🌿 Herbal Shampoo for Hair That Remembers Its Roots

Nettle‑Rosemary & Soapwort | A Gentle, Wildcrafted Cleanse

There’s something powerful about washing your hair with the same plants your ancestors walked past every day or used themselves. This recipe isn’t just about clean hair. It’s about remembering. Reclaiming. Returning.

Today on The Rooted Woman, I’m sharing a simple, time-tested recipe for an herbal shampoo made from stinging nettle, rosemary, and soapwort root, with the option to stir in honey and apple cider vinegar for a little extra nourishment. These are plants you can grow, forage, or source from local herbalists right here in Southern Ontario.

This one’s for the aunties, the medicine women, and the do-it-yourselfers who prefer mason jars over marketing claims.

✳️ Why These Ingredients?

These aren’t trendy superfoods or Instagram fillers. These are plants with centuries of wisdom and a whole lot of hair-healing power:

🌱 Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)

Nettle is loaded with vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and minerals like silica all of which strengthen strands, reduce shedding, and support scalp health.
🧠 Bonus: It’s also known to inhibit DHT, the hormone linked to hair loss.

Science says: Studies cited by MDhair suggest nettle protects hair from damage and improves circulation to the scalp.

🌿 Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Known for stimulating hair follicles and supporting regrowth, rosemary is a longtime go-to for folks with thinning hair or slow growth. It smells like clarity, too.

Cleveland Clinic says: Rosemary oil may be just as effective as minoxidil (aka Rogaine) in treating androgenic alopecia. It also reduces dandruff and inflammation.

🧼 Soapwort Root (Saponaria officinalis)

This plant doesn’t just look pretty, it’s nature’s shampoo. Soapwort’s saponins create a gentle, natural lather without sulfates, parabens, or stripping agents.

Dr. Axe reports: Soapwort has been used for thousands of years to cleanse skin and hair. It’s great for sensitive scalps.

🍯 Optional Add-Ins

Raw Honey - Moisturizing, shine-boosting, and soothing.
Apple Cider Vinegar - Balances pH, smooths hair cuticles, adds gloss.
Essential Oils (Lavender or Rosemary) - For scent, calm, and added benefits.

🧪 The Recipe: Herbal Hair Decoction

What You’ll Need:

2 cups fresh stinging nettle leaves
2–3 sprigs fresh rosemary (or 1 tbsp dried)
2 tbsp chopped soapwort root
4 cups water
(Optional) 1 tbsp raw honey
(Optional) 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
(Optional) 10 drops essential oil

How To Make It:

Simmer the Plants
In a pot, combine nettle, rosemary, and soapwort with 4 cups of water. Bring to a gentle simmer for 20 minutes. Don’t boil hard we’re not making soup, we’re making medicine.
Cool & Strain
Let the decoction cool completely. Strain out the plant material with a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth.
Add Your Extras
Stir in honey, ACV, or essential oils, if using.
Bottle It Up
Pour into a clean squeeze bottle or jar. Label it and keep it in the fridge. Use within 2 weeks.

💧 How To Use:

Shake before each use.
Massage into wet hair and scalp.
Let it sit for a minute or two to soak in those plant powers.
Rinse thoroughly.

You won’t get the sudsy explosion of commercial shampoo, and you won’t need it. This gentle lather is enough to cleanse your scalp without stripping your hair of its natural oils.

💬 Final Thoughts From The Rooted Woman

Making your own shampoo is an act of sovereignty. It’s not just about going “natural” it’s about getting back in touch with what grows around you and what grows inside you. The world will sell you a million bottles of promises. But your roots know better.

So go ahead walk out into the sun, pick your medicine, and give your hair the care your great-grandmother would be proud of.

Let the nettle sting and the rosemary sing. 💚

The Rooted Woman

Friday, August 1, 2025