Shikakai Powder for Hair

For hair and scalp

Lifts ordinary oil and residue and leaves the roots feeling clean and light, without the squeak a stronger cleanser can leave.

Manageable hair

Many people find hair easier to finger-detangle, softer once dry and smoother to style. How much you notice depends on your hair, your water and whether you condition afterwards.

What to expect

A brown wash that disperses rather than dissolving, fine sediment, and a light, variable foam. Judge it by how the roots feel after rinsing.

How often

Up to twice a week. An oily scalp may be happy at twice; dry, curly or delicate hair usually prefers once, with a thinner mixture.

Blends with

1 tablespoon each with Spierb Aritha (stronger cleanse), Amla, Bhringraj, Brahmi or Aloe Vera Powder (care side). Blends hydrate 10–15 minutes; the wash still comes off after 3–5 minutes.

Hair wash

1. Use about 10–15 g (1–2 tablespoons) of Shikakai Powder for short hair, 20–25 g for shoulder-length hair, or about 30 g or more for very long or thick hair.
2. Add comfortably warm water gradually and mix to a smooth, thin, pourable yoghurt-like wash.
3. Leave to hydrate for 5–10 minutes, then stir again.
4. Wet the hair and scalp thoroughly.
5. Apply to the scalp and roots first, massaging gently with the fingertips for about 60–90 seconds. Smooth only a light amount through the lengths.
6. Leave on for 3–5 minutes.
7. Rinse thoroughly until no gritty feel remains.
8. Use conditioner on the lengths if needed.

Avoid the eyes. If the wash gets into the eyes, rinse promptly with plenty of clean water.

How often: up to twice a week.

Blends

1 tablespoon Shikakai with 1 tablespoon Aritha, Amla, Bhringraj, Brahmi or Aloe Vera Powder; warm water to a thin, pourable wash; hydrate 10–15 minutes; massage 60–90 seconds; leave 3–5 minutes; rinse thoroughly.

Step-by-step help in how to use shikakai powder for hair.

Ingredients: Acacia Concinna Fruit Powder (100%).

Before first use

Patch test 24–48 hours before first use, using the mixture you intend to wash with.

Keep it away from your eyes

Keep the wash and the rinse water away from your eyes and the eye area; saponin-containing washes sting. If any gets in, rinse promptly and thoroughly with plenty of clean water, and do not rub your eyes.

Using it safely

For external cosmetic use on hair and scalp only. Do not ingest. Do not use on a broken, grazed, weeping or significantly inflamed scalp. Stop use if there is burning, swelling, persistent itching, a rash or unusual discomfort. Pour and mix gently so you are not breathing in the dry powder.

Getting the wash right

Shikakai can feel drying if it is mixed too thick, left on longer than 3–5 minutes, allowed to dry on the hair, used too often or rubbed in hard. Use gentle fingertip massage, keep the mixture thin, and introduce it gradually on dry, delicate, bleached or chemically treated hair.

Storage

Keep out of reach of children. Store sealed, cool and dry, away from moisture and steam, and use a dry spoon. Keeps for 2 years from the date of packaging. Mix only what you need: a water-based wash is not preserved. Colour, aroma, texture and foam vary a little between batches.