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7 Benefits of Shikakai on Hair

shikakai benefits for hair

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1. Importance of Shikakai for Hair

2. List of 7 Benefits of Shikakai on Hair of All Types

3. Directions for Use of Shikakai for Hair of All Types

4. Conclusion

During your childhood, when Sundays came by, the households in your area would have been filled with mini-festive pomp, where the atmosphere was no less than a celebration. Those were the days when shampoos were rare at home as different home remedies for various causes were used.

What is Shikakai?

Shikakai is scientifically known as Acacia concinna, is a traditional Ayurvedic herb widely used in India for hair care. Shikakai obtains its origin from Shikakai plant pods and bark as well as its leaves through drying processes to deliver natural saponins that perform delicate cleaning functions for hair and scalps. Shikakai provides hair cleansing through its unique nature as it cleans without removing essential oils from hair which allows users to choose it for maintaining soft shiny locks.
Shikakai demonstrates three key characteristics including anti-fungal, anti-dandruff and hair-strengthening properties that help stimulate hair growth while lowering hair shedding and defending against early graying. The traditional Indian herb exists in two forms as a powder along with its effectiveness as an ingredient in oil infusions or shampoos. Shikakai reaches high popularity in herbal hair care because of its gentle nature and natural conditioning advantages especially while paired with traditional Ayurvedic components such as Amla and Reetha.

Importance of Shikakai for Hair

Shikakai is a traditional Indian ayurvedic climbing shrub which is an ingredient in many skin and hair care products. It is famously known as soap nut or soap pods and is used in hair and skin care routines. Shikakai benefits for hair are many:
  • These soap pods act as gentle cleansers due to their natural lathering content when mixed with water. They wipe away grime, grease, and excess sebum from your hair and scalp without removing your natural oil secretions from the scalp and skin.
  • There are other benefits of shikakai powder on hair and acts as elixir to treat common minor issues of your hair such as dullness, dryness, fizziness, easy breakage and split ends, because of the Kashaya (astringency) property it possesses.
  • Because of the abundance of vitamins and antioxidant levels, shikakai helps promote hair growth faster if used regularly, as directed by your dermatologist or haircare specialist. It prevents bacterial growth and thus reduces itchiness or inflammation.

List of 7 Benefits of Shikakai on Hair of All Types

The shikakai powder is extracted from the pods of the Acacia concinna tree and ground to make a fine powder. Making this powder into a thick paste and applying it on your hair for 15 minutes to a half hour gives you many benefits like:
  • 1. Nourishes hair: Your hair requires nourishment from Vitamins like A, C, D and K in abundance. However, other vitamins and minerals like Zinc, Biotin and Keratin are also crucial for healthy hair.
  • 2. Balances pH on scalp: Balances skin pH if used regularly when used regularly. Along with this, frequent washing your hair and create a healthy hair environment. Regular use of shikakai benefits the skin’s pH levels under all weather conditions.
  • 3. Fights dandruff: The anti-microbial and anti-bacterial properties of shikakai help keep the scalp environment free from dead cells and dirt that acts as breeding ground for fungus and bacteria. The use of shikakai for hair also cuts out scalp infections by treating it with its medicinal properties
  • 4. Rids dirt on hair and scalp: An ideal cleansing agent, shikakai removes dirt, grime, excess oil and lies due to its quick absorption and cleansing properties by absorbing excess dirt and unwanted oil secretions which can be rinsed with flowing water. Practicing rinsing with shikakai paste twice a week helps maintain a clean scalp, free of dirt and excess sebum secretions.
  • 5. Gives shine and texture: The course texture of shikakai powder adds luster and soft texture as it has natural conditioning properties through lathering agents in it. This makes your hair more manageable and smoother without tangles.
  • 6. Strengthens hair: Regular use of shikakai helps in strengthening your hair roots with its natural goodness by minimizing breakage and promoting thicker hair follicles supporting faster hair growth and increasing the overall thickness.
  • 7. Detangles locked hair strands: Shikakai makes your cuticle smooth, and this smoothness in turn helps detangle your hair knots by lengthening out hair cuticles which is beneficial for tangled and thick hair, making it straighter and more manageable, in case you have wavy or curly hair texture.

Vitamin

Role in Hair Health

Vitamin A
Promotes sebum secretion which moisturizes the scalp and prevents hair breakage.
Vitamin C
Supports collagen production on hair follicles, which strengthens hair follicles and improves hair growth.
Vitamin D
It helps regulate the hair growth cycle and promotes the growth of new hair follicles while shedding a healthy number of dead ones.
Vitamin K
Contributes to blood clotting, which is essential for healthy hair growth.
Keratin
Main structural protein in hair, contributing to strength and shine.
Biotin
Plays a role in hair cell production and may help prevent hair loss.
Zinc
Essential for hair tissue repair and growth.

How to Use Shikakai on Hair

There are different forms of using shikakai benefits for hair, like making a paste and using it as a hair mask or grinding it into a smooth shampoo base. Here are a few ways of using shikakai for hair in different methods:

Shikakai infused oil

  • Add a cup of either of the carrier oils most suited for your body like avocado, coconut or olive oil into a glass or metal container
  • Add one or two teaspoons of shikakai powder to this container and let it rest for a few weeks in the dark
  • Regularly shake the bottle to mix the ingredients well for easy blending of the content
  • Apply it regularly, or two times a week and cleanse it with Abhyanjana’s Ukti Hair scrub

Shikakai shampoo

  • Combine ingredients like shikakai, amla, Reetha and fenugreek seeds overnight in half a cup of warm water
  • Boil the contents in the water for 15 minutes, or till the contents soften and leave their nutrients in the water
  • Cool the water, mash the ingredients, strain the liquid and use it as shampoo
  • It is important to note that due to its natural lather, you may not expect froth like in shampoos, however it serves the purpose of a cleansing agent.

Shikakai hair mask

  • Blend soaked shikakai, yoghurt, reetha and fenugreek in a thick fine paste
  • Apply it and let it rest for half an hour to 2 hours based on your body type and the location where you reside
  • Wash it off and obtain the full shikakai benefits for hair to promote healthy hair growth

Conclusion

While there are many benefits of shikakai, it is important to know your hair type, the exact problems you are facing on your scalp and hair and its origin and diagnosis with the help of haircare experts is the ideal approach.
Meanwhile, using natural haircare products like Ukti hair scrub and Samasti hair oil, infused with the goodness of Indian herbs like shikakai, amla, Reetha, guava leaves, neem leaves, hibiscus, aloe vera and many more can help you fight these problems on the long run without any side effects.
Want to know about best ingredients for hair growth then read: https://abhyanjana.com/blogs/best-ingredients-for-hair-growth/

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