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DIY Micellar Water for Hair – Cleanse Your Hair Without Shampoo

If shampoo is leaving your hair and scalp feeling dry or stripped, this gentle and all-natural DIY micellar water for hair can help. It replaces shampoo, leaving your tresses clean and soft without any harsh surfactants or suds. It can also be used as a clarifying treatment to gently remove buildup. Just pour, comb and rinse!

DIY micellar water for hair

I’ll try almost anything in the name of a good DIY beauty hack. This includes using micellar water instead of shampoo.

My love for micellar cleansers began with this blog post on DIY micellar water for skin, but I had no idea how useful they were for hair, too.

Yes, you read that right. Instead of lathering up with a natural shampoo, I’ve been pouring micellar water, which is typically used for skin care, on my scalp. And I love the results!

My buildup is gone, my scalp is calm, and my hair feels clean – all without the dryness that shampoo can cause.

Don’t get me wrong. This isn’t a “no poo” situation. I’ve already written about why the baking soda and vinegar craze is bad news for hair health.

And besides, I wanted my hair to actually feel… clean. (Sorry, no poo-ers.) This is different, and it works.

If you’re looking to replace shampoo with a fast, gentle way to cleanse your hair, or if you’re looking to get rid of buildup from silicones or pollution, you need this DIY micellar water for hair in your life!

It’s a great way to give your hair a break without compromising on cleanliness.

And if you’re intrigued by the idea but not inclined to DIY, I highly recommend this brand of natural micellar water. I’ve used it to wash my hair with great results.

What is micellar water?

In simple terms, micellar water is a cleanser that contains micelles suspended in a liquid solution. These micelles are magnets for dirt, oil, and other impurities, grabbing onto them so they can easily be washed away.

Micellar water is typically used as a gentle, rinse-free way to remove makeup and cleanse the skin, but it’s equally useful for cleansing the hair. In this case, rinsing is required.

Micellar water in hair products

From this buildup-busting cleansing serum to this micellar shampoo, companies have been capitalizing on the micellar trend for a while now.

They’re onto something! The same technology that’s so gentle on the skin also works wonders for your hair. Micellar water leaves your tresses clean, but not stripped of their moisture.

There’s even a micellar water-infused dry shampoo for those days when washing is not an option. If you’d like to make one at home, check out my micellar dry shampoo spray recipe.

Benefits of micellar water for hair

Beautiful healthy hair

Micellar water is gentle.

Lathering up with shampoo, while necessary, is not great for hair health. All that sudsing and foaming tends to leave your tresses dry, especially with daily use.

But unlike shampoo, which frequently contains harsh surfactants, micellar water is very gentle. The micelles attract the dirt, sebum and product in your hair so that they can easily be rinsed away.

Over time, using micellar water in place of shampoo can reduce hair wear and tear.

Micellar water is clarifying.

Micellar water has the ability to cleanse really well without stripping. I find that it leaves my hair feeling like I’ve just used a store bought clarifying rinse, but without the dryness.

If you’re worried that you’ll leave the shower feeling greasy, don’t be. Your three-days-old, post-hot-yoga hair is no match for the buildup-busting power of micellar water.

You don’t need suds and foam to get your mane truly clean.

Micellar water is easy to use.

I’m not saying shampooing is an arduous process. But there’s something to be said for having 30 extra seconds in the shower.

Instead of scrubbing and lathering, you just pour on your micellar water and let the micelles work their magic.

As someone who loves lazy beauty hacks, I fully appreciate how easy it is. Plus, this recipe contains peppermint essential oil, so it’s nice to sit back and enjoy the refreshing tingle!

My DIY micellar water for hair

DIY micellar cleansing water for hair with pink comb

Like all my recipes, I formulated this micellar cleanser to be easy and accessible, with as few ingredients as possible. And as always, I only use ingredients that are natural, non-toxic and safe.

Most importantly, this recipe really works. To truly be micellar water, a solution needs to contain a solubilizer that forms micelles. In this case, the solubilizer is naturally-derived Poly Suga Mulse D9.

This recipe is also customizable. I chose to use a mixture of rosemary and peppermint essential oil for their hair growth-stimulating properties, but you can easily substitute your favourite oils.

And if you don’t have any peppermint hydrosol or mint water, then plain, distilled water will suffice.

How to replace shampoo with micellar water

You can use this micellar cleanser just as you would use your favourite shampoo. Use it any time you wash your hair, or alternate with shampoo.

You can also use this micellar water as a gentle, clarifying rinse for when you hair feels a bit dull or lifeless.

The micellar water will absolutely get your hair clean. The only time it might not work as well as shampoo is if you’ve applied a pre-shampoo oil treatment such as coconut oil.

For those who wash their hair daily, it might not be practical to use the water every single time. The ingredients are relatively inexpensive, and purchasing them in bulk saves money, but there will be more of an upfront cost than using shampoo.

This recipe will make enough for 2 washes on average, but you may need less or more micellar water depending on the length and thickness of your hair.

Bottle of DIY micellar water for hair

How to use this DIY micellar shampoo

To wash your hair with micellar water, start with dry hair. You can also use it on wet hair, but I find that starting with dry hair is more effective.

In the shower, tilt your head back and begin to pour the liquid over your scalp, taking care to avoid getting it in your eyes or on your face. A squeeze bottle with a narrow spout is useful, but not necessary.

Make sure to fully saturate your scalp. If you have silicone or product build-up, pour some micellar water directly onto the ends of your hair as well.

Then, either with your fingers, a shower-safe hairbrush, or a comb, gently massage the solution into your scalp. Leave it in your hair for at least 30 seconds before rinsing as usual.

Follow it up with your usual conditioner and the rest of your hair routine.

What if my hair doesn’t feel clean?

Don’t panic if your hair doesn’t feel truly clean in the shower. This micellar water will cleanse your hair, but it won’t give you the squeaky clean sensation of using shampoo.

Your hair may even feel slippery after rinsing. This is normal, and will subside after your hair dries.

If once your hair is dry you find that it’s not completely clean, simply increase the amount of Poly Suga Mulse D9 by a 1/4 tsp or so.

It may take some trial and error to figure out the correct amount of solubilizer for your hair type, so refer to the recipe card for my notes on this. Personally, I use 3/4 tsp in my batch.

Long, beautiful, healthy hair

To use this micellar water for hair, simply pour, comb and rinse.

DIY micellar shampoo recipe ingredients

Poly Suga Mulse D9

Poly Suga Mulse D9 is a non-toxic, biodegradable, and extremely gentle surfactant. It contains the micelles that allow this DIY micellar water to gently wash away sebum and hair product build-up.

You may need to tweak the amount of Poly Suga Mulse D9 to suit your particular hair type, so refer to the recipe notes for my recommended amounts.

I purchased my Poly Suga Mulse from Formulator Sample Shop, which is the only place I’ve found it available for purchase. I’ll update this post if it becomes available elsewhere.

Vodka

Vodka is a natural anti-bacterial and astringent.

If you’re concerned about dryness you can replace it with more peppermint hydrosol. However, I find that the vegetable glycerin prevents the vodka from being drying.

Peppermint hydrosol and peppermint essential oil

Peppermint possesses cooling and analgesic properties that help soothe an itchy, sensitive scalp. It’s also been shown to encourage hair growth.

Both peppermint hydrosol and peppermint essential oil give this micellar water a refreshing, cooling tingle.

DIY micellar water for hair with essential oils

Studies have shown that peppermint essential oil can help promote hair growth.

Vegetable glycerin

Vegetable glycerin is an inexpensive and non-toxic byproduct of plant oils. It’s a humectant that helps this DIY micellar cleansing water hydrate the hair.

Rosemary essential oil

Much like peppermint oil, rosemary essential oil stimulates circulation and hair growth. It has even been shown to protect against hair loss.

Rosemary oil’s potent anti-fungal and antibacterial properties also help combat itching and dandruff.

Leucidal Liquid SF

Leucial Liquid SF is a probiotic-based preservative created by the fermentation of Lactobacillus bacteria. It’s both effective and non-irritating to the skin and scalp.

Apple cider vinegar

A small amount of apple cider vinegar can be used in this micellar cleanser to lower its pH to about a 4.5-5, making it closer to the optimal pH level of our hair and scalp.

More micellar water recipes

I hope you’ll enjoy this DIY micellar water for hair as much as I do. You can find the recipe in the card below. If you end up trying it, I’d love to hear from you in the comments.

And if you don’t have time to DIY, I highly recommend inVitamin’s micellar cleansing water, which makes a great “no-poo” replacement for shampoo that won’t damage your hair like baking soda does.

If you enjoyed this recipe, you might also enjoy these other homemade beauty recipes that incorporate micellar water:

Plus, if you’re interested in natural haircare, you might also enjoy the following articles:

Follow us on Pinterest for even more natural DIY beauty ideas! You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

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DIY micellar water for hair
DIY micellar water for hair with essential oils
DIY micellar water for hair
Yield: 1 bottle

DIY Micellar Water for Hair – Cleanse Your Hair Without Shampoo

Active Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Cost: $2

This natural DIY micellar water for hair replaces shampoo, leaving your tresses clean and soft without any harsh surfactants or suds. Like “no poo,” but better! It can also be used as a clarifying treatment to gently remove buildup caused by hair products or pollution.

Materials

Tools

Instructions

    1. As always, start with clean, sterilized tools.
    2. Using a small funnel, combine vodka, peppermint hydrosol (or mint water) and vegetable glycerin in your glass bottle. Shake gently to combine.
    3. Add the Poly Suga Mulse and swirl gently to combine before adding your peppermint and rosemary essential oils.
    4. Add the apple cider vinegar if desired, and then add the Leucidal Liquid before swirling gently once more.
    5. Your micellar water for hair is ready to use.

Notes

How much Poly Suga Mulse D9 should I use?

You should tweak the amount of Poly Suga Mulse D9 to suit your particular hair type.

  • For dry hair, use 1/2 tsp of Poly Suga Mulse D9.
  • For slightly oily hair, use 3/4 tsp of Poly Suga Mulse D9.
  • For oily hair, use 1 tsp of Poly Suga Mulse D9.

Why you need a preservative

The preservative is not optional! Water-containing products are a breeding ground for mold, fungus, and bacteria. Unpreserved DIYs are not only unsanitary, but they’re dangerous, too.

If you don't have Leucidal Liquid on hand, please replace it with a water-soluble preservative of your choice in its proper concentration for efficacy.

Health & safety

To prevent bacterial growth, it’s extremely important to use sterilized containers and measuring equipment for this DIY.

Be sure to wash everything with soap and water before beginning. You can then use boiling water or isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) to sterilize.

However, it’s your responsibility to ensure your equipment is HEAT-SAFE before attempting to place it into boiling water.

If you are not sure, or would just prefer an easier method, please opt to use isopropyl alcohol instead.

Please note that rubbing alcohol is TOXIC. I use it for sterilizing only, and I don’t recommend using it as an ingredient in homemade beauty products.

Did you make this DIY?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

Devin

Friday 19th of January 2024

Hi!! I love this recipe. Though, I have a hard time acquiring Polysuga Mulse D9. I am wondering if Polysorbate 20 can be used as a replacement?

Kyla

Saturday 20th of January 2024

Hi Devin, thanks, I'm so happy to hear you like the micellar water recipe! Unfortunately, I realized only after creating it that Poly Suga Mulse wasn't the most easily accessible ingredient. I've been meaning to update this recipe for a while with some surfactant options that are more convenient and easier to source. I'm still not quite done reformulating, but your comment has reminded me to put this at the top of my to-do list.

Unfortunately I can't advise you on Polysorbate 20 though, as I haven't tested it myself, and I wouldn't want you to end up wasting money and time on something that didn't work as well as the original recipe. I'm sorry about that, and I wish I could be more helpful. I will update this post as soon as I can – I just have a very long to-do list on this blog! Thanks for your understanding and for leaving a nice comment.

Maria

Friday 26th of May 2023

Hello, three questions for you, dear.

1) Will tea tree oil work as a preservative, and in what amount? 2) Must it be mint water or will rosewater work as well? 3) Can lecithin be used as the surfactant?

Maria

Thursday 1st of June 2023

Thank you. Is there any substitute at all for the Poly Suga that you believe in?

Kyla

Wednesday 31st of May 2023

Hi Maria!

1. Unfortunately tea tree oil doesn't work as a broad-spectrum cosmetic preservative. If you need natural preservative recommendations, I'm happy to help find one for you. Linatural is another good one if you can't find Leucidal Liquid.

2. Yes, you can use rosewater or your favorite hydrosol as the base for the cleansing micellar water.

3. Lecithin's emulsifying capabilities aren't powerful enough for this recipe, and it may leave your hair greasy, so unfortunately lecithin doesn't work as a substitute in this recipe.

I hope this helps and let me know if you have any more questions!

MJ

Monday 7th of November 2022

Question... Could i incorporate rice water into this recipe? Substitute it for the peppermint water maybe? What are your suggestions? Thank you

Kyla

Tuesday 8th of November 2022

Hi MJ, you can absolutely incorporate rice water into the micellar water! Sounds like a great way to add hair-strengthening benefits. I would love to hear how it goes.

Micol

Monday 8th of February 2021

Shelf life of this product ?

Kyla

Monday 8th of February 2021

Hi Micol, I would say use it within 6 months to be on the safe side.

Kaitlin

Wednesday 13th of January 2021

Looking into making this to replace shampoo. I have severe skin allergies and the one kind of Free and Clear shampoo I can use is very damaging to my hair and leaves it dry. My question is, about how much of this do you use per wash since it doesn't lather? Also, do you use conditioner too?

Kyla

Thursday 14th of January 2021

Hi Kaitlin, this recipe makes enough for approximately 2 washes. But it will depend on the length and thickness of your hair. Yes, I follow it up with a conditioner after. 😊

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