Does Aritha and/or Shikakai darken hair?

[Rini]

I have some of both in powdered form and was thinking of giving them a go for hair washing, but I'm worried they may stain light blonde hair? Anyone had any experience with this? Cheers! :)

[mellie]

Hi Rini! :waving: I use whole soapnuts (aritha), and I haven't noticed them staining my silvers at all, they are staying pure white. However, I don't know about blond hair, I know it's different than silvers. Maybe you should do a little patch on an inconspicuous part of your hair first to be sure?

ETA: Someone here, I can't remember who just now, got amla powder but it ended up having undisclosed indigo in it, and it dyed her hair! So I would definitely recommend a test patch first.

[Flaxen]

Aritha won't (it's used to wash sarees) but shikakai might add a temporary tan color.

ETA: ktani reminded me that I DID experience a color change with aritha. It really has been a long time since I experimented with herbs. :lol:

[ktani]

Aritha has been reported to stain lighter hair colours a different colour, http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?p=508294#post508294. Grey hair can be resistant to stains.

"soap nut has a lovely light brown natural dye."
http://www.copperwiki.org/index.php/Soapnut

from this link
http://www.soap-nuts.info/2008/07/16/soapnut-uses-2/

[ktani]

Aritha won't (it's used to wash sarees) but shikakai might add a temporary tan color.

ETA: ktani reminded me that I DID experience a color change with aritha. It really has been a long time since I experimented with herbs. :lol:

You had told me that your aritha powder made a very tan liquid, that was dark enough to stain your hair, so that your hair looked darker when it dried. I save information, lol.

[Angharad]

Hi Rini!

I use shikakaipowder and my hair is a little darker when I use it frequently; however when I use a shampoo or CO my hair gets its usual colour (the colour of the past is brownish red so you can imagine that it can darken your hair!) My hair is dishwater blond by the way.

When you're in doubt just do a test with your hair collected from your brush and make two strands; one you wash with aritha or shikakai powder and the other you wash with your regular shampoo; this way you can see for yourself any (possible) difference in colour.

Good luck!

[Oskimosa]

I'm using shikakai, tulsi, amla, and neem. I haven't noticed any color change in my hennaed hair or on my skin. But I haven't used it all that long either.

[ktani]

Flaxen told me that when she experimented with Indian herbs, and used aritha in a mix with lots of other Indian herbs, her hair was "clarified" and bright blonde. The mix either diluted or cancelled out any staining IMO. Aritha stained her hair, when it was used on its own and was too drying to use on a regular basis, for her.

I remembered her posts, too, http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showpost.php?p=177877&postcount=4

Here is the clarifying mix post, http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showpost.php?p=129312&postcount=94

[Rini]

Thanks for the responses all!!

So that's 2 "no stain" reports for Aritha and 1 "yes stain". 2 "yes stain"s for Shikakai. Hmmmm....


I am actually looking into some different washing methods right now, not because there is anything wrong with my standard CO method that I've been doing for years....but rather because I'm a bit bored. I am experiencing HUGE amounts of shedding right now, which I think is a cyclical event for me, but I am trying to minimise it by using gentle methods. On the agenda so far are: Dairy Whip, Shampoo bars and herbs.

Thanks for the input. I do appreciate it!! :flowers:

[Heidi_234]

Strand test would give you the most definite answer. I'd say that even if it does stain, it's temporary and will wash out eventually.

[HoD]

Does anyone know of any similar herbs that don't stain? I've just started using shikakai and am liking it pretty well. Not sure if slight staining would be enough to make me stop using it but if there's a better option, I'd love to try that.

[01]

Yup, my natural color is brown indoors and blonde outdoors and under lightning and when I used soapnuts my hair got way more brown and less blonde. It washed out when I stopped using it.