Re: FYI: It works! n/m

 Good question for Hv; could all those other things that make foam work as shampoo?

Many of the saponin rich herbs, such as yuccas and soapwort have been used as shampoos.

Slippery elm on the other hand is not a saponin source but rather a polysaccharide source that forms a mucilage. We have scarlet globemallow growing wild around here, which is also a mucilage. But its effects on the hair is different. It is made in to a tea and applied to the hair to soften it and make it curl. Other mucilages such as marshmallow root or slippery elm should do the same trick.

As for a dry shampoo I would go with adsorbants such as clay powders and maybe a little potato starch.

All kinds of things make good conditioners and they're healthy, BUT do they clean the scalp and hair?

The yucca will being a surfactant. Adding a little orange essential oil would also be good to help cut the oil.

I think yucca cleans. I tried to rinse it, but a rubbery sediment remained. I could brush my hair while wet so I didn't use a conditioner to see what it would look like. I thought it was going to be slicked down because of the sediment, but it was so soft and thick-nice.

I've got to see how long a bottle of the yucca shampoo will sit out. Would adding citric acid help the longivity?

It should cut down grown of molds and bacteria if you can get it acidic enough. Keep in mind though that the yucca root is very alkaline. So you will have to experiment with amounts to see how much acid  has to be used.

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