3 great homemade shampoos for oily hair

A homemade shampoo may be an effective option for treating chronically oily hair.

If you suffer from oily hair, chances are you have tried your share of commercial shampoos and rinses to achieve healthy locks. Here are three home recipes that can help with this issue.

This shampoo includes sage, which is one of the best clarifying ingredients for oily hair.

Rosemary and jojoba oil do a great job of balancing your scalp's natural oils, which helps combat oily tresses. The ingredients in this shampoo are:

• 240 mL distilled water
• 15 g sage (preferably fresh, but dried will work too)
• 15 g rosemary (preferably fresh, but dried will work too)
• 15 mL jojoba oil
• 80 mL liquid castile soap

To make sage, rosemary and jojoba shampoo, boil the water and, using a tea strainer, steep the sage and rosemary in it for 25-45 minutes. Add soap and jojoba oil, and stir gently. Store in a cool, dark place and use within a week to prevent spoilage.

Tea tree is a wonderful antifungal and antiseptic oil, making it great for both oily and dandruff-affected scalps.

It also keeps head lice at bay, so it's a great addition to shampoo used by school-aged children.

Apricot oil has wonderful soothing properties that help balance the scalp and address split ends.

Note: Tea tree can cause a mild rash in people with an allergy to this oil. If you're unsure whether you're allergic to tea tree oil, it is recommended to do a patch test on a small area of skin before using the oil in your shampoo.

The ingredients in this shampoo are:

• 240 mL distilled water
• 80 mL liquid castile soap
• 10 drops tea tree oil
• 5 mL apricot oil

To make tea tree and apricot oil shampoo, gently mix the distilled water and castile soap together and then add the oils. Store in a cool, dark place.

Aloe vera is a plant with gel-like juices that have wonderful healing and anti-fungal properties.

This makes it a great addition to a shampoo designed to address scalp issues. Lemon is an excellent cleanser that removes excess oils gently and effectively.

The ingredients in this shampoo are:

• 180 mL distilled water
• 60 mL liquid castile soap
• 2.5 mL aloe vera gel (fresh or store bought)
• 15 mL lemon juice

To make aloe vera and lemon shampoo, gently stir the water and Castile soap together. Add aloe vera and lemon juice and stir to combine. Store in a cool, dark place.

Each of these recipes is natural, gentle and effective, and can help you achieve oil-free locks.