Commonly known as Shikakai, Acacia Concinna is a shrub native to the warm,
plains of central and south India.
Shikakai means "fruit for hair" and is a
traditionally used as a natural shampoo in India for centuries. It is now grown
commercially in India and Far East Asia and is one of the ingredients in natural
hair shampoos and soaps.
The fruit pods, leaves and bark of Shikakai
(Acacia Concinna) are dried, powdered and made into a paste at home.
Though this
paste does not produce the normal amount of lather that a regular shampoo would,
it is still a very good cleanser. Since it has a natural low pH, Shikakai is
extremely mild, and doesn't strip hair of natural oils. Usually no rinse or
conditioner is used along with this paste since shikakai also acts as a
detangler.
Shikakai is also used in anti-dandruff preparations. Extracts of the
ground pods have been used for various skin diseases.
The powder of
Shikakai can be used as natural shampoo. Shikakai has a natural low pH and very
mild and ideal to wash hair. Shikakai in its various form can be used to
strengthen hair roots, hair growth and treating dandruff.
Shikakai can either be
ground into powder or paste and applied on hair. Else they can be soaked
overnight in water and subsequently boiled and cooled for washing. It lathers
moderately and cleans hair beautifully.
Shikakai is actually an ayurvedic
herb used as medicine for its strengthening & conditioning properties on the
hair.
Shikakai when mixed with amla, reetha and henna and used, then it provides
most beneficial effect on the health of the hair. This mixture is absolutely
chemical free and very effective natural way of conditioning, cleaning hair,
promoting hair growth and preventing dandruff.
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