shikakai powder for hair use

i thought that i'd also tell about my experience with shikakai powder. shikakai is a tree in india that has small pods with little fruits inside. the fruits of this tree have long been used by the people with access to it to wash their hair and is is said to improve the hair and make it stronger and more beautiful and to grow long.
shikakai literally translates as fruit for the hair.

well, i have used shikakai and it is wonderful.
however, there is a very complicated method for using it to get good results.
first, you have to put coconut oil all over your hair and scalp and be careful not to use to much or you will be left with greasy hair.
leave the coconut oil on overnight and the next day - you will wash your hair with the shikakai.

take a heaping tablespoon and put in in a glass bowl. add very hot water and stir until all the lumps are mixed out and the paste is very smooth and not quite runny - kind of like cake mix. then you wet your hair and apply the paste to damp hair making sure that you have put it everywhere you put the coconut oil the night before. DO NOT RUB!!! rubbing will damage the hair as the shikakai paste is gritty. then put on a plastic cap and wait 10 or 15 minutes.

rinse you hair thouroughly and then rinse some more. keep rinsing even when you think you are finished - this is important as you want all of the grit out of your hair. i found it helpful to either get in the tub and dunk my hair in the water or bend over a sink full of water and submerge my entire hair and this helps float the grit out.

when you are finished your hair will be soft and shiny and have a lot of body. it seems re-vitalized!!!

now, i don't use this method much anymore.
i found it too labor intensive and also the store where i get the shikakai powder is very far away and i can hardly ever get there.
also i am trying to get to where i can use only easily obtainable natural products for my hair and skin....
but this is a very good for your hair method - that does take some practice
you have to keep working at it to get just the right amount of oil that the paste can take out and not leave your hair greasy - but when you do - amazing!!!