How To Wash Your Hair With Castile Soap

The tips and tricks to reap all the benefits of this gentle soap for your hair.

Reviewed by Ghanima Abdullah Ghanima Abdullah, Cosmetologist
By Ramona Sinha Ramona Sinha, Certified Skin Care Coach • May 30, 2023

Image: Shutterstock

If you are looking for a natural alternative to your regular shampoo, you may try castile soap for hair. It is a plant-based soap used in DIY soap-making and shampoo recipes. It is best for those with sensitive scalp and those who cannot tolerate regular shampoos. However, switching from shampoo to castile soap may take time as it is more alkaline than shampoo and can disrupt the scalp’s pH. You may need time to get used to it. Keep reading to understand how castile soap works for hair and the right way to use it.

Know Your Ingredient: Castile Soap

What Is It?
A non-irritating, natural, vegetable oil-based cleansing soap.

What Are Its Benefits?
It helps soothe scalp issues like eczema and preserves the natural oils of the scalp to boost scalp and hair health.

Who Can Use It?
Since castile soap is gentle on the scalp, it is suitable for people with an itchy, irritated, and dry scalp.

How Often?
You can use it 2-3 times a week, depending on your scalp condition and hair type.

Caution
Avoid using this alkaline soap on color-treated hair, as it can strip your hair of its color.

In This Article

What Is Castile Soap?

Woman using castile soap shampoo for hair wash

Image: Shutterstock

Castile soap is a multipurpose natural soap made from plants, nuts, and vegetable-derived oils. It originated in Castile, Spain, and was traditionally made using olive oil.

Castile soap contains lye (a metal hydroxide obtained from wood ash) and produces soap molecules. When you mix castile soap with water, it makes charged atoms that help dislodge dirt, grime, and grease. There are many benefits of switching from commercial shampoos to natural castile soap.

Did You Know?

Castille soap is one of the oldest known soaps and has been used since Medieval times.

The Benefits Of Using Castile Soap For Hair

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1. It Is Gentle

Castile soap is natural and has fewer ingredients in it. This oil-based, non-toxic soap cleanses gently and is extremely good for sensitive scalp. Castile soap is good for anyone with scalp issues (like eczema and dermatitisⁱXA general term used to refer to skin conditions involving irritation and inflammation caused by contact with a substance. ) or those looking for a non-drying cleanser for hair.

2. It Is Non-Irritating

Like commercial shampoos, castile soap does not contain fragrances, harsh detergents, and chemicals that might irritate the skin. Moreover, it preserves the natural oils of the scalp and helps maintain a healthy scalp. This may also help keep the hair follicles healthy and promote a healthy hair growth rate.

If you are looking for a non-irritating and gentle cleanser that will not damage and dry out your hair, you can use castile soap. However, dilute it before using. Here is how you can use castile soap instead of shampoo.

How To Wash Your Hair With Castile Soap

Woman holding a bottle of diluted castile soap shampoo

Image: IStock

1. Dilute The Soap

Castile soap is alkaline and can affect your scalp pH. Hence, use a tiny amount of the soap and dilute it with purified water. To start, mix a tablespoon of grated castile soap with 4 cups of purified water (each cup 100 ml). Shake the mixture until the soap is melted. You can adjust the ratio as per your hair needs. However, do not use too much castile soap.

2. Use A Post-Wash Acidic Rinse

Castile soap is alkaline and should be followed with an acidic rinse to restore scalp pH. You can use diluted lemon juice or apple cider vinegar rinse. Dilute ¼ cup of lemon juice or 4 tablespoons of ACV with 2 cups of water (100 ml each). Use this mixture as a post-wash rinse to wash your scalp and hair. Wait for a few minutes and rinse your hair with water.

3. Moisturize With An Oil

There is no need to use a conditioner. Instead, use any vegetable oil to lock in the moisture. You may use coconut, avocado, jojoba, argan, sweet almond, or apricot oil.

You can also mix castile soap with other ingredients to customize the natural shampoo. In the next section, we have shared a few recipes you may try.

DIY Castile Soap Recipes For Healthy Hair

1. Lavender And Almond Oil Castile Soap Shampoo

Almond oil has emollientⁱXAny substance with a moisturizing property that helps smoothen the skin and keep it soft by forming a protective film on the skin. properties (1). Hence, it may help keep the scalp and hair moisturized. Lavender essential oil is used in aromatherapy to reduce stress and anxiety (2).

You Will Need

A bar of castile soap (melt and pour base)
20-30 drops of lavender essential oil (for fragrance)
½ teaspoon of sweet almond oil
2 cups of purified water (100 ml each)

Method

Heat the castile soap in a double boiler until it melts. Let it cool down.
Mix four tablespoons of the liquid castile soap with the water.
Add the oils to the solution and mix.
Pour the soap into a bottle and use it instead of a shampoo.

Quick Tip

Dr. Bronner and his family started making and selling liquid castile soap in the late 1800s.

2. Peppermint And Tea Tree Castile Shampoo

Closeup of hand mixing essential oils to prepare castile soap shampoo

Image: Shutterstock

Peppermint oil promotes hair growth without irritating the scalp (3). It also adds a refreshing minty fragrance to the shampoo. Tea tree oil has antiseptic and antimicrobial properties (4). These can keep the scalp healthy.

You Will Need

4 tablespoons of liquid castile soap
10-20 drops of peppermint oil
10-20 drops of tea tree essential oil
200 ml of purified water

Method

Dilute the castile soap with water and mix the oils.
Transfer the solution to a bottle.
Wash your hair with the solution.

3. Clove Oil And Castile Soap Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

Research states that clove oil is effective against MalasseziaⁱXA genus of fungi naturally found on the skin of warm-blooded animals. It appears as itchy bumps on the skin in its nascent stage. and can help manage dandruff (5).

You Will Need

4 tablespoons of liquid castile soap
20-30 drops of clove oil
200 ml of purified water

Method

Dilute the castile soap with water.
Add the oil and mix.
Store it in a bottle and use it for washing your hair.

Transitioning to natural castile soap from commercial shampoos is not easy. All hair types react differently. Initially, your hair may feel weighed down, and you may not get that squeaky clean feeling. However, this is temporary, and your hair needs time to adjust to the new routine.

Here are a few more pointers to keep in mind before you start using castile soap.

Things To Know Before Using Castile Soap

A bottle of liquid castile soap and a bar of natural soap

Image: Shutterstock

Do Not Use On Colored Hair: Castile soap is an alkaline product and will strip your hair of its color.

Do Not Combine Castile Soap With ACV And Lemon: Apple cider vinegar and lemon juice are acidic, while castile soap is alkaline. Acids and alkalisⁱXA base that produces hydroxide ions when it comes in contact with water and combines with acids to form salts. neutralize each other. This is not hazardous but will leave residue and an oily film on the hair. Instead, rinse with diluted lemon juice or ACV after cleansing your hair with castile soap.

Infographic: A Step-By-Step Guide To Using Castile Soap To Wash Your Hair

If you have a dry, itchy, or irritated scalp, using shampoos formulated with harsh chemicals can make matters worse. They strip out the moisture from the scalp, causing hair fall. So, what’s the way out? Try incorporating a natural cleanser such as castile soap, made of earth-friendly ingredients, to rinse your hair. Check out the infographic below to learn how to wash your hair effectively with castile soap.

a step by step guide to using castile soap to wash your hair (infographic)

Save the high-quality PDF version on your device now.

Download Infographic

In a gist, castile soap is a plant-based, chemical-free alternative soap. You can use castile soap for washing your hair as it is gentle on the hair and scalp. It can be used on a sensitive scalp with issues like dermatitis and eczemaⁱXA common and chronic skin condition that causes dryness, irritation, inflammation, and red rashes on the skin. . It does not contain any harsh ingredients, such as artificial fragrances or detergents. You can use this soap as a post-wash rinse or a moisturizer paired with an oil. You can scroll up and check out the many DIY recipes to apply it to your hair. These recipes pair castile soap with hair-benefiting ingredients like peppermint. Use these remedies regularly to see notable results.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does castile soap make hair greasy?

Since castile soap is alkaline, it may disrupt the pH level of your scalp, making it feel greasy.

Is castile soap good for natural black hair?

Yes, castile soap is excellent and safe for natural black hair. Just make sure to use it the right way.

Key Takeaways

Castille soaps originated in Castille, Spain.
They are made from plant-based ingredients that are beneficial for scalp issues such as eczema and maintain the natural oils in your hair.
You should take proper care to maintain hydration and pH balance of the hair and scalp while using Castile soaps.
You can try the peppermint Castille shampoo recipe at home to boost your hair health.
Castille soap should not be used on colored hair as it may strip your hair of its color.

Sources:

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