Your shampoo may be the reason for your hair fall. Commercial shampoo contains harsh chemicals and preservatives that can make your scalp unhealthy leading to damaged hair follicles.
So instead of using commercial shampoo opt for all-natural ways to wash your hair. Soapnuts go by many names like Reetha, Indian soapberry, washout, or even scientifically as Sapindus mukorossi. Soapnuts contain a compound of saponin (which is a plant derivative that foams up when agitated in water) which can be used for various purposes like making of detergents, soaps, etc, as they have natural cleansing properties just as your chemical soaps and detergents would and give you the same results. Read on further if you wish to know more about its uses and you could probably also try making some of these DIYs at home!
- Simple on-ingredient soapnut shampoo –
Soapnuts are highly effective as they give you the same results just as your chemical detergents but are much milder and can be used for all types of skin and hair types. The antibacterial and antimicrobial properties work to soothe dandruff or dry scalp. Being rich in Vitamins A, D, E and K, soap nut provides the best nutrition to your hair and assists in hair growth.
How to make liquid soapnut detergent/soapnut water at home:
Ingredients:
1 cup of soapnuts (20 – 25 soapnuts)
2½ cups of water
Method:
Step 1: In a hot pot, add the water and the soapnuts and let it come to a boil. Once it has come to the boiling point, turn off the flame and let it soak overnight.
Step 2: Once it has soaked overnight, the following day you can cook the soaked soapnut and water mixture in a bigger-sized pot on a simmer for around 30 to 40 minutes and then turn off the flame, let it cool completely.
Step 3: Once it has cooled completely, squash the soapnuts using your hands and remove the seeds from inside the soapnuts and discard.
Tip: You can reuse the squashed soapnuts for another time and they can be used until they are completely disintegrated. For storing them until it is reused, you can keep them in a zip lock bag and store it in the freezer.
Step 4: Then strain this soapnut liquid into another container for storage and has to be kept in the fridge until when you require to use it.
you can pour this water on your scalp, massage it in, leave it on for 2-3 mins and rinse off to wash your hair.
- Hair Wash Powder :
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp amla powder
- 1 tbsp hibiscus powder
- 1 tsp fenugreek seeds powder
- 2 tbsp soapnut powder
Method:
In a small mixing bowl, combine all these dry ingredients and mix well until properly combined. This powder can be stored in an air-tight container until you require to use it.
For use: Take around 1 – 2 tbsp of this powder (increase or decrease the quantity of powder as per the length of your hair) and mix with little water until the mixture becomes liquefied. You can make this watery shampoo in the palm of your hand or even in a small mixing bowl. Apply this as shampoo on your hair and rinse off with water.
Tips on using soap nuts for hair –
when you switch from commercial shampoo to natural then your hair takes time to adjust to the new routine. During this phase, you might experience dry rough hair.
If your hair feels dry then add in these ingredients that will condition your hair naturally. Add fenugreek seeds or flaxseed gel to your soapnuts liquid. Crush some hibiscus flowers and leaves in water and mix that liquid in the soap-nuts shampoo.
After shampooing, use apple cider vinegar rinses as a natural conditioner or a natural rice conditioner to condition your hair naturally.