Hair&Body bar Shikakai&Rice

What is shikakai?

Senegalia rugata is a spiny climbing shrub native to China and tropical Asia, common in the warm plains of central and south India.[2][1] It is renowned as a raw material for shampoo, and the leaves and young shoots are often eaten. Archaeobotanical evidence shows its use for hair care in the pre-Harrapan levels of Banawali, some 4500–4300 years ago.

Shikakai in hair care

Senegalia rugata has been used traditionally for hair care in the Indian Subcontinent since ancient times. It is one of the Ayurvedic medicinal plants. It is traditionally used as a shampoo[18] and it is also added in synthetic Ayurvedic shampoos. It is widely known as shikakai, from Tamil சிகைக்காய் cikaikkāy (cikai 'hair'+kāy 'fruit'). In order to prepare it, the fruit pods, leaves and bark of the plant are dried, ground into a powder, then made into a paste. While this traditional shampoo does not produce the normal amount of lather that a sulfate-containing shampoo would, it is considered a good cleanser. It is mild, having a naturally low pH, and does not strip hair of natural oils. An infusion of the leaves has been used in anti-dandruff preparations.[19]

Senagalia rugata extracts are used in natural shampoos or hair powders and the tree is now grown commercially in India and Far East Asia.[20] The plant parts used for the dry powder or the extract are the bark, leaves or pods. The bark contains high levels of saponins, which are foaming agents found in several other plant species used as shampoos or soaps. Saponin-containing plants have a long history of use as mild cleaning agents. Saponins from the plant's pods have been traditionally used as a detergent.

In Myanmar, the fruit is mixed with the bark of the tayaw (Grewia) tree and sometimes lime to make the traditional tayaw kinpun shampoo.[21] Shampooing with tayaw kinpun has been an important tradition in Burmese culture since ancient times. Burmese kings used to wash their hair with tayaw kinpun during the royal hair-washing ceremony (ခေါင်းဆေး မင်္ဂလာပွဲ), in the belief that using the shampoo would cast away bad luck and bring good luck.[22] It remains customary for many Burmese people to wash their heads with tayaw kinpun, especially on the Burmese New Year's Day to leave behind impurities and bad omens of the past,[23][24] and the shampoo is commonly sold in the country's open-air markets, typically in plastic bags.[25][26]

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senegalia_rugata#Shikakai_in_hair_care

Rice study:

Rice starch added to bath water was studied for its possible beneficial effects on impaired barrier function as evaluated by transepidermal water loss measurements. The forearm skin of healthy volunteers was irritated by sodium lauryl sulphate. Exposure to rice-starch-containing bath water--twice daily for 15 min--led to a 20% improvement on the healing capacity of damaged skin. The beneficial effect was also observed for a rice-starch-containing lipid-free bath formulation, and an oil-in-water bath lotion enriched with evening primrose oil. Skin barrier function in patients with atopic dermatitis also improved after the addition of starch powder to bath water. Rice starch in powder or formulated in a bath product can therefore be recommended as a skin repair bathing additive for barrier damaged skin, particularly in the case of atopic dermatitis patients.

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12353708/ 

INCI:

Sodium Coco Sulfate, Oryza Sativa Starch, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Olivate, Oryza Sativa Cera, Acacia Concina Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Mangifera Indica Seed butter, Myrica Pubescens Fruit Wax, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Sodium Lactate, Glycerin, Inulin, Fructose, Aqua, Lactobacillus Ferment, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil Expressed, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil (bergapten free), Oryza Sativa Seed Water, Saccharomyces Ferment, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil, Origanum Majorana Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Citronellol*, Geraniol*, Limonene*, Linalool*, Linalyl Acetate*.

 *Natural Ingredients from the essential oil.

Lavender - soothes the skin and accelerates skin healing, so it is a welcome addition to skin care products, especially for damaged or sensitive skin. It is very often used in skin care cosmetics after sunbathing, to help the skin recover from possible damage caused by UV rays.

The best-known effect of lavender oil is that of relaxation and calmness.

Sweet orange - an oil that is loved by almost everyone because it provides good mood and optimism. The sweet citrus scent is a welcome and common ingredient in natural perfumes. It has an antioxidant effect, so it prevents premature aging of the skin, makes scars, wrinkles and age spots less visible; regulates sebum production and strengthens skin tone.

Bergamot – the scent is fresh, citrusy but elegant; can be used in a diffuser to ease stress. Diffused before bed improves sleep.

One of the most pleasant and effective ways to relieve stress is a massage, so try an anti-depressant massage with bergamot (in our case, it will be a shower). A plant that restores energy – in traditional Chinese medicine, bergamot was believed to stimulate and restore the flow of energy in the body.

Due to its antibacterial effect, it helps with skin infections. It has an antioxidant effect. Promotes skin healing; calms inflammation and promotes hair growth.

Vetiver - Vetiver essential oil is called the "oil of peace" due to its calming effect. This essential oil is very popular in perfume making as a fragrance fixative. Its deep, sensual and earthy scent makes it the oil of first choice in perfumes. Improves scalp circulation; prevents infection; stimulates the formation of collagen; revitalizes lifeless hair. With regular use, it improves the texture of the hair, gives it shine and stimulates its growth.  Soothes the skin, promotes skin renewal and healing, reduces scars. Reduces wrinkles; brightens the complexion - works on pigmentation.

Sweet marjoram - indicated for nervousness, calming everyday stress and tachycardia. It also shows antibacterial and antifungal activity. Soothes the skin and scalp; stimulates hair growth.