Are you tired of using chemically-treated shampoos? Do you want to restore the natural health of your dull, dry, and damaged hair right now? Then, it is time to go back to Mother Nature and opt for a natural hair washing ingredient. Reetha can be the best choice for making your hair clean, soft, and shiny once again naturally. You need to wash your hair with it in a regular manner, and the results will surprise you! If you do not know much about this magical haircare ingredient, here we are to help you out. Learn how to wash hair with reetha by following two simple and effective methods at home.
Reetha, scientifically called Sapindus Mukorossi, is also commonly known as soapnut, washnut, or Indian soapberry. The reetha tree, native to western coastal Maharashtra in India, is a common Ayurvedic medicinal herb belonging to the Sapindaceae family. The deciduous tree can also be found at lower foothills and mid-hills of the Himalayas. Reetha is a tiny, spherical nut (similar to the walnut) available in almost any store selling Indian herbs and medicinal plants. It is a versatile herb that has been widely used for pharmacological and cleansing purposes.
Benefits Of Washing Hair With ReethaIf you are still wondering why using reetha for washing hair has become such a popular choice among Indians, here are the benefits you need to know:
- Washing hair with reetha does not involve the use of harmful chemical compounds like sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and other additives.
- Reetha makes the hair a lot more tangle-free in comparison with the results you get by using other commercial shampoos.
- Since reetha is a very mild ingredient with naturally low pH, the hair’s natural oils remain intact, giving it a better shine and texture after each wash.
- After using reetha, the hair becomes very manageable as it gets completely free from frizziness and split ends.
- Reetha has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, which help in reducing hair loss by keeping dandruff away.
- With regular use, reetha makes the hair stronger from the root, which reduces hair fall significantly.
- Reetha makes the scalp feel more moisturized and helps it stay supple.
- It is an excellent conditioner that also nourishes the hair to help it grow faster.
- The saponins in reetha work as insecticides to eliminate lice from your scalp.
How To Wash Hair With Reetha?
Reetha is an all-natural cleaning substance that is readily available, inexpensive, reusable, and eco-friendly. Hence, it is used widely for washing clothes, cleaning jewelry, treating certain medical conditions, etc. But the use of reetha as a hair care product is undeniably the most popular of all time. It makes the hair clean, soft, and shiny so that you can feel proud of it! The most convenient way to use reetha for hair is to use it as a hair rinse. Otherwise, you can also make your very own natural reetha shampoo to say ‘no’ to a number of hair problems altogether.
# Make Your Own Reetha ShampooWhen combined with other common natural hair cleansing and nourishing ingredients, i.e., shikakai and amla, reetha becomes even more effective in cleaning the hair thoroughly adding both shine and volume. So, prepare a natural shampoo that can combine the goodness of all of these ingredients. Even if you are not much into DIY projects, you can still try making this simple natural shampoo anytime at home. Here is the easy recipe to try:
Ingredients:Reetha nuts – 10 gm.
Shikakai – 10 gm.
Amla – 5 gm.
Water – 750 ml.
Preparation Of Shampoo- Take the reetha nuts, shikakai, and amla in a bowl. Add water and allow the ingredients to soak overnight.
- The following day, heat the bowl on high flame till the water comes to a boil.
- Then, reduce the flame a little and keep boiling for 5 to 15 more minutes.
- When the liquid becomes concentrated enough and starts frothing up a bit, turn off the heat.
- Let the mixture cool down by covering the bowl with a lid.
- Once it reaches room temperature, use your hand to crush the boiled ingredients.
- Strain the liquid out but do not throw away the used ingredients. Instead, take another jar of water and place them inside for future use.
Method Of Application:- Divide the strained liquid mixture into three equal parts.
- Start massaging your scalp with the first part and work it through the entire length and volume of your hair. You will notice that it does not give much lather. Wash it off thoroughly with plain water.
- Repeat the process with the second part of the shampoo, and again, not much lather will be visible. So again, wash it off with plain water.
- Now, use the third part of the shampoo, and this time you will notice slight lather. Again, wash the froth as well as the shampoo off with plain water.
- Finally, pour the water kept inside the jar along with the used soapnuts, shikakai, and amla onto the end of your hair and allow it to soak for about 2-3 minutes. Then, wash it off thoroughly with plain water.
# Make A Reetha Hair RinseIf you want a quick natural remedy for shinier and healthier hair, go for a reetha hair rinse. It makes use of reetha powder instead of the whole nuts. The best thing about this method is that it does not need three separate washes like the shampoo and hence, is much less time-consuming. Check out the easy recipe here:
IngredientsDried reetha nuts
Dried shikakai
Preparation Of Rinse- Grind a handful of dried reetha nuts into a fine powder.
- Also, grind a handful of dried shikakai pieces into a smooth powder.
- Mix both of these ingredients to prepare a herbal mixture of hair rinse.
- Add some water to this mixture and make an even paste of medium consistency. Now, it is ready to use.
Method Of Application- Apply the herbal paste to your scalp in a uniform manner and slowly work your way to the end of your hair.
- Massage for 2-3 minutes by moving your fingertips in a small circular motion.
- Then, add water and rinse thoroughly. Make sure that the paste is washed off completely.
- You may want to repeat the rinsing process until the water dripping off your hair is completely transparent. That is when you become sure that the powder has been washed off thoroughly. Even if a bit of it remains in your hair, it will just fall off when your hair is dry.