THE SCIENCE BEHIND SHIKAKAI

Research-backed benefits from peer-reviewed studies

Every claim we make is backed by science. Below you'll find each benefit of our shikakai hairwash, the mechanism that makes it work, the research that proves it, and the source you can verify yourself.

Important: please note these benefits are only talking about Shikakai, we are not mentioning the countless benefits of the 10 other ingredients in our shikakai bar, which add up even more.

1. Cleanses Without Stripping

Shikakai contains natural soap-like compounds called saponins.

Think of them as smart cleaners, they grab onto dirt and excess oil, but leave the good, protective oils your scalp needs.

Regular shampoos use harsh chemicals (SLS/SLES) that wipe out everything, good and bad. Saponins only remove what shouldn’t be there.
View research paper

2. pH-Matched to Your Scalp

Your scalp has a thin protective shield called the acid mantle.

It works best at a slightly acidic pH of 4.5-5.3. Shikakai naturally sits at pH 4.5-5.5, almost a perfect match.

Most shampoos are alkaline (pH 8-10), which breaks down that shield, opens up your hair cuticles, and forces your scalp to overreact by producing more oil.
View research paper

3. Reduces Dandruff

Dandruff is mainly caused by a tiny fungus on your scalp called Malassezia furfur.

Shikakai naturally fights this fungus.

In clinical studies, people who used shikakai saw major improvements in flaking, itching, and oily scalp.
View research paper

4. Fights Scalp Infections

Shikakai has natural germ-fighting properties that kill harmful bacteria and fungi on your scalp.

In lab tests, shikakai performed nearly as well as ketoconazole, a prescription-strength antifungal medication doctors commonly recommend.
View research paper

5. Supports Hair Growth

Your hair grows in cycles, and the active growth stage is called the anagen phase.

Shikakai helps keep hair in this growth stage for longer, so more of your hair is actively growing at once.

It also reduces damage from free radicals, harmful molecules that weaken hair follicles and lead to hair fall.
View research paper

6. Soothes Irritated Scalps

Shikakai contains a natural compound called lupeol that calms redness, itching, and irritation on your scalp.

It also has plant-based antioxidants called flavonoids that fight inflammation from the inside out.

Together, they help soothe scalps that feel sore, itchy, or sensitive.
View research paper

7. Regulates Oil Production

Shikakai contains a plant compound called spinasterol that helps your scalp produce the right amount of oil, not too much, not too little.

Whether your scalp is oily or dry, it helps bring things back to normal.

Instead of stripping all your oil away (which makes your scalp panic and produce even more), it lets your scalp find its own balance.
View research paper

8. No Transition Period

When you switch from regular shampoo to something natural, your scalp usually needs weeks or months to adjust, that’s the “transition period” people dread.

That happens because your scalp has been stripped by harsh chemicals for years.

Shikakai doesn’t strip your scalp in the first place, so there’s nothing to adjust to.

Most people feel a difference from the very first wash.
View research paper

9. Protects Against Environmental Damage

Shikakai is packed with natural antioxidants called flavonoids that act like a shield for your hair.

They protect your hair follicles from sun damage and pollution.

On top of that, shikakai naturally contains Vitamins A, C, D, E, and K, which nourish your hair and help keep it strong and healthy.
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10. 4,500+ Years of Proven Use

Archaeologists dug up an ancient site called Banawali in Haryana,
India and found traces of shikakai mixed with other natural ingredients dating back to 2750-2500 BC.

That means people were washing their hair with shikakai over 4,500 years ago, before the pyramids of Giza were even finished.
View research paper

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