Remember the time when moms used to boil or soak shikakai overnight and add it to shampoo, hair cleansers or even mehendi?
If you have grown up around the 90s or just after, you still might remember the term shikakai, which was part of a lot of Indian homes back then. With major international brands setting up shop in India, the Indian tradition of using shikakai to clean hair almost got lost, as it was always easier to use shampoos instead.
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And, why not?
For starters, shampoos come with a range of fragrances that you can barely ever find in a shikakai cleanser. They are quick and easy to use, easy to carry around, and promise to add an instant shine and volume to the hair. And let’s admit it, saying that you use ‘shampoo’ sounds way more ‘modern’ than saying you just washed your hair using ‘shikakai.’ No?
What is Shikakai?
For those who may not know, shikakai is a type of herb that is considered extremely healthy for hair. You can use this in ready to use powder form, as a shikakai shampoo or even add it to your hair oil or cleanser.
Shampoo or Shikakai?
Shampoos do contain some amount of chemicals and preservatives, while you can use shikakai in its purest form. Also, regular use of shampoos can dry out your hair, and leave your scalp feeling dry and itchy. Shikakai will not only calm your scalp, it will also prevent greys and add natural shine and volume.
If you ask us, between shikakai and shampoo, adding shikakai in your hair care routine definitely makes a lot of sense.
What are the benefits?
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Shikakai can have the following effects on your hair:
• Make your hair soft and shiny
• Control frizz
• Reverse the damage caused by chemical based products
• Treat dandruff and lice
• Make your hair stronger and thicker
• Prevents dryness and itchiness in the scalp
• Delays greys
• Helps in detangling hair
How to use Shikakai?
Even though it may sound like a lot initially, you can try using shikakai at least once or twice a month to bring back some natural care to your hair routine. And once you start, it will only get easier.
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As hair wash: Buy shikakai pods, reetha and amla from the store (most local kirana stores still have them) and soak overnight. In the morning, boil the water along with the ingredients. Let it cool, mash the ingredients and strain. Use this water instead of your shampoo, and even though it will not lather, it will clean your scalp and hair. Do the last rinse with cool water.
As oil: Mix half tbsp. shikakai powder with half cup coconut oil and leave it for a few weeks. Make sure to shake up the bottle in between. Apply this oil twice a week and shampoo with a regular shampoo or shikakai hair wash.
As hair pack: Mix shikakai powder and yogurt (quantity can vary depending on hair length, thickness, dryness and so on) and apply all over the hair. Let it sit for half an hour, then wash off with regular shampoo or cool water.
Okay, so we know that it doesn’t really sound that cool when you say you’ve been using ‘shikakai,’ but the idea is, with the way it will make your hair shine and get healthier, you are sure to get a lot of compliments. So it’s definitely worth a try we say!
