Herbal Powders

Shikakai Powder

Name: Shikakai Powder
Brand: Herbasense
SKU: HV-SHK-100
Price: 5.49 GBP
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.7 (40 reviews)

Acacia concinna

Pure & natural · Acacia concinna

Also known as: Shikakai, Soap Pod, Fruit for the Hair
Origin: Tamil Nadu, India

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Size

Shikakai means "fruit for the hair", and for most of Indian history it was the shampoo. The pods are naturally saponin-rich, so they lather gently without detergents, and — unlike soap — they are mildly acidic, which is why hair washed with shikakai comes out smooth rather than squeaky and roughed-up.

Ours is milled from whole sun-dried pods, seeds removed, to a fine flour that mixes into a slip without lumps. Use it on its own or as the base of a traditional hair wash with reetha and amla; the three together clean, condition and darken in one step.

It is a slow lather and a mild one. That is the trade-off for a wash that does not strip colour, oil treatments or a dry scalp.

Customer voices

Reviews40

0.0

out of 5 · 40 reviews

Would recommend: 90%
Verified buyers: 32

Most helpful review

8 found this useful

Rebecca N.Verified

2 weeks ago

This is clearly recently ground rather than sitting in a warehouse for a year. I take half a teaspoon in warm milk each evening and have done for two months. A genuinely good product at a fair price.

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Showing 6 of 40 reviews

Rebecca N.Verified
2 weeks ago
This is clearly recently ground rather than sitting in a warehouse for a year. I take half a teaspoon in warm milk each evening and have done for two months. A genuinely good product at a fair price.
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Ahmed Y.Verified
last month
Exactly what I was looking for
Opened the pouch and the aroma filled the kitchen. The 250g pouch works out much better value than buying 50g repeatedly. Exactly as described on the listing.
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Ruby T.Verified
3 months ago
This is clearly recently ground rather than sitting in a warehouse for a year. I take half a teaspoon in warm milk each evening and have done for two months. No hesitation in recommending it.
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Isla G.
2 months ago
Happy with this
The colour and smell told me straight away this was fresh. The 250g pouch works out much better value than buying 50g repeatedly. Perfectly decent, but I have had better value elsewhere for this particular herb.
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Nadia S.Verified
2 months ago
Grinds finer than the last brand I tried
The colour and smell told me straight away this was fresh. My partner has started taking it too, so we are getting through it quickly. A genuinely good product at a fair price.
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George H.Verified
4 weeks ago
Better than expected
Opened the pouch and the aroma filled the kitchen. The 250g pouch works out much better value than buying 50g repeatedly. Will definitely buy again.
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Ask the herbalists

Questions & answers3

3 of 3 answered

Does it dissolve properly, or does it settle at the bottom?
Sofia L. · 4 weeks ago
- It's a milled whole herb rather than an extract, so some settling is normal. Stir it into something warm and drink it fairly promptly — warm milk or a smoothie works better than cold water.
  HerbasenseOfficial answer· 4 weeks ago
How strong is the taste?
Ellie B. · 2 months ago
- Honestly, quite earthy — that's true of the herb rather than of our version of it. Most people take it with honey, in milk, or blended into something with a stronger flavour of its own.
  HerbasenseOfficial answer· 2 months ago
How long does one pack usually last if I'm using it every day?
Meera P. · 2 months ago
- It depends on your dose, but at the amount on the pack most people find a standard size lasts between three and six weeks of daily use. If you're using it occasionally rather than daily, expect considerably longer.
  HerbasenseOfficial answer· 2 months ago
- Mine lasted about a month using it most days, for what it's worth.
  Nikhil S.· 2 months ago