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 Shikakai
"Fruit for the Hair"
Acacia Concinna is a small shrub-like tree which grows in the warm,
dry plains of central India. For centuries the people who have had
access to this tree have used its pod-like fruit to clean their
hair. They collect, dry and grind this pod into a powder which is
considered a superior cleanser for "lustrous long hair"
and has been reported as "promoting hair growth and preventing
dandruff". Because of these benefits, this powder was named
"shikakai" which literally translates as "fruit for
the hair" .
Today this fruit is grown commercially in large quantities in India
and the Far East. As a result, shikakai powder is readily available
and continues to be commonly used as a preferred shampoo. The dried,
powdered fruit is sold in attractive packages that show women with
long, beautiful, shiny hair. Many popular brands are sold throughout
India.
Typically, shikakai is mixed with water to make a paste which is
worked through the hair. It lathers moderately and cleans hair beautifully.
It has a natural low pH, is extremely mild, and doesn't strip hair
of natural oils. Usually no rinse or conditioner is used since shikakai
also acts as a detangler. This ancient product is probably the world's
original pH balanced shampoo.
ShiKai powder is imported from India and is used as the primary
cleansing and sudsing agent in our Shampoo. Instead of using it
in its raw powdered state however, it is made into an extract which
preserves its beneficial properties and converts shikakai powder
into a water-soluble form. This "shikakai" extract is
used in place of soaps and harsh detergents. The resulting shampoos
are truly different -- they are gentle, mild, naturally low pH,
and are genuine alternatives to all other shampoos found today.
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