Using a home-made olive oil and aloe vera shampoo is one of the best options for natural hair care, especially if you have weak, dry or damaged hair. This is because these two ingredients provide all the hydration that your hair needs to recover its shine and vitality.

Extra virgin olive oil is a completely natural product obtained entirely from cold-pressed olives. It contains anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties which can help keep your scalp  healthy, making it ideal for sensitive skin and hair. It also helps prevent dandruff and calms irritated scalps. What's more, olive oil can reduce and even prevent hair loss as it blocks the hormone responsible for the contraction of hair follicles, DHT. It is essential to use extra virgin olive oil to ensure you get the benefit of all its healthy properties, such as monounsaturated fats and vitamin E, an important antioxidant which promotes hair growth.

Aloe vera is a plant which has traditionally been used on the skin to relieve burns and its usefulness for the hair has until recently been less well-known. Its natural enzymes destroy dead skin cells and conserve the pH level of the scalp. This is why it is very effective for conditioning the hair, treating dandruff and promoting hair growth.

Making your own olive oil and aloe vera shampoo is very easy – all you have to do is follow this simple recipe:

Ingredients:

• ½ a cupful of pH neutral soap, grated
• 2 teaspoonfuls of extra virgin olive oil
• 3 teaspoonfuls of aloe vera pulp
• a handful of camomile leaves and flowers
• 1 litre of water

Preparation:

Put the water to boil in a saucepan. When it starts to boil, add the camomile and let it simmer over a low heat for about 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and leave it for a couple of minutes. Next, strain the water and pour it into a container with a lid.

While the infusion is still hot, add the soap, put the lid on and shake the container until the soap has completely dissolved. Add the olive oil and the aloe vera and repeat this operation. Now, just wait for the shampoo to cool a little and it will be ready to use.

Bear in mind that all the ingredients are natural and there are no preservatives. Therefore, it will not keep for a long time and it is best to use the shampoo soon after preparation.