What is Shikakai?
The name means "fruit for hair". The pods are dried and ground into powder, or extracted for use in herbal shampoos.
What does Shikakai do for hair?
- Gentle, low-foam cleansing
- Leaves hair soft and easy to detangle
- Keeps the scalp's natural oils in balance
What does the research say?
Shikakai pods contain saponins, natural surfactants that give a mild cleansing action. Scientific studies on hair benefits are limited.
How do you use Shikakai on hair?
- Use a shikakai shampoo on wet hair, or mix shikakai powder with water into a paste.
- Massage into the scalp for 2 minutes.
- Rinse thoroughly.
Who should be careful?
- Shikakai powder can sting the eyes — rinse carefully.
