How To: Make Your Own Shampoo {Vegas Inspired}

Who thinks about homemade soap and shampoo while on vacation?  Apparently, I do.

Recently, I basked in the sparkling spotlight of the Las Vegas strip.  It was my first visit to Sin City and I felt sure people could tell I must be from Texas.  But us tourist types are out-of-towners anyway.  Not to mention, it happened to be NASCAR weekend and Texas was definitely representing.  Also, helpful was the big stamp of approval in the form of my monogram being emblazoned on practically everything; LVN for Lynn Van Noy, right?  Or was that Las Vegas, Nevada.

Larger than life statues of Greek Gods stood casually in front of the Forum and flashing billboards of Garth Brooks and Celine Dion lined the famous street bustling with people.  There was blissful reconnecting with my friends, fabulous food and world-class shows.  But all the way from the top of the Eiffel Tower down to the dancing fountains at the Bellagio, I had one thought in the back of my mind.

That big spa tub back in my hotel room was just waiting for me.

I imagined mixing essential oils and epsom salts for the most decadent soak.  Perhaps a milk bath with rose petals.  Pure Castile soap blended with chamomile flowers would make the perfect body wash.

So there I was ‘city center’ Vegas and all my oils and homemade scrubs were over a thousand miles away at home.  I should have been thinking about the frozen Bailey’s or laying out by the pool but no, I was trying to figure out where to buy any bath products using natural organic flowers and oils.

With one night left in this epic adventure, we happened upon a shopping mall, mostly in search of something to eat.  And there it was.  L’Occitane en Provence is a European based boutique specializing in all natural body products.  Needless to say, I spent a little money but it was no gamble.  Now I was ready, I had almond and lavender bubble bath and a variety of organic flower soaps.

Finally, I had a wonderful hour-long spa bath.  Definitely one of my favorite Vegas experiences!

So forget all about “what happens in Vegas” staying in Vegas and enjoy my favorite homemade shampoo recipe for a relaxing at-home stay-cation!

HERBAL SHAMPOO RECIPE

• 1 cup distilled water
• 3 tbsp rosemary
• 1 tbsp lemongrass
• 2 tsp tea tree oil
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup Castile liquid soap

Heat the water in a pot and bring to a boil.  If you have a strainer, place the rosemary and lemongrass in it.  Place the herbs in a container that can hold boiling water.  Pour the water over the herbs, mixing the herbs up.  Cover the pot with the herbs inside and let the mixture steep for 20 minutes.

When the time has elapsed, uncover the container and mix the herbs around a little more.  Remove the herbs from the container.  Mix the tea tree oil and vanilla into the water.

Mix the soap into the infused water, making sure the soap dissolves completely.  Because you’re mixing oil, water and soap it’s important that you mix very well, spreading the oil out as much as possible.

Pour the mixture into your container  and viola.. you’ve made your own herbal shampoo.  Let the shampoo cool and then place the cap on tightly.  This recipe makes about 12 ounces of shampoo.