Arrowroot or arrowroot starch is a powdery product extracted from the roots of the arrowroot plant Maranta arundinaceae. The arrowroot plant or also known as ‘Ararot‘ in Hindi is native to South America. It is a small, perennial herb with broad, flat, ovate-shaped leaves and grows to a height of 3 to 5 feet. There are numerous uses of arrow root powder. It is used as a thickener in most of the food which are processed. When making food items like puddings and sauces, this powder is used to increase its volume and life shelf. Apart from thickening uses, arrowroot powder also has a lot of beauty uses. Read on to know about it:
DRY SHAMPOO
When you’re in a hurry and have no time to wash your hair, you might want to consider using arrowroot powder as a dry shampoo. Massage a little onto your scalp and comb through. The arrowroot powder will absorb all the oil in your hair. Just brush out any residues that are left before you step out to flaunt your soft, non-greasy hair.
HOMEMADE DEODORANT
Making the deodorant is pretty simple. First, mix together the baking soda and the arrowroot powder. Then, add in the coconut oil and essential oils. Mix together, put in a container, and voila! Keep the container in the bathroom and use it as a cream after a shower. If you prefer a more traditional deodorant feel, keep it in the fridge so that the coconut oil remains solid. DIY NATURAL COCONUT OIL DEODORANT >>
FACE MASK
Mix together 10 black grapes, 1 tsp lemon, 1 tsp yoghurt and 1 tbsp arrowroot powder. Apply this pack on your face and leave it on for fifteen minutes or until it dries out completely. Wash it off with lukewarm water, scrubbing off the face mask in a circular motion. While the black grapes are rich in antioxidants, the arrowroot powder helps the skin to better absorb the nutrients from the mask and soothes tired skin. Use this mask once a week for best results.
NATURAL BRONZER/BLUSH
Natural bronzer and blush can be easily made with a base of arrowroot and by adding more cocoa powder and cinnamon to get a darker shade. Also try powdering dried beet root (in the dehydrator) or dried hibiscus flowers to add a pink tone which works well as long as you can very finely powder them. Store in a shaker make-up container or an old compact.
NATURAL FACE POWDER
Arrowroot powder can be mixed with cocoa powder and a dash of cinnamon powder to create a loose homemade face powder. The best part about this is that you can mix the ingredients to create the perfect shade for your skin; so you can constantly change the ratio to match your skin through any changes in complexion that occurs as a result of season changes or sun tan. Apart from working as a great face powder, this concoction also does not have any chemicals in it. So it is au naturel and also helps fight pimples, acne, and blackheads.