Natural Shampoos and Conditioners
In 1990 I decided not to use the commercially made shampoos after reading Aubrey Hampton's book, "Natural Organic Hair and Skin Care." In this book Aubrey tells you how to read the label on any product that you put on your skin or hair.

Manufacturers are constantly using toxic chemicals in their skin and hair products and disregard their toxic effects on your body. This is easily seen in the list of chemicals that they use. Here are a few of these chemicals found in many product labels:

* propylene glycol or glycol- a petrochemical used because it is cheap
* cetearyl alcohol - emulsifier that can be synthetic or natural
* methylparaben or propylparaben - typical synthetic preservatives
* distearate - this is polyethylene glycol or polypropylene glycol which are petrochemicals
* isopropyl alcohol - used as a cheap solvent to carry synthetic oils.

Here is a natural shampoo that you can make. This formulation is something that I have been using for many years. First collect the following items:

4 oz of castile soap with any scent is that available - plain, peppermint, eucalyptus.

½ oz of rosemary - stimulates the hair follicles and helps to prevent premature baldness

½ oz of sage - has antioxidants and keeps things from spoiling and is antibacterial

½ oz of nettles - acts as a blood purifier, blood stimulator, contains a large source of nutrients for hair growth

½ of lavender - controls the production of sebaceous gland oil and reduces itchy and flaky scalp conditions

2000 mg of MSM - provides organic sulfur to your scalp, which improves the health and strength of your hair. It also helps to drive herbal nutrient into the skin and follicles where they can do the most good.

One empty 8 oz plastic bottle, or any other empty shampoo or soap bottle.

Mix the herbs in a mason jar, which has a lid. Boil 2 cups of distilled water. Add 3 heaping tablespoons of the mixed herbs into the boiling water. Pull the boiling water and herbs off the stove. Let the herb mixture sit for 30 - 40 minutes. Put the 2000mg of MSM into the herb mixture after 30 minutes of cooling. After 40 minutes and the MSM is melted, strain the herbal mixture into a bowl.

Pour 2 to 2 1/2 oz of strained herbal tea into the 8 oz plastic bottle. Now, pour the 4 oz of castile soap into the 8 oz plastic bottle. Cap the bottle and shake to mix the ingredients.

The shampoo is now finished and ready for use. Use this as a base for all of the shampoos you make. You can add different herbs as you learn what these herbs do and how they help your hair. You can vary the ingredients according to your taste. But now you have a shampoo that has no additives that can harm you.

taken from http://ezinearticles.com/?Making-Your-O ... o&id=31263
also visit http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=how+to+make+natural+shampoos&btnG=Search&meta=

Natural Toothpaste
It's easy to make your own natural toothpaste! These instructions are especially useful if you are trying to minimize exposure to fluoride, such as for children or people who already have fluorosis. This toothpaste is sugar-free and non-toxic.

Here's How:
Mix three parts baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) with one part table salt (sodium chloride). Add three teaspoons of glycerine for every 1/4 cup of dry mixture. Add enough water to make a thick paste. If desired, a few drops of peppermint oil may be added to improve the taste. Apply and use just as you would any other toothpaste. Store unused toothpaste at room temperature in a covered container.

Don't like the flavor? You can use a different mint oil, oil of cinnamon, or oil of cloves (small quantity) instead of or in combination with peppermint oil. Glycerine (sometimes spelled glycerin) is available at many pharmacies or in craft stores that sell soap-making supplies.

taken from http://chemistry.about.com/cs/howtos/ht/toothpaste.htm
also visit http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=how+to+make+natural+toothpaste&meta=