Yes, you read the title right –you can make shampoo using berries harvested from the wild! The resulting shampoo doesn’t have the soapy lather or shelf life of commercial shampoos, but it gets the job done and you know for sure you’re only putting wild berries on your head and not any mystery chemicals, toxins, or preservatives. Even if it’s not something you’d do every day, it sure is a fun activity while camping. As usual, practice ethical wildcrafting!
- Devil’s Club - good for dandruff, dry itchy scalp, and lice
- Snowberry - good for blond or light-coloured hair
- Soapberry - good for red or brown hair
To make wild berry shampoo you will need 1 cup of fresh berries or 1/2 cup of dried and 1 cup of freshly boiled water. Pour the hot water over the berries and mash or put through a blender. If using dried berries, be sure to let the mixture sit for 15-30 minutes, or more if needed, to allow the berries to soften for easier mashing and blending. The mix will last 2-3 days in the fridge and will only last that many washes as well. You can always freeze the fresh berries or the shampoo mixture to have enough for regular use.
To use, massage a portion of the berry mash into damp hair and rinse. Rinsing with cool or cold water keeps hair moist and shiny.
Tips and Tricks: Devil’s Club and Snowberries can only be picked in the wild and cannot be purchased, but Soapberries can be purchased in bulk from some retailers such as Richter’s. Like the idea but don’t have access to any of the berries? Try making a soapwort infusion instead to massage and rinse your hair with.
If you have dandruff and are making a berry shampoo with Devil’s Club, also try adding 1 Tbsp of apple cider vinegar to the blend. If you have oily hair, try adding 1 Tbsp of baking soda to 2 Tbsp’s worth of the berry mash.
Want to take the recipe further? Try adding wild harvested nettles or mints, all-purpose hair tonics, by making an infusion with the hot water before adding it to the berries. Also try adding peppermint oil for a stimulating experience great for dry, itchy, flaky scalp.
Warnings: The berries of Devil’s Club and Snowberry are poisonous so make sure to keep the berries and/or the shampoo away from children and pets and keep the shampoo out of your eyes. Soapberries are edible in moderation and are the safer option, especially if you’ll be making this recipe with children.