DEEPIKA RATHOD
The rising heat is leading to increased sweating, not just on the body but also on the scalp. A sweaty scalp can affect hair quality and growth while also causing irritation, dandruff, and other issues. To manage these concerns, we often turn to chemical-laden products, but these can end up worsening the health of our hair, skin, and body. Maintaining good hair health always begins from within.
Today, let’s talk about a powerful, time-tested ingredient that has been a part of traditional hair care remedies—shikakai. This ayurvedic herb, a climbing shrub, is known for its gentle yet effective cleansing properties. The dried flowers of the plant are powdered and made into a paste that washes away dirt, dust, and excess sebum from the scalp without disrupting its natural oils.
Shikakai is a fantastic natural remedy for dandruff, split ends, premature greying, and frizzy hair. It hydrates the hair from the roots, providing relief from itchiness and dryness. Unlike chemical-based hair products that may cause long-term damage, shikakai is completely safe and nourishing.
This is the wisdom of our ancestors, who used this herb to manage various hair conditions. Let’s explore some of its benefits:
• Soothes the scalp: Shikakai has a cooling effect, helping to combat dryness by stimulating sebum production. Since a dry scalp attracts more dirt and dandruff, its antifungal properties make it an excellent natural remedy.
• Rich in nutrients: Packed with antioxidants and vitamins C, A, E, and K, shikakai deeply nourishes the hair and its roots, strengthening strands and promoting growth.
• Enhances shine and volume: The saponins, vitamins, and antioxidants in shikakai make hair shinier and more manageable while reducing split ends and maintaining good volume. It can also help slow down premature greying when combined with a balanced lifestyle.
• Fights lice: Thanks to its antimicrobial, antifungal, and antibacterial properties, shikakai is effective in eliminating hair lice in both children and adults.
Instead of relying on chemical-based products, adapt the simple, effective, and inexpensive remedies that our parents and grandparents trusted. Shikakai powder can be mixed with water and applied to the scalp at least once a week for optimal benefits.
(The writer is a chief nutrition officer (CNO) and lifestyle expert with Luke Coutinho Holistic Healing Systems (LCHHS))
