Shikakai Powder for Hair: Benefits, Uses and the Right Way to Wash With It

Shikakai literally means fruit for hair. The pods of the Acacia concinna shrub have been dried, ground and used to wash hair across India for centuries. Unlike aritha, which is primarily a cleanser, shikakai cleans and conditions at the same time. That is why it is the ingredient most often recommended for people with dry or tangle-prone hair who want to go chemical free.

Benefits of shikakai powder for hair

• Cleans the scalp gently with low, mild lather
• Conditions and detangles hair in the same wash
• Strengthens the roots and reduces hair fall
• Controls dandruff and scalp itching
• Adds shine and softness without silicones
• Has a low pH close to that of hair, so it does not disturb the natural balance
• Slows greying with regular use, according to traditional use

Shikakai vs reetha: which one should you use?

• Reetha (aritha) has more saponins and cleans more strongly. Best for oily scalps.
• Shikakai cleans less aggressively and conditions more. Best for dry, frizzy or chemically treated hair.
• Together they balance each other, which is why most herbal shampoo recipes use both.

If you can only pick one, choose reetha for oily hair and shikakai for dry hair.

Recipe 1: Basic shikakai wash

• Three tablespoons of shikakai powder
• One and a half cups of warm water
• Soak for 30 minutes, stir into a thin paste and apply to wet hair. Massage the scalp for three minutes, let it sit for five minutes and rinse well.

Recipe 2: Shikakai and curd pack for dry hair

• Two tablespoons of shikakai powder
• Three tablespoons of curd
• One teaspoon of honey
• Apply from roots to ends, wait 30 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water. The curd and honey deeply condition while shikakai cleans. Use once a week.

Recipe 3: Shikakai, amla and reetha for hair fall

• One tablespoon of shikakai powder
• One tablespoon of amla powder
• One tablespoon of reetha powder
• Soak in two cups of warm water overnight. Use as a shampoo twice a week. This combination strengthens roots, cleans the scalp and conditions in one step.

How to wash hair with shikakai correctly

• Always soak the powder first. The saponins release slowly into water.
• Apply on thoroughly wet hair, scalp first.
• Expect little to no foam. This is normal.
• Rinse for longer than you would with regular shampoo to clear any fine particles.
• Use a wide-tooth comb to remove any residue while the hair is still wet.
• Finish with a rose water rinse for shine.

Who should use shikakai?

Shikakai suits dry hair, curly hair, frizzy hair, colour-treated hair and anyone with a sensitive scalp. People with very oily hair may find shikakai alone does not clean enough and should add reetha.

Precautions

• Keep shikakai water out of the eyes.
• Do not inhale the dry powder while mixing. It can irritate the nose.
• If you have very hard water, shikakai may leave residue. Strain the liquid and rinse more thoroughly.
• Patch test if you have a history of scalp allergies.

A chemical-free hair care routine with herbal powders

A complete natural routine needs just three or four powders: reetha to clean, shikakai to condition, amla to strengthen and a weekly multani mitti pack to clarify an oily scalp. PurePetal Naturals is adding herbal powders to its range of chemical-free, paraben-free products made in Ahmedabad. Our multani mitti is available now, and shikakai and other hair powders are on the way.