Your Hair will LOVE Shikakai Powder

Oh, I love Shikakai powder and you hair will love it too! Before there was shampoo and conditioners, there was Shikakai.

So what is Shikakai powder?

It is an ancient hair growth-promoting cleanser that has been a popular for hundreds of years in India. It is an herbal powder made from the fruit pods of the Acacia Concinna Tree which is a shrub-like tree that grows in the hot plains of Southern India.

The indigenous people of Southern India discovered centuries ago this pod-like fruit on the Acacia Concinna tree that grew so readily all around their jungles and discovered that it had foaming properties. They started powdering the fruit and started using it to clean their hair. Once they realized that the herbal powder promoted hair growth and strengthen hair roots, they named it Shikakai which means fruit for the hair.

Today, it is well known for its hair rejuvenating properties around the world. Shikakai is used in its raw, powdered form mostly. However, in the past couple years now, hair product manufacturers make an aqueous extract of the herb to make it more user-friendly. The extract that contains all of the beneficial properties of the herb is added to hair products such as shampoos, conditioners and hair oils.

Why will you love Shikakai powder?

The scalp is an intricate organ made out of hair follicles, sebaceous glands, pigments and thousands of sweat glands. Hair growth is a result of an optimal environment in the scalp and ample nourishment to its glands. Shikakai works well on both of these accounts. Astringent in nature and with a mild pH, it creates a very favourable pH-balanced environment in the scalp that fights dandruff and other infections.

According to many sources, shikakai is rich in vitamins such as vitamin D, vitamin C and other micronutrients, and nourishes the hair follicles which promote hair growth. Additionally, being a mild cleanser, it gently cleans the hair without stripping it of natural oils.

How to Use

Step 1: Mix powder with boiling water to form a runny paste with a pancake batter-like consistency.

Step 2: Allow the infusion to sit for 10 minutes.

Step 3: Once mixture is cooled, massage into the scalp with the fingertips and gently work through the hair. The saponins in the powder create a moderate lather during this process.

Step 4: Rinse hair out with warm water. (Note: you should skip all conditioners because of the herb's natural hair-softening and detangling properties.)

Step 5: Let your hair air dry.

Step 6: To complete the shikakai treatment, do a self-scalp massage with coconut or castor oil.

Enjoy!

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