Natural herbs are considered best to use in hair care. One such herb that is widely used and gives extremely amazing result for hair is Shikakai. Shikakai has been used for skin and hair care from ancient times and its benefits are mentioned in ayurveda. Basically Shikakai fruit pods are used that contain tiny seeds that we throw away. Here are the top benefits and uses for Shikakai pod/powder:
BENEFITS:
ANTI-DANDRUFF
Shikakai has been used for dandruff since ages. It has anti-fungal properties and essential nutrients to nourish the scalp.
HAIR GROWTH
Owing to its ability to maintain optimum pH level and astringent nature, Shikakai helps to fight scalp infections, while keeping it clean and healthy. Due to all this, there is excellent hair growth for you especially hair of the best quality!
CLEANSING AND CONDITIONING
Your scalp is a warehouse of innumerable amounts of hair follicles, sweat glands, pigments and sebaceous glands. The beautiful and vigorous hair growth that results by using Shikakai powder for cleansing your hair is the benefit of providing ample nourishment and optimal condition to all those glands.
SHINY HAIR
Shikakai adds shine to the hair and hair looks much softer. When the shikakai powder is used as a hair pack or as a hair cleanser, it makes the hair softer, which detangles the hair easily. After the wash shikakai also adds subtle shine to the hair.
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS:
- Shikakai is rich in essential nutrients like Vitamin C and doesn’t make the scalp dry.
- Regular usage of Shikakai prevents and treats head lice.
- It works as a shampoo and detangler at the same time. Since shikakai does not strip your hair of its natural oils, there’s less chances of your hair getting all tangled up.
USES:
SHIKAKAI HAIR OIL
Mix one tablespoon of Shikakai powder and half cup of basil oil thoroughly. Store this mixture in a container. et the mixture rest for a few weeks and shake it well few times between this storage periods. When you apply this mixture on your scalp then let it stay for two hours. Wash it off with a mild shampoo. Use this mixture thrice a week.
SHIKAKAI SHAMPOO
The ingredients for this homemade shampoo are shikakai, soap nuts and dried amla (gooseberries). To make this herbal shampoo, take out the seeds from soap nuts and soak it along with shikakai and dried gooseberries, the previous night. The next day boil them, till they turn soft and you will see foam forming on top. Strain this liquid, cool and wash your hair with this herbal shampoo.
SHIKAKAI HAIR MASK
Take Shikakai powder and add yogurt and neem leaf powder. Mix them well to make a thick paste. Apply it on your scalp and hair evenly. Leave it for 20 minutes and then wash it off.
SHIKAKAI HAIR RINSE
Take dried Shikakai or Shikakai powder and boil all ingredients together in one cup of water. Boil them for 15 minutes and then let it cool down. Mash the contents and strain the water. Use this water as hair rinse.