SHIKAKAI FOR HAIR:
1. Shikakai Shampoo:
Homemade shikakai shampoo can be done very easily, if you have the
ingredients at home. The shampoo is made with natural ingredients and
it doesn’t have any harsh chemicals in it. This shikakai shampoo leaves
the hair soft and silky. All the ingredients for this shampoo are
already dried, so you can buy them in bulk, store and use it year round.
The ingredients for this homemade shampoo are shikakai, soap nuts and
dried amla (gooseberries). We call dried amla “Nelli mulli” in Tamil. 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. Soap nut is an excellent cleanser and shikakai has been used
for centuries for hair wash in India. Dried gooseberries condition the
hair leaving it soft. This home made shampoo will not lather like the
regular surfactant based shampoos, but it will cleanse the hair well. To
completely remove the oil from the hair, use this shampoo twice.
2. Shikakai Hair Pack:
Hair packs made with shikakai are very good in treating dandruff and treating scalp related diseases. However, if you are formulating your own recipes with shikakai powder, make sure to include a conditioning agent. I love to include yogurt, as it is great for hair too. To make the hair pack, ground shikakai powder can be mixed with yogurt and neem leaf powder into a thick paste and applied on the scalp. Wait for 15 to 20 minutes before washing it off.
3. Shikakai Hair Wash Powder:
Traditionally, for our oil bath, after massaging our hair with this massage oil,
we have our hair wash with a mixture of arappu powder and shikakai
powder. We have arappu tree in the farm and we usually collect the
leaves, sun dry and powder it for the whole year’s use. Good quality arappu powder
made with tender leaves, cleans well and it is easy to wash the hair
only with it. But store bought arappu is usually not that good and it is
getting increasingly hard to get good quality arappu. If we buy arappu
from the shops, we usually mix it with home made shikakai powder. Even
older people will find it easier to apply/ wash their hair with arappu,
if it is mixed with shikakai powder, as arappu mixture is pasty. We
never use shikakai powder alone, as it can be a bit drying, especially
if it is used without the oil massage. It is always mixed with arappu
powder. Shikakai cleans the hair well and produces good lather, though
not like surfactant based shampoos. This shikakai blends prevents hair
loss and promotes hair growth, if used regularly. Make shikakai powder
for hair wash, during the hot summer months. It should be sun dried till
crisp. If you are making it in small quantities, powder it in a dry
mixer after sun drying it well.
SHIKAKAI FOR SKIN:
4. Shikakai Body Wash:
I know for some of you using shikakai on the skin might sound weird, but it does wonders, especially if you are prone to skin related diseases. To make the body wash, first collect rice kanji. Rice kanji is made by boiling rice with a little bit of excess water than needed. Once the rice is cooked, strain some the excess water, we call it rice kanji. Let the kanji cool and mix it with good quality shikakai powder and use it as a body wash for your skin. if you want it to smell good, you can add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to it. You will notice a nice difference in your skin.
5. Shikakai for Treating Scabies:
We make an antiseptic wash for scabies using shikakai. To make the wash, first soak turmeric
in hot water and rub it into a paste. Take a long piece of shikakai and burn it directly in the fire, till it turns dark. Wait for it cool
and grind it into a fine powder. Mix both ground turmeric paste and
ground shikakai powder with boiled water. Strain and use as a antiseptic
wash on the affected area. Both shikakai
and turmeric have anti fungal, anti microbial and anti bacterial
properties, that makes this an effective wash for scabies. Please
consult a doctor, if the condition is very, very severe. You can read the full post here.
6. For Cuts & Wounds in the Scalp.
For small wounds on the scalp, first burn a small piece of shikakai in direct fire. Make sure to burn a long piece, else you will hurt your hand when it burns. Better still burn it using a tong, cool and powder it finely in a mortar and pestle. Grind a small piece of turmeric, fresh neem leaves and the ground shikakai powder to a smooth paste. Grind it using boiled water and apply on the scalp, wait for 10 minutes before washing it off. This remedy is only for minor cuts and wounds on the scalp
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My daughter is one and half year old. She has insect bite scar on the left side of the cheek . Please help
Try applying organic turmeric paste on the scar for a few days. Turmeric does wonders in diminishing scars…
iam 26 years old.my hair has started whitening and has started increasing.what is the precautionary measure to get rid of that.suggest me a shampoo and a oil.plz reply me mam.
Try the curry leaf hair oil from the blog, it is the best remedy for premature greying….
Hello Medam,I am 23 years.The Hairfall was increased.Please suggest me some remedies to me.
Hi, Stress, poor diet and scalp problems are the 3 main reasons for hair fall. Try to reduce stress, eat traditional home cooked food that is made with whole grains and for scalp problems like dandruff, apply hair packs weekly twice or thrice and along with it have oil bath regularly…
plz give a best idea for hairfall, for guys
Try to reduce stress, have oil bath regularly and try homemade hair packs at least weekly twice…
Can shikakai be infused into a body cream?
That is a good idea and one I have not thought about! Yes, you can infuse shikakai pods into a body cream…
Does it really work. How often do you use and what minimum time period to use for results.
I have not tried the cream yet, but you can use it daily like any other homemade cream and usually the shelf life for homemade creams are 2 weeks…
What Should be used for uneven skin tone???
Usually regular use of pure homemade face packs will even out the skin tone. Choose a face pack that you like and try using it weekly thrice regularly for a few weeks to see results. I would suggest besan face pack from the blog…
Hi I am 23,My head almost visible which would be the best way and treatment to restore my hair and stop hair loss ?
If you are a male and it is due to genetics, try natural DHT blockers like green tea, saw palmetto or pumpkin seed oil along with regular homemade hair packs. If you are a female check for deficiencies and try to improve your diet. Also try regular oil massage with homemade hair oils along with hair packs at least weekly twice or thrice….
Hy my kid by mistake ate shikakai n teetha powder does it will impact her health
Reetha shikakai powder is not poisonous especially if had in small amounts but to be on the safer side watch her closely to see if there is a change in her bowel movements or in her eating habits. If there is I would suggest seeking medical help immediately…
Hi..mam I am 20 years old men. My skin is. Sweaty and dull..which..best face wash..suggest me for fresh skin
Please recomend remedy.For scalp psoriasis,also on elbows and knees.lessen redness.Im a woman.
Make a paste of fresh neem leaves and turmeric root and apply on the affected area. This combination is very effective for psoriasis and can be applied on the scalp too. Try this for a few days regularly to see results…
Hi mam. Im 19 n before i use 2 have a lot of dandruff n hair fall. But few days back i have make it gundu due 2 dis dandruf n hair loss but d thing is slowly started cuming agin dandruf.. tel how to decrese that
Hi, try the fenugreek hair mask from the blog, I have been using it for many years now and it always keeps my dandruff under control…
Hi i am 14 year old I tried shikakai but I noticed it made my hair rough and tangled(hairloss). I don't know it might be because I haven't used it before.
What should I do for fast hair growth
Shikakai is drying on the hair, I would suggest using it only after oiling your hair well that way there won't be any drying of the hair. For fast hair growth consume a nutritious wholesome diet that is high in proteins, minerals and essential fats. Also oil your hair regularly and apply hair mask weekly twice (you can find hair mask recipes in the blog) to strengthen the roots…
please suggest any home mead cream for psoriasis
I have not tired any cream for psoriasis but I feel turmeric based creams will work well. I will try and post it in the blog as soon as I can..
If we apply shikakai powder can reduce the dandruf.??
Shikakai powder does treat dandruff but I would suggest using it with other ingredients like arappu powder or like in the homemade shampoo mentioned above as shikakai powder by itself is quite drying on the hair….
Hi I'm 19 years old ….I have been using dove for two months but I have hair fall its increasing everyday now that I want to use shikakaai ….can I suddenly switch over to shikakai?? Will it have any side effects???
You can switch over without any side effects but shikakai is very drying on its own, so always follow it with a conditioner and try to use it with other conditioning ingredients like methi seeds…
Hi,I am using Nioxin Shampoo for washing my hair, for some reason, I have started loosing my hair since 4 months, It has become too thin, dry and looks bald. Please suggest me how to get my hair back without using any shampoo having excess of chemicals in it. How often can I wash my hair?
Wash your hair alternate days or once in two days. Try to have oil bath regularly and use conditioning homemade hair packs regularly before hair wash. Also try to use a conditioner after hair wash. I will try my best to post homemade shampoos that can be easily made at home, in the mean time try using baby shampoos they are usually very mild on the hair…
Does shikakai work to help grow natural 4c type hair?
Shikakai on it's own is very very drying on the hair but if combined with other nourishing ingredients like green gram dhal and fenugreek will help any type of hair grow faster…
hi, iam 21 my hair became white what should i do it started 1 year ago
I would recommend regular use of curry leaf hair oil (you can find the recipe in the blog)…
Hi mam m 15 year old girl before few months i had long shiny silky hair but from few months my hairs r getting rough n i hairfall is going on plz suggest me something …………….n m using patanjali shikakai shampoo since few days so does it will help ….??
Hi, I don't have any idea about patanjali shikakai shampoo as I have not used it. But try weekly twice oil bath and always condition your hair after hair wash. Try any one of the homemade oil from the blog and use regularly (I would suggest fenugreek oil from the blog), also apply the olive oil and egg hair mask (from the blog) weekly twice till the hair fall stops. Try not to stress about it and try to eat healthy, your hair will be back to normal again in no time..:).
Hi.. Is it recommended to use shikakai powder for daily hair wash…
I would prefer alternate days and shikakai is quite drying so use it along with other nourishing ingredients…
Hi…. i used some Nuzen,Dove,Panteen. etc but no use my hairfall is more day by day… so pls suggest me any conditioner also…
I would suggest regular oil bath as it conditions the hair really well along with relaxing us. Also try the fenugreek hair mask regularly to stop hair fall. If you have oil bath (recipe in the blog), you don't need a separate conditioner at all….
Dear madam Ramya,I colored my hair with different hair colors and now my hairs are becoming white, kindly suggest me right path for my hair. I want my hair black and shining again…. like naturally black…..
Hi Dinesh, The best thing to do after chemical treatment is hot oil treatment. It conditions the hair and strengthen the roots. Try weekly twice traditional oil bath (Saturdays & Wednesday For men), you can find the method of making the oil treatment in the blog. You can also try the curry leaf hair oil from the blog regularly as it does treat premature greying significantly…
hello ..is shikakai good for hair when mixed with rice kanji? Ive been using it for around 2 weeks now 🙂
Hi Devika, Shikakai and rice kanji is a very good combination, continue using it…:)
Hi, I take head shower bath twice a day using either v care shikakai paste or Himalaya protein shampoo. Is it advisable to use shampoo or shijakai paste daily. Recently I had lot of white hair n hairdall. Will these be the root cause? I apply coconut oil everyday morning before shower too.
I haven't used both the products you have mentioned so I don't know whether they are causing hair fall. Try switching over to arappu powder or homemade shampoo (you can find the recipe for them in the blog) and see whether there is a difference. I would also suggest having hair wash on alternate days than everyday as having hair wash daily might strip the scalp of natural oils…
Hi, I am a women and I have amla powder and shikakai powder that I have never used before. What is the right way to combine both powders. I am not looking to change the color of my hair tho. I do have 4c hair type.
Hi Nikki, amla and shikakai powders will not color the hair. If you plan to use it a hair pack, combine equal quantity amla and shikakai powder and mix it with yogurt or a beaten egg and apply on the scalp and hair..
Hi ma'am i'm nancy i have recent got lice from my roommate bcz of sharing the same bed will using shikakai help me get rid of lice & dandruff & all stuffs, Also hadeveloped with hair fall suggest me
Hi Nancy. To get rid of lice, first get rid of the lice using lice comb. Mix 2 tbsp of both coconut oil & neem oil in a cup. Add 5 drops of tea tree oil and apply this mixture on the scalp. Wait for 20 to 25 minutes before washing your hair. This will greatly help to get rid of lice. You can also mix equal quantity of vinegar and water and apply on the scalp. For hair fall, try olive oil and egg hair mask from the blog weekly twice and reduce stress and eat healthy…
hi mam, i have thin hair. can i use shikakai to get thick and black hair and what are the ingredients to make shikakai powder? can i use avarampoo and leaves and henna leaves. pls suggest me mam
For making shikakai powder at home, grind shikakai with fenugreek in 1:3 ratio after sun drying well. To mix, you can boil water with the herbs you mentioned and mix with the powder to make into a paste.
Hi mam.I am facing too much of hair fall.and I started using amla oil to reduce it..I washing it with shampoo ..but somebody suggested using smapoo is not good as it contains chemicals..now I am using chandrika soap to clean hair after applying amla..please guide me whether its good or at else I can use to clean hair and to reduce hair fall??
I was making shampoos and soaps before regularly and in my experience if the shampoo is pH balanced properly it will not leave your hair dry and brittle. I would suggest you try using natural hair cleaners like arappu | shikakai (you can read about them in the blog) but if you don't want to use them, try using baby shampoos. Usually they are strictly monitored for pH balance as it is used on children. I would suggest that you don't use soaps for washing hair…
hi a doubt whether V can make shampoo in tat liquid form nd keep it as lyk shampoo?????
You can make this shampoo, store it in the refrigerator and use it for about 2 weeks…
Mam i have dialy lose 5to 10 hair in oilingAnd my hair density is very low Plzz send me sugesionsMy hair breakage only in oiling And i use shampoo daily like patanjali shikakai or himalya anti dandruff Regular shampoo is good or badI want ghane hairs
We all lose some hair everyday which is normal and the daily shedding is noticeable while oiling as there is traction while oiling, please don't worry this is normal. Only if the hair fall is abnormal then you have to consider stopping or changing the oil you are using. As for shampoos, it should not dry out your hair (if it is properly pH balanced it will not cause hair drying). Also consider using baby shampoos as they are more closely monitored for pH balance than normal shampoos…
Hi, is shikakai and reetha soap good for hair? I have bought one from Khadi.
I have not used shikakai based soaps for hair so I don't know how effective they are. Give it a try and let me know how you like it…
I have severe hair fall n its increasing day by day n my hair is so short n they r so dry… Can I use shikakai for improving my hair n hairshine n its length ?.Does shikakai work on it for improving length of my hair ?
Shikakai can be used for treating hair fall but since your hair is already dry, I would suggest using it only as a hair pack like mentioned in the post as shikakai can be quite drying if used alone. You can also try one of the homemade oils from the blog regularly, it will greatly condition the hair and stop hair fall….
Dear Madam, I have PCOS, How hairfall can be reduced due to effects of PCOS.?
Since PCOS is due to hormonal imbalance, good diet, sleep and regular exercise is vital. Also taking oil bath (method in the blog) regularly weekly twice will reduce stress and also applying hair packs will strengthen the hair roots thus preventing hairfall….
Hello Mam, Are u aware of any herabl technique for activation of hair follicles for new hairs growth..?
Regular hair massage with certain herbal infusions will stimulate new hair growth, you can read about the list of herbs that stimulates new hair growth here: http://wildturmeric.net/2015/11/natural-ayurvedic-Indian-herbs-for-hair-growth.html
Hey Ramya I m jst fed up wid d stubborn nit prblm can u please suggest some remedy to get rid of it
Grind vasambu (sweet flag) and neem leaves together and apply as a hair pack, you can also add few drops of tea tree oil. All these 3 ingredients are very effective in getting rid of nits. Try and please let me know if it works for you…
What home made shampoo,oil and onditioner to use for my 7 year old daughter.
What home made shampoo, conditioner and oil to use for my 5 year old daughter.
I would suggest using only pure homemade coconut oil and arappu powder along with oil bath for her as she is still young. But if you don't get arappu powder you can try this homemade shampoo for her: http://wildturmeric.net/2013/09/herbal-shampoo.html
Dear ma'am, In the past I used hair gel and wax which ended up clogging my follicles. My hair is thinning and its oily when i wake up in the morning, after bathing the night before. Any remedy for this? I've switched to olive oil shampoo, conditioner and using olive oil after bath. Anything further I can do? Or am I doing it wrong?
In addition try using homemade hair masks, they really help strengthen the hair roots, try either avocado hair mask or olive oil hair mask or fenugreek hair mask from the blog. Stress also could cause hair loss that is why our elders insisted on oil bath weekly twice as it greatly reduces stress. I would suggest you incorporate both oil bath and homemade hair packs in your hair care regime (you can find all the recipes in the blog)….
Noted. Thank you so much 🙂
Can Shikakai powder be used to wash away oil? My hair therapist asked me to use shampoo only once a week. He asked me to use shikakai to wash my hair. But if i oil it will shikakai help remove the oil too?
How can I use shikakai to wash away the oil in my hair?
You can use shikakai to wash oily hair, try using it in the form of shampoo along with reetha and dry amla, here is the recipe for making the shampoo: http://wildturmeric.net/2013/09/herbal-shampoo.html
Hi how to get a glowing ,fair and smooth skin
Hello mam I'm having severe hairfall I'm 22years male and I've been trying shikakai powder prepared by mom suggest me whether to use it daily or alternatively and also suggest me some other remedies too i basically have a curly hair which makes my head look baldy please help me out mam
I would suggest not using shikakai daily but on alternate days. I would also suggest taking oil bath weekly twice as it will greatly reduce stress and strengthen the hair roots. Also weekly once use of any hair pack from the blog will greatly help condition and strengthen the hair…
Hi ma'am.. I'm 17 years old I used to have thick and normal hair when I was 12 . Than I have done permenant curling and lastly when I was 16 I straightened my hair temporarily. What should I do to have thick and normal hair again ? My hair is dry too
Hi, I would suggest having oil bath weekly twice (method in the blog)as hot oil treatments work really well for chemically treated hair. I would also suggest using egg and olive oil treatment from the blog before hair wash as it greatly conditions the hair. Also try using curry leaf oil from the blog regularly…
hi can we use this shikakai powder for everyday use ,any problem will be there for that .please put you comment below my email ,emoorthy7@gmail.com
Shikakai powder is quite drying on the hair if used alone. I would suggest using it along with arappu powder or in the form of a shampoo (recipe in the blog) along with ingredients like fenugreek, reetha and amla, that way you will get the benefits without any side effects…
hi, i have some skin problem, some black point come on my nose from 1 month…please tell me some treatment for it.
Hello Mam,I am making homemade moistutizer for Afro hair.Does Shikakai always has to be washed off or can the powder be added in an styling moisturising cream?
We always wash off the shikakai from our hair…
Hy mam plz tell me shel also oil is good for my hair I'm 19 year old boy I have rough and hard and little curl hair know I shaved my hair that's why can I use shekakai oil on my scalp is good for me or not and I use seka.ke shampoo is that good for me plz help I don't understand what is the best shampoo or oil for my hair
I m 21 years old…started male pattern baldness..BT now using shikaikai…can I go with Himalaya antihairfall shampoo or loreal…help me pls
Hi mam,I m 21 yrs old…I have a male pattern hailfall from past 1 year.BT I m using chikaikai powder .can l go with Himalaya anti hairfall shampoo or loreal shampoo
I would suggest homemade shampoo from the blog. But if you wan to commercial shampoos, you can chose any one of the popular brand of shampoos, they are all the same (surfactant based shampoos)….
Hi,Can you please suggest some way to get rid of grey hair? I am 35. I am sick of using hair color that causes more damage than good. Pl suggest any nutrients intake or external applications of herbal shampoo or color that works with minimal side effects.Thanks.
I would suggest using curry leaf hair oil from the blog, it greatly helps prevent greying, but the oil has to be used regularly to see results…
Hi mam so what do u suggest for anxiety and stress and one more thing for hair loss and grey hair coming in my hair so can u suggest me some oils
I would suggest brahmi tea, it is very very good for reducing anxiety and stress. For grey hair and hair loss, I would suggest using curry leaf hair oil or amla hair oil. You can find recipe for all these 3 in the blog…
Thank u very much ill try to find brahmi tea
Hi Mam am having alot of dandruff and hair fall can u please suggest me something how to control it
I would suggest the fenugreek hair mask from the blog, it is an amazing home remedy for dandruff…
Nice post
Hello mam.. I'm 23 years old… it's like..my front hairs are alone kind of curled and the rest is very straight and shiny…why is it so?
Hello.. I'm 23 years old and I'm noticing curled hair only at the front..the rest part is completely straightwhy is it so?
Hi Mam.. I am not sure whether i am suffering from hair loss. But I feel my hair near partition on left side is quite few and my scalp is visible. I have started using shikakai soap for alternate days for my hair wash as well as egg white and 1 tbsp lemon massage on hair for about 30 min. Will it be helpful to regrow my hair.
If you feel the hair near the partition alone is scanty, try taking partition in different place to prevent hair loss due to traction. Egg white and lemon will treat dandruff and give a nice sheen to the hair. You can also try a hair oil from the blog regularly, it will condition and strengthen the hair well….
Hi mame I am lossing too much hair last 1 month and dandruff and itchy scale as well I am using argan morocco shampoo and conditioner and using sesa hair oil as well still same too much can not see
Hi Mam am having alot of hair fall even after applying shikakai, amla and mehti mixture before bath. But am these from a few months am noticing after using this am suffering from cold and headache.can u please suggest me something how to control my hairfall ?
hi..my hairs are very rough in texture..i use curry leaves oil 1time in a week…i sometimes also use aloe vera jel on hairs but still my hairs are becoming brittle and rough..plz suggest some remedy
Hi madam,My oil is very greasy after washing with shikakai in hard water.pls suggest some method to remove oil fully from hair.
How to use araappu powder,i have itching and hair loss problem starting stage of psoriasis .parappi and shikkakai should be mixed or only arappu can be used.can we use arappu in rainy seasons andam using vetpalai thailam for head
Can we use shikakai to wash hai after applying hair colour or henna?Does it affect the coloring?
Can shikakai be on eczema?
Can I use any other shampoo after using shikakai paste? As washing hair with only shikakai paste makes my hair too dry. Can I use dove, pantene after washing my hair with shikaki paste?
Hello there. Using commerical shampoo defeats the purpose of cleansing your hair with Shikakai. Dove, Pantene etc are loaded with chemicals. If you don't want to make your own you can buy chemical free shampoos at safeandchic.com although I would still read the back of the bottles to see the ingredients. After you massage the paste in your hair and are ready to rinse use warm water. make sure to rub and rinse it all out. Apply organic / chemical free conditioner. It will feel soft immediately. Or you can deep conditioner first with organic honey and olive oil (or avocado oil)
Hi Ramya, Can we use this shikakai shampoo for body bath as well?
I read some suggest mixing shikakai powder, nellikai, boondikotai, vendayam, arappu 2 hours before hair wash or previous night with water. Do you do this to or recommend? The reason I ask is somethings we can leave to soak overnight and other things we shouldn’t it can spoil or turn bad in smell.
The other thing is if anyone is doing this themselves PLEASE don’t use newspapers to dry the herbs
or to let the herbs come in contact with the newspaper, and especially don’t do this for making rice flour. The ink in the newspaper has carbon in it I think and its not safe to ingest nor to get absorbed by the body.
People reuse newspapers to sell food or to make food products on but I would say anything meant for internal or external human body use do not use the newspaper.
Instead use a pure clean cloth. Or maybe I am not sure banana leaf is ok.
there is black, brown and reddish/pinkish shikakai what is the difference between them sold?
the store bought is not stating when it is packed and when it is good to use by so how long can it be used for once the package is opened or when in the package there is not expiration dates and production dates? i just see a plastic bag with the pods inside that’s it we have no idea if it is sitting there for years unsold?
there is also black soap nut and brown soap nuts what is the difference some feel the black is extremely drying ?