Shikakai – Dried Pods

Uses

• Natural hair and body washes, custom herbal shampoo infusions, restorative scalp treatments, and nurturing oils.

Hair and scalp benefits

• pH-balanced botanical cleansing: Because shikakai’s natural pH is incredibly close to the natural pH of our skin and scalp (around 4.5 to 5.5), it cleanses beautifully without throwing the scalp’s delicate microbiome out of balance.
• Follicle strength and growth: Infuses the hair roots with vital nutrients and vitamins, working to improve overall scalp health, increase strength, and support healthy hair growth.
• Conditioning and detangling: Acts as a natural very mild conditioner, helping to soften hair texture and reduce frizz.
• Scalp comfort: Helps soothe irritation, manage dryness, and maintain a balanced, healthy scalp microbiome.

Skin and complexion benefits

• Mild body wash base: Provides a soothing, non-drying wash for the body, making it ideal for sensitive skin types that react to synthetic foaming agents.
• Antioxidant shield: Delivers dense antioxidants to help protect skin cells from environmental pollution and daily oxidative stress.

Product Precautions

• Nature’s organic stamp of approval: These pods are organically grown and the Acacia concinna tree they come from is a host to a kind of bug that leaves small dried egg casings in some of the pods. Don’t be alarmed if you see these on your shikakai pods—it’s exciting evidence that they’re truly organic and entirely unsprayed!
• Ocular caution: Take extra care during application to avoid getting the liquid wash or powder into your eyes, as natural saponins will cause temporary stinging.
• External use only: This product is intended solely for external cosmetic applications and is not suitable for internal consumption.

For the best results, use these dried pods to craft your own high-potency, fresh botanical cleansers and treatments at home. Use regularly for best results.

Important preparation and mixing guidelines

• Preserving purity: Always prepare and store your infusions in clean, sterilized glass, ceramic, or high-grade plastic containers. Avoid reactive metals to protect the active compounds.
• Maximising potency: Breaking, crushing, or snapping the dried pods into smaller pieces before soaking or infusing allows the internal saponins to release completely.
• Clean and dry: We recommend rinsing the pods in a sieve to remove any environmental dust, then drying them thoroughly. Spread the damp pods out on a clean baking sheet and heat them in a very low oven until completely bone-dry before beginning your oil infusion.

The authentic natural shampoo & body wash ritual

• The ingredients: Take approximately 6 to 8 dried shikakai pods, 7 to 8 reetha (soapnut) seeds, and 4 amla dried fruit. For a botanical boost, you can add 1 tablespoon of dried bhringraj leaves and 1 tablespoon of dried brahmi leaves. Note: Because both reetha and shikakai contain natural saponins, you can use just one of them if you prefer.
• The brewing method: Soak your gathered herbs overnight in 3 cups of filtered water. In the morning, bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer gently for 10 minutes.
• The extraction: Once the liquid has cooled down completely, thoroughly squish and mash the softened herbs with your hands to extract all of their natural goodness. Strain the liquid through a fine mesh or cheesecloth into a clean jar.
• Texture & expectation: This traditional process creates a liquid wash similar to tea. It cleanses beautifully but does not create foam like regular soap or shampoo. The mixture will get a few bubbles on the top.
• Application: If using as a shampoo, put the ‘tea’ into a squeezy bottle and apply the liquid directly to wet hair, ensuring your scalp and strands are fully covered. Gently rub it into your hair and rinse very thoroughly. Alternatively, you can mix the concentrated wash into a larger bowl with water and pour it over your hair while massaging.
• Storage: Keep your fresh liquid wash safely inside the fridge and use it within 1 week.

The flaxseed gel texture hack (for extra thickness & glide)

• The recipe: To give your liquid shampoo a thicker consistency and a slight, silky lather, you can blend it with fresh homemade linseed gel. Boil 1.5 cups of water in a small pot, add 3 tablespoons of linseeds, and simmer gently until the liquid turns frothy and creamy in color. Strain the seeds out through a sieve while the gel is still hot.
• The blend: Start by mixing a 50:50 ratio of your fresh shampoo tea with the warm flaxseed gel, then adjust the ratio over time to suit your personal texture preference. Store the gel in the fridge alongside your wash.

The Ayurvedic infused hair & skin oil ritual

• The ingredients: Gather your dried shikakai pods, amla fruit, bhringraj leaves, brahmi leaves, and a clean, bone-dry glass jar. Choose a high-quality, cold-pressed plant oil suited to your type (such as grape seed, sweet almond, jojoba, argan, olive, black cumin, or coconut oil).
• Method 1 (The warm double-boiler method): Place your broken-up dried plant material into the glass jar and submerge them fully in your chosen oil. Ensure your hands, jar, and utensils are completely dry to prevent water contamination. Place the open jar into a pot of water (a double boiler) and bring the water to a gentle boil. The water must boil, NOT the oil. Let the oil warm thoroughly for several hours; heating the herbs gently for longer yields a much deeper, stronger infusion. Allow it to cool completely, then strain through a fine mesh into a clean glass jar. Apply regularly to your skin, scalp, and hair roots.
• Method 2 (The solar fusion method): If you prefer a cold extraction, fill your jar with the herbs and oil, seal tightly, and place it on a warm, sunny windowsill. Leave it to infuse naturally for a few weeks before straining.
• Shelf-life hack: Stirring a few drops of pure Vitamin E oil into your strained, finished infusion acts as a natural antioxidant to prolong the shelf life of your custom oil. Using jojoba oil as your base also assists with shelf life, as jojoba oil is actually a type of plant wax and does not easily oxidise.

Regulatory disclaimer
This product has not been evaluated by SAHPRA for its medicinal quality. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

• Shikakai pod contents: 100% pure, certified organic, premium dried shikakai pods (Acacia concinna).
• Package contents: 100 grams of dried shikakai pods.