Homemade Rosemary Shampoo Recipe for Healthy Hair

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There’s something so satisfying about creating products from scratch and knowing exactly what goes into them. This rosemary shampoo is one of my favorite homemade hair recipes lately.

Keep in mind that if you’re switching to a more natural shampoo, your hair and scalp may need a little time to adjust. During the transition period, your hair may temporarily feel greasier, drier, or even a bit more tangled than usual.

Don’t panic if this happens it’s completely normal. For some people, it can take a few weeks and sometimes up to a month for hair to fully adapt to a new natural routine. Once your hair adjusts, many people find that it begins to feel more balanced and manageable over time.

One thing I especially love about this shampoo is that it feels much more conditioning than many homemade recipes. It’s gentle enough for dry, damaged, or easily tangled hair while still giving a good cleanse.

This recipe makes approximately 8 ounces.

Homemade Rosemary Shampoo Recipe

Water Phase

• 1/2 cup distilled water
• 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
• 3/4 teaspoon panthenol
• 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum

Surfactant Phase

• 2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon decyl glucoside
• 1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons cocamidopropyl betaine
• 2 teaspoons coco glucoside

Conditioning Phase

• 1 tablespoon BTMS-50
• 2 teaspoons cetyl alcohol

Cool Down Phase

• Preservative of choice (follow your supplier’s directions)
• 58 drops rosemary essential oil (about 1/3 teaspoon)

How to Make Rosemary Shampoo

1. Prepare the Water Phase

In a heat-safe container, combine the vegetable glycerin and xanthan gum first. Mixing these together before adding water helps prevent clumping.

Once combined, add the distilled water and panthenol and stir well.

2. Prepare the Conditioning Phase

In a separate heat-safe container, combine the BTMS-50 and cetyl alcohol.

3. Heat Both Mixtures

Using a double boiler, gently heat both containers until the conditioning ingredients completely melt and both phases reach approximately 160–170°F.

Having both phases at similar temperatures helps everything blend smoothly.

4. Combine and Blend

Pour the conditioning phase into the water phase and mix thoroughly.

For a smoother texture, use short bursts of an immersion blender.

Blend only until smooth.

5. Slowly Add the Cleansing Ingredients

Gently stir in:

• Decyl glucoside
• Cocamidopropyl betaine
• Coco glucoside

Mix slowly with a spatula or stirring stick.

Avoid using an immersion blender during this step because surfactants create a lot of foam and bubbles.

6. Cool the Shampoo

Allow the mixture to cool below 100°F before moving to the next step.

Cooling protects the preservative and essential oils from degrading.

7. Add the Rosemary Essential Oil and Preservative

Stir in your preservative according to your supplier’s recommended usage rate.

Add the rosemary essential oil and gently stir everything together.

Let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes.

8. Test and Adjust the pH

Check the pH and adjust if necessary so the shampoo falls between 4.5–5.5.

Hair and scalp generally prefer a slightly acidic pH, which can help improve feel and manageability.

To lower the pH, create a citric acid solution by mixing:

• 1 teaspoon citric acid
• 9 teaspoons distilled water

Add only a few drops at a time, stir, and test again before adding more.

9. Bottle and Wait

Pour your shampoo into bottles and allow it to fully thicken for 24 hours before using.

The texture often improves overnight.

Notes

• This shampoo creates a gentle, conditioning cleanse that works especially well for dry or damaged hair.
• Store in a cool, dry place.
• Because this recipe contains water, a preservative is required for safety and shelf life. Skipping it can lead to bacterial or mold growth.