Collection: Hair Cleanser

Two powders for washing hair without bottled shampoo: aritha, also called reetha or soapnut, and shikakai. Both are milled fruit or pod, mixed with water into a thin paste and worked through wet hair. Neither foams much, which surprises most people the first time.

Aritha cleans harder and suits oily roots and product build-up; shikakai is gentler on the lengths. Plenty of people use both. Start at the aritha hub or the shikakai hub.

Which powder is best for hair wash? This comparison sets the two against each other.