Here are some simple recipes for mixing your natural hair products. Please visit www.forums.longhaircommunity.com and www.longhaircareforum.com as you will find a wealth of information, along with techniques and various recipes. You can even ask questions on their forum!
Please remember when using any new hair product it is always recommended that you do hair strand tests first!
We also encourage you to add orange blossom water, rose water or essential oils to your pastes and mud, to leave your hair smelling great!
Important: Please keep in mind that everyone has their own unique hair texture. Herbal treatments can be drying for some, and it is recommended that you add hair oil to your recipe, or deep condition your hair afterwards. We recommend that everyone keep an open mind when using henna and natural herbs on their hair, and use the recipe that works best for you!
Shikakai, also known as acacia concinna
Mixing shikakai for promoting hair growth and deep cleansing:
-For best results, add at least 1 tbsp of shikakai powder to 25 grams of your henna or cassia powder mixture. OR
-Mix powder (desired quantity) with warm to hot water. Let it cool.
-Apply shikakai paste or mixed herbal blended paste, by sections starting from the back and moving forward.
-Wrap your hair and allow to sit for 1-6 hours.
-Rinse or wash paste out.
How to store your powder: fridge or cool dark place.
How to store your shikakai and paste: freezer
Thank you Sid
Shikakai is good for cleansing and it may be that you need another herb. I’d recommend you use a blend of cassia, shikakai, amla powder, and bhringraj (read here about bhringraj: https://hennablogspot.com/bhringraj-ayurvedic-herb-for-hair-loss/). You make it as a paste with warm water, and then let it sit on your hair for at least 1-2 hours. Then wash this out with one of our shampoo bars for best results. Do you usually moisturize with a good hair oil. This recipe would prove better results for you. Use enough for a whole hair treatment which for your length would be at least 300 grams of total powder. At least 200 grams of this recipe should be cassia obovata or henna powder (if you want color)
Thank you for your post Ayurvedadoll. We had to edit your post as we don’t allow advertising of other companies or businesses on our website without prior permission. Henna Sooq runs this blog, and they sell those products at http://www.hennasooq.com
Great ayurvedic advice, thanks!
Hello!
Does shikikai aid much with growth or is for thickness? What are your thoughts on Brahmi and Tulsi for faster growth? Thanks in advance! 🙂
Thank you for your post Nicky. Yes those herbs are good as an hair treatment for hair growth and thickness. But I’d also recommend you add in cassia obovata, and amla powder as part of that recipe for best results. Welcome!
Wow! Thanks for the quick response! 🙂
So, is Cassia Obovata the same as neutral henna? If so, can it be purchased at a local Indian grocery store or does it need to be specially ordered?
In summary, it sounds like cassia obovata and amla powder are best for faster growth. Is this correct?
Nicky, yes that’s what they call neutral henna but it’s really the herb cassia obovata. The local indian grocery might have it but I don’t know for sure. Cassia and Indigo are harder to find usually. Otherwise we do have it at Henna Sooq as well: http://www.hennasooq.com
Adding the other herbs would be a bonus as well. But those first two are the best as a main part of the recipe.
I LUV the information on this site! From the results I’ve read from users across the web community that use these herbs, I’m really excited to become apart the this community. I have just transtioned from chemical relaxer and chopped it all off to a natural state. Right now I only have two strands of grey hair that are well hidden. I’m just looking to cleanse and condition naturally. Something to help my hair grow and thicken up. I’ve heard henna is great but don’t need the color right now. Are my best choices Shikakai, amla, and Henna used as a combination?
Thank you Akia! Much appreciated.
Welcome to the community! If you don’t want color then no henna at all. Amla, shikakai, brahmi and cassia obovata are a very good mix. I would recommend that blend of herbs.
Thanks! I need a little more advice before i purchase please. I want to get into a routine: To cleanse & condition do I use the entire mix at one time, leaving for a couple of hours? or am I using some to cleanse and some to condition?
Welcome Akia. You can do it all at once, and leave it on for a few hours. If you need an extra cleansing treatment you can do that in between as well. Just make sure to moisturize afterwards as herbal hair treatments can be drying.
Hi,
I just found your site. I own Kapoor Kachli Powder, but I am not sure how to use it. Can you give me some advice? Also my main goal is to grow my hair as fast as possible…I have brown hair and not dry hair. what products do you recommend I use? I use vatika oil 1-2x a week and I use the kapoor kachli mixed with water and then wash with natural shampoo. I can’t seem to get all the sand grit out without washing it after. thanks!
Hello Laura I believe we spoke via email. I hope my answer helped some.
Hi, I have lots of dandruff and have black crusts on my scalp. Can you please suggest me to what powders to use. As I’ m staying in US, I am unbale to find these powders…please suggest.
Smarty, I’d recommend you start off with one of our hair kits. With no color change you can use Lush Conditioning with Volume, and Lush Growth. These two kits will get your hair back into better shape, and especially you would want to consider natural shampoos that we have. They are all 20% off now until Friday. Also Camellia is an excellent hair oil. Our shop is at http://www.hennasooq.com
Apart from dandruff, I get sometimes yellow scab in my scalp….does Shikakai and amla would help to get rid of this?
Smarty, it may help with the cassia in your recipe. Does it bleed though? I’d really recommend the camellia oil as well then. Lastly you may want to go see a dermatologist since you have scabs and they know exactly what to help with, if it’s bleeding or getting worse, especially.
Hello,
I only became interested in Indian powders yesterday! I have a relaxer on my hair, and I would like to grow my hair faster and thicken it up too (is that possible?!) I have thru the post here and I wonder if Shikakai and Amla will help me in this goal? My goal is to grow my hair faster, prevent breakage and add thickness – and my hair is relaxed. Please suggest what powders i should use, and how. Are you in the UK?
Hello Gracie. Thank you for posting. I’d also recommend along with those herbs that you use a base of either henna (if you like red tones) or cassia obovata (no color results) as they will give you maximum results with conditioning, thickness, shine, softness, and then other herbs can be used in addition to them as part of your whole recipe. Camellia oil is good for hair growth and moisturization. Also our Cocoveda hair oil as it’s ayurvedic and great for hair strengthening. I hope this helps. Oh we’re in the USA but we do ship to the UK regularly.
Also,
Can I, after mixing the powders and letting them sit for 30 minutes, then mix this into my hair conditioner and use on my hair (covered with plastic cap for 2 hours) then rinse out?
Thanks in advance for responding!
Hello. For the Shikakai, I mixed into a paste and applied to my scalp in different areas as a shampoo/cleansing. I do not get any lather, but I thought you should? It is also hard to maneuver around the scalp. I do not leave it on for an extended length of time. Am I using this right, and will I still get benefits of stimulating hair growth with not leaving on more than 5 minutes? It seems that it would be too drying to leave it on, and I thought it was just a cleansing agent, rather than a treatments to be left on for a period of time. I used Amla afterward and left on for 30 minutes, followed by a conditioner Henna gloss I mixed. I have used the Amla twice so far, and the benefits are definitely seen! Thank you for your response to come!
Gracie, yes absolutely. 🙂 Welcome
SCW, thanks for posting. You’d get a very mild lather with shikakai. Add a bit more water to get some. It’s not like soapnuts or a shampoo bar where you’d get more lather as it has more saponins in them. It doesn’t mean it isn’t cleansing though. It does cleanse the scalp mostly and amla powder is better for hair growth. I’d recommend that herb. Oh that’s great, so you have used it. Perfect. We’re reading and typing at the same time. I think your regimen is definitely going on the right path!
Dear ‘Admin’ thank you very much for responding so promptly to my email. I will try out those herbs you mentioned. I will go to your shop now and simulate the shipping rates, though i suspect it might cost more than the products themselves! 🙂
I do not want to use henna with colour, so i might go ahead and source cassia obovata.
Will Amla, Cassia obovata and shikakai really thicken my relaxed hair, accelarate hair growth? right now my hair grows at the rate of 1/2 an inch a month: very frustrating.
Gracie, thank you! The admin here today answering your questions is Khadija. For reference. The shipping may cost more? Are you international? It will accelerate it but also the Organic Camellia oil we have will be amazing! This is an oil well known for hair growth.
Dear Khadija, many thanks for your kind responses, and for telling me your name.
Yes I live in the UK, and tend to shy away from ordering from the US because of the exorbitant charges.
Do you not have an outlet shop here, or any other system of shipping that is cheaper?
Thanks in advance for responding!
Welcome Gracie. I actually created a new username on here so that people know who they’re speaking with. I appreciate that you prompted me to think about that 🙂 Thank you!
Unfortunately we don’t have a distributor in the UK. I hope one day. Our shipping rates start at $11.95 and it depends on what you order. WE could always give you a quote via Henna Sooq at khadija@hennasooq.com and then you can decide from there.
Hi,
I am 21 years and I have already started getting grey hair > there are a lot of white hair . Can u please suggest me methods to curb it down and bring the grey hair back to normal .
I applied amla shikakai powder to my hair once , but there was no significant effect . How often should i apply them ??
Nikhil, The brahmi and/or bhringraj are good herbs to stop premature greying and you could use cassia as well but really covering with henna and indigo might be best to cover them completely as they are hair dyes. You should do this every 4-6 weeks or as often as your hair grows. I hope this helps
i’ve got blonde hair and recently purchased shikakai and amla powders to use for cleansing. Will these powders change my hair colour? I don’t want a colour change. I am currently using coconut oil followed by regular shampoo as my hair care regimen (I’ve noticed my hair has improved greatly) but I’d like to phase out the shampoo. Do you have any other suggestions for herbs to use?
Thank you for post Muak, It shouldn’t change your hair color but sometimes some people who have light hair notice a little darkening so we recommend you do a hair strand to be sure. If you use it in the shower or leave in only for 30 minutes max you should be okay. Don’t leave it in for too long. You can also use our natural shampoo bars unless you really just want to use herbs (our shampoo bars are handmade and we have a lot of herbs in a few of them). You can also try soapnuts to cleanse. Read here about soapnuts: https://hennablogspot.com/aritha-our-earths-natural-cleanser/
Hey this website is very helpful. I recently joined an online community where I found your article about henna and then I found Hennasooq and the youtube videos. They are all very informative and useful. I have medium brown (lots of variety in tones) hair that is VERY fragile and baby-fine. I have a lot of it, but it is soooo easy to damage and break :/
I don’t want to change the hair color but I like the sound of the hair conditioning effects of henna… I was wondering if I should use henna/indigo along with amla or should I use cassia along with amla… I have weaned myself off shampoo and have been doing Water Only and now Conditioner Only, but I want to try soapnuts or shakakai… I am trying to make a decision on what to purchase and then I will just buy a bulk supply and work it into my new routine.
Thanks in advance for any feedback you have.
Thank you Tatyana. I’d say to start with a good regimen of cassia and amla powder for regular treatments would be ideal for you. Henna is more long term but the color would come out for sure. I hope this helps! Just make sure to moisturize as well.
HI,
i posted my comment earlier , you asked me to put bhrinraj/brahmi.. where do i get them from..??
Is dying your hair with Lo’real products is a good option at this age.. bcoz i’m really fed up with this…
Please do give me a solution
Hello Nikhil, we sell those herbs at our shop at http://www.hennasooq.com and click shop. Just type those words in to search them out and find them easily.
If you want to dye your hair naturally I’d recommend you use henna and perhaps with indigo powder but this depends on what color you want to achieve. What results were looking for?
Hello Khadija,
I have seen in some of the post that henna will change or loosen your curl pattern. I have recently purchased the Cassia Powder, Shikakai Powder and Hibiscus Powder. I have samples of the Moroccan Henna Powder, and Amla Powder. My question is how do I mix these to give my hair a red tone? And will these loosen my curl pattern? I have a very tight coiled curl pattern that could use some loosening. I also want to make sure my hair maintains alot of moisture. Please Advise. Thank you
I have never used henna. I have very fine hair & lots of it. It doesn’t hold a color or perm very well. I have dyed my hair for 10 years. I mostly did it to tone down the red & cover up greys. Even so the greys showed up in the next day. I would say I have less than 25% grey & that’s mostly near my face & top of the head. It’s been over 9 months since I did. I had a perm in Jan but it’s coming out. Growing up I had dirty-strawberry blonde that got quite strawberry in the summer. My hair has gotten darker but isn’t really brown & it still has red (orangish). I’ve been trying to go blonde with dyes for yrs but it always gets lighter red, orange, even apricot. I want to use henna but would like to keep the red as sedated as possible. I’ve read you can use herbs or flowers with the henna to get a lighter less red color. Could I even possible do chamomile rinses after the henna to lighten it up? Thanks for any advice you can give. I’m really excited to try it! Jules
I am looking for black brown knda colur . How long does the colour stay. ? Like after how much time I have to get it done again.
Nikhil, the color lasts at least 4-6 weeks but if your hair grows faster then you may need to re-do your roots sooner. If it grows fast then every 2-3 weeks is okay. For brown-black tones you need to use at least 70% indigo and 30% henna
Hi Thisha, thanks for your post. You really need a larger amount of henna to get red tones. You only have a sample and that’s only enough for a hair strand test. Yes cassia and henna loosens your curl pattern. Amla powder usually tightens coils or help maintain those curls. You can get a conditioning treatment out of what you purchased. Strengthening, conditioning, and a lot of benefits from each of those herbs but not enough to give you red tones.
Jules, thanks for posting as well. If you want to avoid red tones you wouldn’t use henna then. Henna Powder, 100% pure henna always colors your hair red tones. You may need to use just cassia obovata as that uplifts golden tones unless you want to go darker, like into the browns. Do you want a little bit of red? or none at all? Honey helps lighten naturally as well. Let me know and we can further get into the recipe for you.
I used Persian Light Brown Henna + little red wine + triple strength coffee + apple cider vinegar + olive oil + cinnamon. It was very hard to put on so I added a little conditioner & it was like thick mud. It came out a bit darker than I wanted & lots of red. I’m thinking in a month I’ll do it again with limited henna & lots of cassia obovata. Would it help to add honey or chamomile with it? & can I do honey right now> Thx
JUles, thank you for sharing! What color did you? More of a brown or more of an orange-ish tone?
Hello Khadija,
i plan to start using henna for my hair, and also Shikakai powder for naturally cleansing my hair. I read on some sites that one shouldn’t wash the hennaed hair with Shikakai because it makes the colour fade away more rapidly. but if Shikakai has a low PH, than it should be acidic and then it should actually help keep the colour longer, if i understand correctly how ph works. what is true? i am afraid to use the powder now because i want my henna to last as long as possible, naturally 🙂
thank you for answering…
The henna I used was Rainbow Henna Light Persian Brown. At first there was quite a bit of Auburn & the roots were dark. Then it lightened up & had more orange than I wanted. Now it has mellowed to an orangish-blonde. It actually looks better than that sounds. I really like it, eventhough I was trying to get away from the orange. (Too bad you can’t add photos in this blog). I think I’ll try the same recipe but decrease the wine & add cassia obovata. I think I’ll add a little more apple cider vinegar to help with the grey. I’ll also add more conditioner to make it easier to rinse out.
I’m wondering what it would look like if I do some chamomile or honey rinses. Any thoughts?
Thank you for posting Murasaki. It may cause fading for some as it cleanses really well and deep. The same way that soapnuts do. You could wash it first with shikakai and then apply your henna. This might open up your hair to a better application as well. It doesn’t always have to do with pH as some cleansers also have extra grit in them being they are nuts so it comes out.
Jules, yes too bad we can’t add photos but when we open up our forum you’ll have that opportunity 🙂
I think you are definitely on the right track. Please let me know how it turns out. It sounds pretty good. You can do hair strand tests just to be sure as well.
Hello. I am interested in trying the indian powders. I would like to grow my hair as quickly as possible. I want to know what is the best powder for me to use or if a combination of powders would be best.
I also have a very tight curly hair pattern (4a) and I would like to loosen it a bit. I have heard that henna loosens the curl pattern, but I dont want red hair. My hair is naturally a medium brown with natural highlight. My hair takes color extreamly easy so I am concerened that the henna will turn my hair red. Is there any henna that does not cause the hair to turn red. What should I do.
Freda, thanks for posting. I’d recommend that you use cassia, and try some amla powder in the recipe as well. Make sure to get one of our shampoo bars and especially a good hair oil as herbal hair treatments can be drying. This will help get your started and without coloring your hair.
Does the cassia loosen the curl pattern?
Freda, yes cassia can loosen the curl pattern. I am sorry though for hair growth the amla powder will tighten your curls so you may not want to use that. For hair growth you can use a hair oil instead, like our Amla or Camellia hair oils are good for hair growth but amla powder is usually the best as it’s 100% amla powder.
I just ordered shikakai and the conditioning kit from you guys and I wondering how I should apply it. To my understanding, it’s best to apply the herbs on clean hair [I applied henna once right after taking out my braids and it didn’t take too well] but from some of your previous responses to other inquires, your recommendation is to add them all together in one paste/application. I was wondering since the shikakai is a cleansing product would it be best to use that on its own first then the amla/cassia after? Because in the future I will be adding henna to my amla/cassia mix once I see how the mix treats my hair.