Washes and softens in one step

Radico Organic Shikakai Seed Powder is milled from certified organic Acacia concinna — the dried pod and the seed inside it, ground together — and contains nothing else. No fillers, no synthetic preservatives, no fragrance, no sulphates.

Shikakai cleans through saponins, the plant's own surfactants, and leaves hair softer than reetha does. Radico's published pH reading for it is 2.1 to 3.0 — lemon-juice territory, and well below hair's own range of 4.5 to 5.5. Acidic conditions let the cuticle lie flat, which is why the washing and the softening happen in the same step. It carries no pigment.

This is a wash, not a mask

Because of that acidity, shikakai is used for two to three minutes and then rinsed. Do not leave it on the way you would a treatment powder, and do not try to soften it by diluting — Radico found the pH did not move at half strength, because a buffer is holding it there. Use less powder or less time instead.

How to use

1. Weigh 15-20 g for short hair, around 30 g at shoulder length, or 50-60 g for long or thick hair.
2. Mix with warm water at about three times the powder's weight in millilitres. It pours rather than forming a paste.
3. Massage into damp hair at the scalp, then through the lengths.
4. Leave two to three minutes only, then rinse thoroughly with warm water.

Keep it out of the eyes — saponins sting and fine particles can lodge. If it gets in, flush with plenty of cool running water and do not rub. Avoid on broken or inflamed skin.

What's in it

100% organic shikakai powder (Acacia concinna). Made in India. Net weight 100 g.

Acacia concinna belongs to the Fabaceae (legume) family. Patch test on the inner forearm 48 hours before first use 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

How long do I leave it on?
Two to three minutes. It is a wash. At pH 2 to 3 it does not belong on the scalp as a long mask, whatever you may read elsewhere.

Does it lather?
Barely. Saponins clean without foaming — lather comes from synthetic surfactants, which this does not contain. Low foam is not low cleaning.

Reetha or shikakai?
Both wash. Reetha sits at pH 4.54 to 4.90, inside hair's own range, and does nothing else. Shikakai is far more acidic and softens as it cleans. Traditionally they were often used together.

Can I use it after colouring with henna?
Yes. A short acidic wash is kinder to a freshly set plant colour than an alkaline soap.