Shikakai For Hair: 10 Shikakai Benefits For Thick & Long Hair

Most of us must have seen our mothers applying henna on their hair. Along with henna, they add many other things into it such as amla, Shikakai, or sometimes even tea leaves. Each of these ingredients has its own benefits. Out of these, the most traditional ingredient is Shikakai or Acacia concinna, a climbing shrub, native to Asia. Shikakai has numerous brilliant benefits for your hair. Here’s a list of some of them:

Amazing Benefits Of Shikakai For Hair

1. Makes hair soft and shiny

One of the benefits of Shikakai for hair is that it is loaded with saponins, vitamins as well as antioxidants that make hair shiny. Also, Shikakai produces mild lather which in turn cleanses the scalp and hair gently resulting in improved hair texture.

2. Increases hair growth

Many of us are facing the problem of hair fall, and to reduce that we end up buying expensive shampoos and oils. But we can save that money by using this all-natural ingredient called Shikakai which is readily available at local stores as well as online stores. The antioxidants present in Shikakai help in fighting against the radicals that cause hair damage. It detangles the hair softly which in turn reduces the hair fall. Furthermore, Shikakai also contains vitamins like C, A, E and K and other micronutrients that help nourish the scalp and boost hair growth.

3. Fights dandruff

Another benefit of Shikakai for hair is that it helps in fighting the problem of dandruff because of its anti-fungal properties. Many Shikakai loaded shampoos are available in the market that can be used to strengthen the tresses and help hair grow.

4. Helps heal the scalp and prevents dry scalp

Shikakai provides cooling to the scalp and is thus known as the cooling agent of the scalp. Having an unhealthy and dry scalp prevents the growth of hair, Shikakai fights the problem of dry scalp by inducing sebum secretion. It also helps in reducing the itchiness and inflammation of the scalp, thus healing the scalp.

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5. Gentle detangler

Shikakai is a silky cleanser in nature. It detangles the hair gently thus reducing hair loss and hair breakage. It can also reduce the damage caused by various chemicals on our hair. If a person is having uncurly or curly hair and wanted to go straight naturally without the use of chemical products then Shikakai will be a boon for them that will help in detangling the mop of hair.

6. Prevents dreadful split ends

Chemical treatments such as straightening, smoothening and free-radical generation cause a lot of split ends in our hair and to get rid of these split ends, one needs a haircut and can pray that they should not come back once the hair grows. To eliminate this problem of split ends Shikakai can be used which is rich in antioxidants and neutralises the damage-causing free radicals. It also promotes the sebum secretion in the scalp that moisturises the hair and prevents the growth of split ends.

7. Helps to soothe itchy scalp

Shikakai has antifungal and antimicrobial properties that eliminate the problem of dandruff, scalp eczema, psoriasis, itchy scalp, lice and inflammation. Moreover, the cleansing properties of Shikakai prevent the follicles from getting blocked, which helps in preventing the breakage and promoting hair growth.

8. Works as a natural cleanser

Shikakai works as a natural cleanser even though it is free of any harsh soap or detergent properties. It can be used to clean your hair properly and get rid of all the dirt and other impurities without washing off the natural oils and it does not leave them dry or frizzy after the wash. If you want to have shiny and soft hair without taking expensive salon treatments then Shikakai is the best choice for that hair care ingredient.

9. Delays greying of hair

People nowadays are facing the problem of premature greying of hair because of the stressful environment we are living in and the harsh chemical treatments that we give to our hair. The antioxidants that Shikakai carries help in reducing the greying of hair. It also nourishes the hair, heals the scalp and makes sure that greying of hair should not take place.

10. Effective on lice

People also suffer from the problem of hair lice which can also be eliminated using Shikakai. It naturally arrests the growth of hair lice and helps to deal with hair problems.

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Bottom Line

Shikakai can be used as a shampoo as well as hair oil. The best thing about Shikakai is that it does not dry your hair out rather it makes them soft, shiny and frizz-free. Additionally, it can be used daily as it does not have any harmful effects on hair which is much better than any kind of shampoo. Also, it is not required to use the hair conditioner after washing your hair with Shikakai.