Shikakai Herb Benefits And Uses For Hair And Skin

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Shikakai Herb Benefits And Uses For Hair And Skin

Shikakai is “a small shrub-like tree which grows in India. Its pod like fruit is collected, dried and then ground into a fine powder”.Shikakai – simply grandmother’s beauty treatment.
Shikakai has been used for skin and hair care from ancient times and its benefits are mentioned in ayurveda. Basically Shikakai fruit pods are used that contain tiny seeds that we throw away.

This is Popularly found in central India, Shikakai is also rich in antioxidants and vitamins A, C, K, and D, which help nourish hair and keep it healthy. The fruit is easily available, especially in powdered form. Here’s how it can help boost hair growth.

Shikakai, also known as the hair fruit, has been used as a hair care ingredient for centuries now. The Ayurvedic herb is often used as a shampoo replacement because of its excellent cleansing properties.

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Benefits of Shikakai For Hair And Skin www.foodbheem.com[/caption]

Benefits of Shikakai Herb:

Hair Growth:

Owing to its ability to maintain optimum pH level and astringent nature, Shikakai helps to fight scalp infections, while keeping it clean and healthy. Due to all this, there is excellent hair growth for you especially hair of the best quality.

Delays grey hair:

Shikakai can actually slow down and delay the appearance of grey hair, letting you retain the natural youthfulness of your hair for long.

Curbs Hair Loss:

Shikakai helps curb hair loss by restoring scalp health. It effectively deals with issues like an aggravated scalp, follicle-clogging, dandruff, and itching. In many cases, curbing hair fall is as simple as restoring scalp health.

Soothes Your Scalp:

A healthy scalp is literally the foundation for healthy hair growth. Shikakai can soothe an inflamed scalp with its cooling antiseptic properties, restoring its health. It also helps maintain the optimum pH level of your scalp..

Heals minor wounds:

Shikakai is calm and soothing on an irritated head and can actually heal minor cuts and abrasions on your scalp.

Anti-Dandruff:

Shikakai has been used for dandruff since ages. It has antifungal properties and essential nutrients to nourish the scalp. This is why shikakai helps reducing the dandruff infection from the scalp and nourish the dry itchy scalp simultaneously.

Nourishes Your Follicles:

Shikakai is a great source of essential vitamins. Its vitamin C content, especially, helps promote hair growth by giving your scalp a collagen boost. It is also a great source of antioxidants that help prevent free-radical damage.

Cleanses Your Hair:

Shikakai is a natural mild cleanser. Which means that it cleanses your hair without stripping away the natural oils from it. Not only does this help keep your hair clean, but it also helps keep your hair conditioned.

Prevents Lice:

There is nothing more annoying than head lice. Especially when you have children, who are much more susceptible to them. Shikakai is a natural solution to a head lice problem. not only does it curb the problem but also keeps the head lice away for good with regular use.

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shikakai benefits[/caption]

Shiney Hair:

Shikakai helps add shine to your hair while also making it much more manageable. If you have a tangle problem, it would be a good idea to include this ingredient in your hair care routine.

Gently detangles hair:

If you have curly hair, shikakai is a great way to detangle your locks after a shampoo. Gently run your fingers through your hair while rinsing.

It is cheaper and better:

Shikakai is a much cheaper and more natural alternative to chemical-laden shampoos.Now that you know of the many advantages, learn how to use shikakai.By itself shikakai doesn’t lather up much, but when mixed with reetha (soap nut) it is an excellent way to clean your hair and scalp. Here are the many ways you can use shikakai for your hair.

Using Shikakai:

Shikakai Tea:
Mix 1-3 tbsp of Shikakai Powder in a container/bottle with 1 cup hot water or herbal tea. Let the tea steep for 1-5 hours. Strain and add 1.5 cups more of hot water to the tea. Shake and pour over wet oiled wet hair, gently massage scalp and ‘press’ tea into hair. Cover with a shower cap until the end of your shower and wash out very well. This method is great for those that have drains in their homes that clog. If you’re adding more herbs such as Organic Amla Powder, Soapnut Powder, etc, the combined herbs should equal around 3tbsp.

Herbal Blend of Shikakai:

Shikakai can be mixed into a paste with water or herbal tea to a similar consistency to that of henna, or brownie batter, applied to oiled damp hair and left on for up to an hour. A herb pack can consist of many other herbs. First time users may find a little diluted conditioner in the beginning helps with the transition phase.

Paste:
Mix a few tablespoons of Shikakai with enough water or herbal tea to make a runny paste similar in consistency to thick yoghurt and apply to damp/wet lightly pre-oiled hair. Leave on for 30 minutes and wash out well. First time users may find a little diluted conditioner in the beginning helps with the transition phase.

Oil and shikakai Hair Treatment:
You can make your own shikakai oil to use as treatment on your hair or skin.

Ingredients:

1 tbs. Shikakai powder
1/2 cup of your favorite base oil (almond, olive, avocado, coconut, etc.)

Method:

Mix the powder and the base oil and place in a closed container.
Shake vigorously.
Place the container in a dark, cool place.
Let the mixture rest for 3 weeks, shaking it occasionally to prevent the shikakai from settling.
After three weeks, your shikakai-infused oil will be ready to use. The oil must be kept in a dry, cool, dark place.
You can use this oil on both skin and hair.

Shampoo:

If you will be using it as shampoo, grab a handful of the paste, apply it to the scalp, and scrub gently for 2 minutes or until hair feels clean. Don't overdo it! Even though shikakai foams up, it is not soap. Your hair will not feel the same way it does when you wash with shampoo. Mind you, your hair will be clean, but it will also retain most of its natural oils so during the first few days, your hair might feel a tad rough to the touch. This can be fixed easily by applying conditioner or a little bit of oil to your hair after you shower.

How to Use It as a Soap:

The market offers you various brands of shikakai based soaps.

Hair Rinse:

Take dried Shikakai or Shikakai powder and boil all ingredients together in one cup of water. Boil them for 15 minutes and then let it cool down. Mash the contents and strain the water. Use this water as hair rinse.

Some more tips Using Shikakai:

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How to use Shikakai for Dry Scalp www.foodbheem.com[/caption]

Shikakai And Curd Hair Mask:

Ingredients:
2 tbsp shikakai powder
2-3 tbsp curd
2-3 drops vitamin E oil (optional)
Shower cap

Prep Time:
5 minutes

Processing Time:
20 minutes

Method:
Combine the two ingredients to get a smooth paste with a thick consistency. Optionally, you can add a couple of drops of vitamin E oil to the blend for extra conditioning and damage protection.
Apply this mask to your hair, working it in from the roots to the tips of your hair.
Once your scalp and hair are completely covered in the mask, cover your hair with a shower cap to avoid a mess. Wait for 20 minutes.
After 20 minutes have passed, proceed to rinse out the hair mask with cool water and a mild sulfate-free shampoo. If you have oily hair, you may skip conditioning.

How Many times For a Week:
1-2 times a week.

Shikakai Shampoo With Amla And Reetha:

Ingredients:
10g Shikakai pods
10g Reetha
5g Amla
750 ml Water
(You can also use the powdered forms of these ingredients.)

Prep Time:
8 hours+20 minutes

Processing Time:
5 minutes

Method:
Soak the ingredients in 750 mL of water overnight.
In the morning, boil the water with the ingredients still in it until the pods completely soften.
Let the water cool, and then mash the ingredients together. Strain the liquid and store it in a shampoo bottle.
Rinse your hair with water and use the shikakai solution in place of your regular shampoo.
You might have you wash your hair twice with the shampoo for it to lather. (Unlike store-bought shampoos, this will not lather much.)
When a slight lather appears, it means your hair is clean and can be rinsed.

How Many times For a Week:
2-3 times a week.

How This Works:
Shikakai is an inexpensive and healthier alternative to using store bought shampoos that are laden with harsh chemicals. This natural shampoo helps nourish the scalp with nutrients like vitamin D and C while also cleansing it.