Explore 15 Shikakai Benefits For Hair

I have never seen my grandmother or people from her generation having hair troubles. She has the shiniest hair I have ever witnessed with almost no frizz. It is because of a magical fruit that she uses for her hair called shikakai. Scientifically, shikakai is known as the Acacia Concinna and more commonly as soap pods. This naturally occurring fruit is rich in vitamins A, C, D, and K which help strengthen hair strands, promote hair growth, and prevent dandruff.

It balances the natural pH of the hair to reduce dryness, inflammation, and irritation. So, if you are looking to improve the quality and appearance of your hair, incorporate shikakai into your hair care routine. Don’t know how? Read ahead to learn everything you need to know about shikakai's benefits for hair and how to use it in your hair care routine.

What Is Shikakai?

Shikakai is an ancient Ayurvedic fruit and herb that is indigenous to India. It is popularly known for its hair care benefits. It is a primary ingredient in many natural and ayurvedic shampoos and conditioners. Enriched with vitamins A, C, D, and K it strengthens your roots, smoothens the strands, makes the hair follicles grow thicker, minimises breakage, prevents dandruff, and any limits damage.

Shikakai literally means ‘fruit for hair’ because its main job is to nourish and soften hair without stripping away any natural oils. It is commercially sold in a powder form that you can then form into a paste using water before applying it to your hair. You can also mix other ingredients such as Amla, Bringhraj, and Multethi to make the mixture even more effective.

Nutrients Of Shikakai

The following nutrients are how shikakai benefits hair:

• Vitamins A, C, D, and K boost collagen production, nourish the roots, strengthen the follicles, and promote hair growth.
• Calcium and magnesium fortify hair follicles and reduce hair fall.
• Anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties help reduce scalp infections such as dandruff, eczema, and psoriasis.
• Saponin – a heat-stable, naturally foaming compound – cleanses the hair, makes it smoother, and adds shine to dull strands.

Benefits Of Shikakai

The following are the shikakai benefits for hair:

1. Organic Hair Cleanser

   Shikakai is a great hair cleanser because it naturally forms due to the presence of saponin. Saponin cleanses the hair while also adding a touch of sheen to the hair.

2. Natural Conditioner

   Apart from being a cleanser, shikakai is also a great conditioner for hair. It naturally softens the hair, smoothens it, detangles it, and makes your hair easier to manage.

3. Improves Hair Growth

   This multivitamin powerhouse is full of vitamins A, C, D, and K that improve blood circulation in the scalp thus promoting hair growth and making sure all the nutrients reach the hair follicles and roots.

4. Prevents Dandruff

   The anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties of shikakai help reduce and prevent the occurrence of dandruff, fungal infestation, eczema, and psoriasis. Due to this, the hair scalp remains free from nutrient-sucking parasites thus improving the overall quality of the hair.

5. Reduces Hairfall

   Shikakai is full of essential nutrients and vitamins that help the growth of hair. These properties make sure the blood circulation is improved, the roots are strong, and the scalp is healthy. All these together ensure hair breakage and damage are reduced leading to hair fall and hair thinning close to none.

6. Diminishes Split Ends

   This hair-nourishing fruit makes sure your hair strands experience fewer split ends leading to fewer trims. It strengthens your hair right from the roots to the tips for a thicker appearance.

7. Prevents Greying

   The antioxidants in shikakai help reduce oxidative stress on the hair strands, reducing the pace at which your hair turns grey. Our ancestor's hair strands would turn grey when they were well into their 30s and 40s but today we are all unanimously experiencing early right from our 20s and teens, this is because they actively used shikakai in their hair care routines.

8. Decreases Irritation

   The anti-inflammatory properties of shikakai also help soothe the redness of the scalp, itchiness, and inflammation. It also curbs excessive dryness that can cause irritation.

9. Manages Frizz

   If you have curly or wavy hair, your hair is definitely frizzy. Textured hair experiences more frizz than any other hair type leading to further damage and breakage. Shikakai is a natural conditioner that soothes and controls frizz giving it a natural shine and softness.

10. Protects From Environmental Stressors

    The thick consistency of shikakai also creates a protective barrier around the hair shaft protecting it from environmental stressors such as pollution, UV rays, and other weather conditions.

11. Sustainable

    Shikakai is naturally found in the environment and doesn’t require any factory or chemicals to be produced. It can regrow itself, it’s free from any toxic chemicals, it is biodegradable after use, and is au naturel making it a sustainable alternative.

12. Adds Shines

    With regular usage, lacklustre hair regains its natural sheen and radiance. Hair becomes frizz-free, smooth, and conditioned giving your tresses a deep luminous glow.

13. Regulates Oil

    Shikakai also aids in balancing the natural oil on the scalp. It makes sure the scalp is not too dry leading to excess oil and sebum production and not too oily making your hair greasy.

14. Suitable For All

    Shikakai is a natural ingredient that helps all hair types and textures. Whether you have oily or dry, thick or thin, curly or straight, this magical ingredient is beneficial for all.

15. Maintains Overall Scalp Health

    Shikakai maintains the scalp’s pH balance while protecting, nourishing, and strengthening the hair. The top shikakai benefit for hair is that it maintains the overall quality, health, and appearance of your hair.

How To Use Shikakai In Daily Hair Care Routine?

Shikakai benefits hair in several ways, but these three ways are the most affordable and convenient.

Shikakai Shampoo

You can either make your own shikakai shampoo or use a store-bought shampoo that’s infused with the goodness of shikakai and several other natural ingredients that will deeply cleanse your scalp and make it free of any inflammation, infestation, and irritation. It will protect your hair from damage and breakage and provide overall scalp and shaft health.

Nykaa Recommends:

Shikakai Conditioner

Shikakai can also be used as a conditioner as it smoothens, softens, and detangles hair. It also adds a protective layer and shine to the hair. It makes your hair frizz-free and manageable if you have textured hair.

Nykaa Recommends:

Shikakai Hair Mask

Shikakai benefits hair even as a mask or oil that is applied to the hair scalp and massaged for the nutrients to be absorbed. You can either take some raw ground shikakai powder and make your own paste with come amla to fortify your hair follicles. It also helps reduce dandruff and hair fall.

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How To Make Shikakai Powder?

You can buy some dried shikakai pods or if you have a shikakai tree near you, just pluck a few. Once you’ve secured a few pods, here’s how you can make shikakai powder at home.

Step 1: Rinse the pods in some water and squeeze them dry.

Step 2: Add the wet pods to a big bowl with a large opening and let it sun-dry it for 3–4 days.

Step 3: Grind the dehydrated pods into a fine powder.

Step 4: Strain the powder through a sieve to sift out big chunks.

Step 5: Store the fine powder in an airtight container.

Pro tip: Mix a few teaspoons of the shikakai powder with either honey, yoghurt, or aloe vera to create hair mask. You can also add some amla powder or reetha for additional benefits and natural foaming.

Parting Thoughts

From preventing dandruff, premature greying, split-ends, damage, and breakage to promoting hair growth, strength, and health, shikakai benefits for hair are numerous. This is a magical ingredient for your hair that has been trusted for ages, originating in traditional hair care practices. Use shikakai to promote hair growth and a natural sheen in the form of a shampoo, conditioner, or even a hair oil or mask.

FAQs

1. How to use shikakai powder for hair wash?

   Mix shikakai powder with some water and apply the paste to your scalp and massage it well. Keep it on for around 20 and rinse it off with lukewarm water. Additionally, you can add amla or reetha for more benefits and natural foaming.

2. Can I use shikakai powder on an oily scalp?

   Yes, you can use shikakai powder on an oily scalp as it absorbs excess oil and sebum without stripping away all the natural oil.

3. Can Shikakai be used every day on hair?

   Although you can use shikakai powder on your hair every day because it is a natural ingredient that only does good, washing your hair every day can strip it of its natural oils and dry your hair out.

4. Can Shikakai be used on the skin?

   Even though shikakai is a natural ingredient for hair, its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial properties can help wounds, fine lines, and wrinkles on the skin.