How to use a hair wash powder

Before bottled shampoo, most Indian homes washed hair with powders made from dried pods, fruits and leaves. Our amla hair wash powder follows that idea: amla, hibiscus and shikakai, ground fine and sieved twice. It does not foam much, so first-time users often wonder if it is working. Here is how to use it.

Take two to three tablespoons for shoulder-length hair, and more for longer or thicker hair. Mix it in a steel or glass bowl with warm water into a smooth paste, about as thick as pancake batter. Let it sit for five minutes so the powder softens. Some people add a spoon of curd or a little aloe gel to make it smoother; that is fine.

Wet your hair well first, which matters more than people expect. Apply the paste to the scalp in sections, then work it gently down the lengths. Massage the scalp with your fingertips for two to three minutes, then leave it for another five. Do not let it dry on the hair.

Rinse with plenty of lukewarm water, lifting the hair from the roots so the fine powder washes out completely. A mug or a hand shower works better than a bucket dip. If you find grains after drying, use a little more water when mixing next time. Avoid getting the paste in your eyes; shikakai stings. Most people use the powder once or twice a week, after an oiling, and the shikakai and reetha shampoo on the other days if they prefer something quicker.