What is Shikakai?
Shikakai, known as Acacia concinna, is an ayurvedic herb used for hair growth. Shikakai is known to reduce hair fall, nourish hair and relieve hair itching and scaling.
Shikakai is also helpful for skin problems, piles, herpes and swelling.
Benefits of Shikakai
Shikakai cleans scalp
Shikakai cleans the scalp without stripping it of essential oils and hair nourishment.
Shikakai acts as a natural surfactant, a mild hair cleanser. As a natural surfactant, shikakai cleanses your scalp of all dirt, dead skin cells. Shikakai removes excess oil and greasiness in the scalp and not the essential oils required for healthy hair growth.
Shikakai reduces dandruff and lice in hair.
How to use it? Use Shikakai powder with water and honey to make a shikakai paste. Apply this paste to your hair and rinse with water before it becomes dry. Wash your hair with a mild shampoo afterwards.
Shikakai promotes hair growth
Providing your hair strands with adequate nutrition ensures to ward off problems like split ends and hair thinning. Shikakai shampoo, shikakai oil or shikakai hair wash powder is known to straighten hair from roots to tips. Studies have shown that shiakaki is effective in reducing hair fall.
Also read: Oats for Hair
How to use it? Massage Shikakai oil on your scalp for at least 20 minutes before washing your hair. If you would like to use hair powder, use powdered shikakai, amla and reetha.
Shikakai Benefits for Skin
Shikakai has antibacterial properties that help treat skin infections like scabies. The anti-aging benefits of Shikakai sabun help diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, giving you youthful and glowing skin with frequent usage.
How to use it? Use Shikakai Soap once a week to clean your face and body.
Forms of Shikakai
Shikakai powder
Shikakai powder is made by sun-drying and grinding the fruit pods of shikakai. Shikakai powder is a form of shikakai that can be used easily and has several benefits. Shikakai powder can be added to make shikakai hair oil, shikakai hair paste for hair and shikakai shampoo. Studies show that shikakai powder is an effective ingredient for herbal shampoo powder.
Shikakai soap
Also known as Shiakaki Sabun, Shikakai soap is infused with natural ingredients like shikakai, bhringraj, amla and brahmi. Research shows that compared to chemical-laden soaps and shampoos, ingredients like Shikakai are milder cleaning agents.
Shikakai soap is good for one’s hair and skin, as it is a mild soap or shampoo and is infused with vitamin C. Shikakai has a low pH level that helps the hair and skin heal.
Shikakai oil
Made with Shikakai powder, coconut oil and amla powder. Shikakai oil is infused with Vitamin A, C, D, E & K. Studies have shown that herbal oil infused with shikakai promotes hair growth. When applied to the scalp, shikakai oil fights an irritated scalp, keeping dandruff and lice at bay. Shikakai oil is infused with phytochemicals that reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
Shikakai disadvantages
Overusing shikakai can lead to:
- Asthma and other respiratory problems
- Diarrhea
- Dry skin
- Oily scalp
- Gastric problems
- Restlessness
Also read: Discover how to use curd or dahi for dandruff
References
Rahathunnisa begum, Afzalunnisa begum. (2018) PREPARATION AND EVALUATION OF HERBAL HAIR OIL. (International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews) http://ijrar.com/upload_issue/ijrar_issue_20542769.pdf
Sachin Dubey, Neelesh Nema, S Nayak. (2004) Preparation and evaluation of herbal shampoo powder. (National Library of Medicine) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22557149/
Rashmi Saxena Pal, Yogendra Pal. (2018) Synthesis and Evaluation of Herbal Based Hair Dye. (The Open Dermatology Journal) https://opendermatologyjournal.com/contents/volumes/V12/TODJ-12-90/TODJ-12-90.pdf
