Formulation And Evaluation Of Herbal Shampoo

Herbal shampoo is a natural hair care formulation prepared from plant-derived ingredients that possess cleansing, therapeutic, and cosmetic properties. It is designed to effectively remove dirt, excess oil, and dandruff while supporting healthy hair growth, improving hair strength, and maintaining natural hair color. Unlike conventional shampoos that often contain synthetic chemicals such as sulfates and parabens, herbal shampoos offer a safer alternative with fewer adverse effects. Prolonged use of synthetic products may lead to scalp irritation, dryness, hair fall, itching, and other discomforts. The present study focused on the formulation and evaluation of a herbal shampoo using selected medicinal plants known for their beneficial effects on hair and scalp health. The formulation contained Reetha (Sapindus mukorossi), Shikakai (Acacia concinna), Aloe vera, Neem (Azadirachta indica), Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), Amla (Phyllanthus emblica), and Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra). These ingredients were chosen for their natural cleansing, antimicrobial, conditioning, and hair-growth-promoting properties. The herbal extracts were prepared through aqueous extraction by soaking and boiling the plant materials, followed by incorporation of Aloe vera gel, glycerin, vitamin E, citric acid for pH adjustment, and sodium benzoate as a preservative. The final formulation was assessed for various physicochemical parameters such as appearance, odor, pH, viscosity, foam stability, wetting ability, surface tension, and dirt dispersion. Evaluation results indicated that the shampoo possessed acceptable cosmetic qualities, good cleansing ability, stable foam, and a scalp-friendly pH. Overall, the study demonstrated that herbal shampoo can serve as a safe, effective, and environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic hair care products.