Hair is the most attractive part of our body. Keeping up and maintaining your hair, giving it proper care, protecting it from any damage, and keeping it smooth and shiny is a hassle. Using chemical shampoos and conditioners might not be a thing for your hair, the chemicals in those shampoos can damage your hair (and you don’t want that).
So let’s keep it natural. Use some home remedies with an ayurvedic herb, shikakai. You probably heard about this natural ingredient from your grandmother. And guess what, your grandmother is a genius. Shikakai for hair is the best natural ingredient you can use to change the way your hair looks. Whether it’s hair growth, shine, smoothness, and softness, shikakai remains the best ayurvedic herb to do the job. There are so many benefits of shikakai you can claim at your home.
First, let’s find out shikakai benefits for hair.
Benefits of Shikakai
Below are the benefits of Shikakai:
1. Cleanses your hair
Using shikakai as a hair cleanser is a great option. Shikakai cleanses your hair without stripping away natural oils from your hair. It keeps your hair conditioned and cleansed. If you like using natural ingredients for yourself, shikakai should not be an exception. It is a natural herb and does not harm your hair.
2. Elicits hair growth
If you want to grow your hair long, then try this natural herb which promotes your hair growth. Shikakai is enriched with antioxidants like vitamins A, C, K, and D which will stimulate the hair to grow longer and thicker. It boosts the collagen in the hair which will make your hair smoother and shinier.
3. Makes your hair shinier and softer
Everyone wants their hair to stay smooth, soft, and shiny. Sometimes, using chemical shampoos can cause your strands to lose its natural shine. What can you do? Use shikakai. Shikakai builds up collagen and nourishes your hair which makes it shiny and soft. The antioxidants in shikakai give all the nourishment your hair needs. So, try it out if you want to achieve the hair goals.
4. Prevents hair loss
This might be one of the most common reasons you are reading this, Hair loss. One of the greatest benefits of shikakai is that it impedes hair loss. Shikakai fights off some of the hair issues like an aggravated scalp, follicle clogging, dandruff, and itching. Good scalp health means less hair loss. So what is the loss in trying this out?
5. Prevents greying out the hair
Worrying about getting grey hair strands which makes you feel old? Well, worry no more! Because shikakai is your best friend to keep your hair young and beautiful. It helps your hair by protecting it from the greying process.
Wash your hair with shikakai regularly to see the desired results. The antioxidants are the soldiers which are responsible to protect your hair from greying.
6. Prevents Lice
It’s annoying to have lice all over your hair. It gets prickly and gross. Shikakai helps the hair by preventing lice. If you suffer from lice you might want to try out shikakai enriched shampoos and hair cleansers. They can combat the occurrence of lice on your hair. Use shikakai and say goodbye to lice.
7. Soothes your itchy scalp
The antioxidants in shikakai help your hair stay away from hair issues such as dandruff, scalp eczema, psoriasis, itchy scalp, lice, inflammation, and other issues. It gives a soothing effect to your hair and also prevents your follicles from getting blocked because of its antifungal and antimicrobial properties.
How to use Shikakai for hair?
There are several products which are enriched with the goodness of shikakai. They are easily available. You can use shikakai shampoos or oils for your daily hair care needs. However, an organic shikakai powder can be used for DIYs at home. Forest Herbs 100% Natural Organic Shikakai Powder.
It adds shine and softness, Fights dandruff, Gives you stronger, thicker hair, Prevents a dry scalp, Delays grey hair, Removes hair lice, Heals minor wounds, Soothes your head, Gently detangles hair.
DIYs for Making Shikakai Masks
Here are Shikakai masks for hair:
1. Curd and shikakai
Curd is known to soothe your scalp and removes dandruff and flakes from your hair. Here are the steps to make this mask for your hair and do this 1-2 times a week.
- Take 2 tablespoons of shikakai powder.
- Add 2 tablespoons of curd into shikakai powder.
- You can also add vitamin-E if you want
- Mix it up and apply on your hair and wait for 20 minutes
- After 20 minutes, rinse your hair with cool water and a mild shampoo.
2. Coconut oil and shikakai
If you are fond of oiling your hair, you can add in coconut oil with shikakai to have perfectly smooth and shinier hair which are easy to detangle. Follow these steps to prepare this. Apply this mixture 2-3 times a week
- Take 1 tablespoon of shikakai powder
- Add ½ cup of coconut oil
- You can add avocado or basil oil too.
- Apply the mixture and leave it for at least 40 minutes or you can leave it overnight too.
- Wash the oil out from your hair.
3. Eggs and shikakai
This pack might be the most beneficial pack for your hair. The proteins in eggs and herbal qualities in shikakai will nourish your hair and improve your hair health. Follow these steps to make eggs and shikakai pack. Apply this pack once a week.
- Take 2 tablespoon shikakai powder, 2 tablespoon amla powder, 2 tablespoon fenugreek powder and 1 whole egg.
- Whisk all the ingredients together well.
- Apply this mask on your hair.
- Wait for 20 minutes.
- Now rinse your hair with a mild shampoo.
4. Reetha and shikakai
Shikakai is an affordable and easy way to nourish your hair at home. Reetha is known to cleanse the hair and remove the excess dirt and oil from it. This pack is loaded with nutrients your hair would love. Follow these steps to make this pack and make sure you apply it 1-2 times a week.
- Take 2 tablespoons of reetha and shikakai powder.
- Soak them in 750 mL of water overnight.
- Boil the ingredients in the morning until it softens
- Let it cool and then let the liquid strain from the ingredients.
- Apply it on your hair and rinse (you can bottle up the remaining ingredients)
Try these natural and DIY hair care routines by incorporating shikakai benefits for hair, and watch your tresses look like a million bucks!