Every Ingredient
100% Edible
We don't use the word "natural" because it's meaningless. Instead, here's a simple test: if you wouldn't eat it, we don't put it in your shampoo.
Shikakai
What is it?
A climbing shrub native to India that produces pods containing natural saponins—soap molecules that have been used for hair washing since 2500 BC. The name comes from Tamil: "Shika" (hair) + "Kai" (fruit). Literally, "fruit for hair."
What it does
Shikakai's saponins are non-ionic surfactants. Unlike synthetic surfactants (SLS, SLES, SCI) that strip everything, saponins selectively remove dirt and excess oil while leaving your scalp's protective oils intact. This is why there's no "transition period"—your scalp doesn't need to recover from being stripped.
Why we use it
It's the entire reason this product exists. 4,500 years of use. pH of 4.5-5.5 (matches your scalp exactly). No synthetic alternative comes close.
The oils
Coconut
The base of our soap. Creates a rich, creamy lather and provides deep cleansing. One of the few oils that penetrates the hair shaft rather than just coating it.
Argan
Lightweight oil rich in vitamin E and fatty acids. Adds moisture without weighing hair down. Particularly good for dry or damaged ends.
Castor
Thick, nourishing oil that supports scalp health. Known for its ability to coat and protect hair strands. Adds shine without silicone.
The ayurvedic herbs
Amla
Indian gooseberry. One of the highest natural sources of vitamin C. Strengthens hair follicles and has been used alongside shikakai for thousands of years.
Neem
Powerful antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. Helps with dandruff, itchy scalp, and general scalp health. Also documented in Ayurvedic texts for hair care.
Hibiscus
Rich in amino acids that nourish hair and support keratin production. Traditionally used to add shine and reduce premature graying.
The essential oils
Rosemary
Stimulates circulation to the scalp. Studies show it may support hair growth. Adds an herbal, grounding note to the scent.
Bergamot
Light citrus scent with calming properties. Balances the earthier herbs. Also has mild antimicrobial properties.
Lavender
Calming scent. Anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial. Helps soothe irritated scalps.
The lye
What is it?
Sodium hydroxide.
A mineral alkali made from salt and water.
It is not a detergent.
It is not a surfactant.
It is not a foaming agent.
It has exactly one job, and it finishes that job before the bar ever leaves the pot:
it turns oil into soap.
Why every soap needs it
There is no soap without lye.
Not ours. Not anyone's.
Oil and lye react and become two entirely new substances: soap and glycerine.
That reaction is called saponification, and it is the only way soap has ever been made.
For most of history the alkali was leached from wood ash.
Today it is made from salt and water.
The reaction is the same one.
If a bar tells you it is lye free, it is not soap.
It is a synthetic detergent pressed into the shape of one.
Why none of it is in your bar
Lye is a reactant, not an ingredient. It gets consumed.
We use less lye than our oils can react with, on purpose.
The reaction runs out of lye before it runs out of oil, so what is left behind is oil, never lye.
And because we cook our soap rather than pouring it cold, saponification completes inside the pot, hours before the bar is molded.
By the time the shikakai, amla and neem go in, there is nothing caustic left for them to meet.
It is food-grade
Lye is approved for direct contact with food.
E524 in Europe.
GRAS in the United States.
It is what gives a Bavarian pretzel its dark crust, what cures a table olive, what lifts the skin off a mandarin segment before it is canned.
We hold it to the same standard as everything else in this bar.
WHAT'S NOT IN IT
- No sulfates (SLS, SLES)
- No synthetic surfactants (SCI, SLSA)
- No silicones
- No parabens
- No artificial fragrance
- No preservatives
- No anything you couldn't eat