We all remember that washing our hair with Shikakai was one of the rituals when we were kids. As time flies, so many hair care products have evolved. However, trends come and go with fashion, and the love for our traditional ways of living healthy will always remain. Shikakai is one such thing that has been used for generations for long and healthy hair. It is now gaining popularity as a natural shampoo due to its low PH, making it gentle on the hair and preventing it from losing its natural oils.  

If you are looking for the best shikakai shampoo and are confused about choosing the right one, this blog is for you. Keep reading this blog article to learn about Shikakai's benefits and uses, tips for buying a good Shikakai shampoo  and much more. 

History and scientific facts behind Shikakai 

Shikakai is a powerful medicinal plant known as shikka in Tamil, seekaya in Telegu, and soap pod in English, meaning "fruit for hair." It has been a popular ingredient in Ayurvedic history for ages. Its scientific name is Acacia concinna. It has a shrub with fruits that come out as pods. It is usually found in the Indian subcontinent's tropical forests. It is mainly used to promote hair growth and control dandruff. It can be used alone or blended with other ingredients, such as reetha, amla, aloe vera, etc.  

Properties of shikakai 

This herbal plant has been studied for its potential effects on leprosy, constipation, jaundice, gum infections, malarial fever, and as a contraceptive component. It is also known for its many beneficial properties, including,  

• Wound healing properties 

• Anti-dandruff potential 

• Anti-hair fall and anti-inflammatory properties 

• Anti-bacterial and antifungal activities 

Potential uses of Shikakai 

People have used these natural surfactant soap pods to clean the scalp, strengthen the hair from the roots, reduce irritation, and relieve scaling, dryness, and greasiness. Nowadays, people are very conscious of preferring natural herbs, especially in hair care. Shikakai has been used to treat skin and hair, and Ayurveda recognizes that it can also treat various diseases.  

Shikakai shampoo benefits 

If you open Pandora's box of traditional beauty treatments, Shikakai will be at the top of the haircare list. It is now commonly used in many shampoos and conditioners due to its high content of saponins. These saponins work as a natural foaming agent, which helps gently cleanse the scalp and maintain healthy, dandruff-free hair. Moreover, it contains vitamins A, C, D, and E.  

Using shikakai shampoo has numerous benefits  

• It can naturally soften and smoothen your hair with essential oils and vitamins, crucial for hair growth. 

• It encourages hair development and helps maintain silky and lustrous hair. 

• It prevents breakage and brittleness with its high nutrients. 

• It has been an excellent remedy for dandruff because of its antifungal and anti-bacterial characteristics. 

• It relieves a nagging headache and is a peaceful experience during hot weather. 

• It slows down the process of greying hair. 

• It helps with hair lice issues. 

• It treats dry, irritative, and sensitive scalps. 

• It treats minor bruises and scrapes on the scalp. 

• It treats scabies with its anti-bacterial and antiseptic properties. 

Shikakai is available in many different forms. You can use it in powder form, oil, shampoo, hair pack, or hair soap. However, it is advisable to consult a qualified doctor before using herbal products.  

Recipes  

Recipe 1 

You can use Shikakai with coconut or other essential oils and amla powder. Apply it and leave it on your hair for 20 to 30 minutes, then rinse it off. Use this hair pack twice a week for strong and healthy hair.  

Recipe 2 

If you have dry hair and want to hydrate it, mix shikakai powder with yogurt, blend it, apply it to your hair, leave it on, and wash it after 20 to 25 minutes to see the best results. 

Choosing the best shikakai shampoo with tips 

Most of the time, we end up buying the wrong haircare products because we are unaware of our hair type. Though genetics plays a significant role in our hair type, it is essential to choose the right product to maintain the hair's volume, length, and texture. Now, you will understand how to choose the appropriate shampoo that works wonders on your hair. 

Identify your hair type. 

You can easily identify your hair type based on its shape (straight, curly, wavy, or coiled) and greasiness (oily hair, dry hair, and combination hair).  

Oily hair: Those with oily hair have greasy oil patches all over their scalp. 

Dry hair: Those with dry hair have no oil deposit on their scalp, which is a sign of dehydration. 

Combination hair: Those with combination hair see oil deposition on specific areas of their scalp, leaving the rest of their scalp dry. 

Choosing the shampoo depending on the hair type 

As shampoo helps remove and cleanse dirt and oil from the hair and scalp, it is inevitable in every haircare regime. However, not all shampoos are suitable for every person. Therefore, you must be careful when selecting a shampoo based on your hair type.    

Oily hair: People with oily hair can use shampoo with lauryl sulphate and astringents to eliminate excess oil from the scalp. They should avoid frequent hair conditioning, which can clog the hair follicles.  

Combination hair: Sulphate-free shampoo is ideal for people with combination hair; it can cleanse and smoothen your hair without removing the natural oils. You can wash your hair with shampoo once or twice a week. 

Dry hair: People with dry hair should use shampoos infused with nourishing creams (like shea butter), oils (like coconut or olive), or proteins to prevent brittle and frizzy hair and keep their hair strands hydrated.  

What to avoid while choosing shampoo? 

Shampoo can help maintain healthy hair, but some ingredients in shampoo can cause irritation and inflammation on the scalp.  

The following ingredients shouldn't be present in shampoos; 

Sulphate: The most common ingredient found in shampoos is sulphate. As it helps remove dirt and oil, it can be harsh and cause breakage in people with dry and frizzy hair. It can also increase the chance of premature greying of the hair.  

Sodium chloride (commonly known as table salt): This helps a shampoo have a better consistency. But it can irritate the eyes and scalp. Moreover, it can cause the hair to become dryer and break.  

Alcohol: Shampoo may contain several types of alcohol to help retain moisture in the hair. However, shampoo infused with high alcohol content can dehydrate and irritate the scalp, which results in dry and frizzy hair. 

Parabens: Parabens, a preservative, help increase the shampoo's shelf life. It can aggravate skin allergies like rosacea and dermatitis. 

Herbodaya's Shikakai Volumizing Shampoo - the ultimate solution for all hair problems 

Whether you have oily hair, dry hair, or combination hair,   Herbodaya's Shikakai Volumizing Shampoo can be the perfect choice for you. It is suitable for all types of hair and ages. This shampoo is made with a unique blend of herbs that helps maintain your hair's shine and luxuriance. The antifungal and anti-bacterial properties of shikakai help prevent premature greying of the hair and reduce hair fall and breakage.  

Other vital benefits of  Herbodaya's Shikakai Volumizing Shampoo 

• Cleanse and condition the hair with deep nourishment 

• Gives long-lasting shine and lustrous 

• Treats irritation and dryness 

• Controls frizz and brittleness 

• Strengthens the scalp and hair follicles 

• Prevents split ends 

As it has a low PH, it works effectively as a cleanser and gives you strong and healthy hair. Furthermore, it is a certified Ayurvedic formulation without harmful chemicals like sulphates, alcohol, parabens, or sodium chloride. As qualified physicians highly recommend it, you can try it without any doubt.  

You can find Herbodaya's Shikakai shampoo  on Amazon, Flipkart, and all other online shopping sites, as well as in selective retail stores. 

Achieve gorgeous, healthy hair inside and out with   Herbodaya's Shikakai Volumizing Shampoo