Single-ingredient scalp powder

Radico Organic Neem Leaf Powder is milled from certified organic Azadirachta indica leaf and contains nothing else — no fillers, no synthetic preservatives, no fragrance. It carries no pigment, so it will not colour hair or shift a plant colour you already have.

Leaf powder, not neem oil

Most of what is written about neem for hair is about neem oil, which is pressed from the seed. This is a different product. The leaf is dried and milled, mixes with warm water into a paste, and rinses out with water alone. Neem oil is used neat or in a carrier and usually needs shampooing out twice.

The strong sulphurous smell neem is known for belongs to the oil. Milled leaf smells green and grassy, closer to matcha.

How to use

1. Weigh the powder rather than spooning it — 5-8 g covers the scalp and roots on short to shoulder-length hair, 10-16 g on long or thick hair. A full-length mask takes around 30 g at shoulder length.
2. Add warm water gradually at three to four times the powder's weight in millilitres. Looser is easier to work into the scalp; firmer stays put on the lengths.
3. Stir until smooth, let it stand five minutes, then check again — the powder keeps absorbing water.
4. Section the hair and work the paste into the scalp with your fingertips, then draw the rest through the lengths.
5. Cover with a cap and leave 30-45 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water.

A 100 g pouch gives roughly 13-20 scalp treatments on short to shoulder-length hair.

What's in it

100% organic neem leaf powder (Azadirachta indica). Made in India. Net weight 100 g.

Azadirachta indica belongs to the Meliaceae family. Patch test on the inner forearm 48 hours before a full application and stop use if irritation develops. This is a cosmetic product for external use on hair and scalp. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any condition.

Questions

Is this the same as neem oil?
No. Neem oil is pressed from the seed kernel; this is milled leaf. They behave differently — leaf powder mixes with water and rinses out easily, and it can be blended into a plant colour, where oil interferes with the dye.

Will it change my hair colour?
No. Neem carries no pigment, so it will not colour hair or alter a herbal colour already in place.

How often can I use it?
Once to three times a week, as your routine allows. There is no pigment to build up.

Can I mix it into my Radico colour?
Yes. Blend the dry powders together before adding water. Bear in mind that any powder you add takes up room, so a large share will dilute the colouring herbs and give a lighter result.