bad smelling (flax seeds, anise) – perhaps they store it too close to other things and it absorbs odors. Bought my soap nuts from a vitamin place and no bad smell. I will only by glass jars from mountain rose herbs now because i’ve had bad experiences from their edible products.

    Reply
  16. Therese Avatar
    Therese

    I’ve been using soapberries for laundry and cleaning for years. When I make shampoo I add 1/2 teaspoon of herbs de Provence in a teaball. It makes it smell nice and isn’t as harsh as essential oils can be if you have super sensitive skin,

    Reply
  17. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    Hi there! First, thank you for your awesome blog! For a long time, I was using your deodorant recipe and it worked great. Then, I started getting a rash in my armpits and I thought it was due to the baking soda, but, it turns out, I’m allergic to coconut! This has been a HUGE pain to find a shampoo (I was formally using baking soda and water, but moved into a home that has a well and the hard water didn’t sit well with the no-poo method). I was so excited to see the article about soap nut shampoo since I was already using it for my laundry. But, am I doing something wrong?!?! I’ve only used it once, but my hair felt like wax-covered straw! Is this just a detox phase? Should I have allowed the water and soap nuts to cook down more? Any advice would be great because I love soap nuts and really cannot afford the very few options of coconut free shampoos. Thanks so much for the help!

    Reply
  18. Sanjeevini Avatar
    Sanjeevini

    Hi, I have been use soap not from my childhood. Few Soap nuts are boiled on water and Hibiscus leaves are added to it
    A good lather is seen when the mixture is taken into hands and rubbed. This mixture is used for the hair. (Curd and lemon mixture is applied to hair upon which this soap nut mixture is applied). It works great.

    Reply
  19. Kathryn Avatar
    Kathryn

    I read through the comments the best I could, but am still hoping for an answer to my question..
    I just tried your recipe exactly for washing my hair. I did add water to it before using since I have very long hair that’s dense at the root. I left on for 5 minutes and rinsed well. Then, because I have well water, I rinsed with a 1:4 ratio of vinegar to water. The ends of my hair are SO shiny and perfect. However, the inch near my roots is stil greasy and this is right out of the shower.
    So did I do something wrong? Maybe I need to make a double batch and wash twice?
    Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thank you:)

    Reply
  20. swateh Avatar
    swateh

    my hair is greasy after using this. did it happen to someone else too? help

    Reply
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