Amla, Aritha (Reetha), Shikakai and Bhringraj: How to Make the Four-Powder Hair Wash

The short answer: mix 1 tablespoon each of Amla, Aritha, Shikakai and Bhringraj powder with warm water into a thin, pourable wash. Let it hydrate for 10–15 minutes, massage it into wet hair and scalp for 60–90 seconds, leave it 3–5 minutes and rinse very thoroughly, keeping it out of your eyes. It's a wash, not a long mask, and up to twice a week is enough.

What does each powder do in the mix?

• Aritha (Reetha): the stronger cleanser. It foams in water (the lather varies) and lifts oil and residue; it stings if it gets in your eyes.
• Shikakai: the second cleanser, with less lather.
• Amla: a fruit powder that brings the care side of the wash.
• Bhringraj: a leaf powder that adds to the care side; on its own it's used as a hair and scalp mask.

Aritha and Shikakai do the cleaning, so they set the timing: the wash stays on for 3–5 minutes, even though Amla and Bhringraj stay on longer when they're used as masks. Adding more powders doesn't make it clean better or call for a longer time.

How do I make and use the four-powder wash?

For medium-length hair you need 1 tablespoon each of Amla, Aritha, Shikakai and Bhringraj powder, warm water, a non-metallic bowl and a whisk. Patch test the mix 24–48 hours before first use on a small patch of clean, unbroken skin. Don't go ahead if the skin burns, swells, blisters or turns red, or if it itches and the itch doesn't settle.

1. Mix the four powders evenly in the bowl.
2. Add warm water gradually and whisk until smooth. It should be a thin, pourable slurry, thinner than a hair mask.
3. Leave it 10–15 minutes to hydrate, then stir again; add a little water if it has thickened.
4. Wet your hair, then apply the wash starting at the scalp, with your head tilted so it runs away from your eyes.
5. Massage your scalp gently for 60–90 seconds, then work the rest through your lengths without rough scrubbing.
6. Leave it 3–5 minutes. Don't let it dry on your hair.
7. Rinse very thoroughly with plenty of water. If any gets in your eye, rinse it with clean water and don't rub it.
8. Condition if your hair feels squeaky, rough or tangled.

What is the 3-ingredient homemade shampoo?

It's the three-powder wash: 1 tablespoon each of Amla, Aritha and Shikakai, mixed and used exactly as above. Adding Bhringraj makes it the four-powder version, and Brahmi can take Bhringraj's place. It's mixed fresh for each wash, so it isn't a bottled shampoo: there's no preservative, and once water is in it, you use it straight away.

Can I mix Amla, Aritha and Shikakai powder?

Yes, in equal parts; the recipe above is the usual starting point for medium-length hair. It's a starting point, not a rule: dry hair may prefer less Aritha and more water, and oily hair the balanced mix.

Adjusting it for your hair

• Dry, curly or porous hair: use less Aritha and more water before you think about leaving it on longer.
• Oily roots or build-up: keep the balanced recipe and concentrate it at the scalp. A second short wash works better than a longer first one.

Can I wash my hair daily with Amla, Aritha and Shikakai?

No. Use it up to twice a week. Aritha in particular can leave hair dry if you wash with it more often, and there's no benefit in washing more than your scalp and hair need. If your hair feels rough, tight or tangled, space your washes out, use less Aritha or dilute the mix further.

What are the side effects of Amla, Aritha and Shikakai?

The problems people run into are hair that feels dry, rough or tangled, powder left in the hair, and a stinging, itchy or irritated scalp, especially when the mix is too strong, stays on too long or isn't rinsed out well. Irritation or an allergic reaction to any of the four powders is also possible, which is what the patch test is for. The wash stings if it gets in your eyes, mostly because of the Aritha.

• Patch test first, as above. A patch test can't rule out a reaction later, so rinse the wash out and stop if your scalp burns, stings or itches while it's on.
• Protect your eyes: apply at the scalp, tilt your head back to rinse, and rinse an eye with plenty of clean water if any gets in.
• If your hair feels dry: less Aritha, more water, and conditioner afterwards.

If an eye still hurts, stays red or your vision is blurred after rinsing, see a doctor or pharmacist straight away; if your face, lips or eyes swell or you have trouble breathing, call 911.

Can I mix Amla, Aritha and Shikakai powder with henna?

Keep the cleansers out of your henna. Aritha and Shikakai are washes, and in a paste that stays on for hours they only dilute the henna and make the result harder to predict; the same goes for Bhringraj. Amla is the exception: it can go into henna at 5–20% of the dry mix, where it can mute the brightest copper.

Use the wash on a different day: start henna on clean hair, and after coloring wait 24 hours before you wash. What to mix with henna has the details.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I keep Amla, Aritha and Shikakai on my hair?

About 3–5 minutes after the scalp massage. It's a wash, so a longer time only makes it more drying; if your hair still feels oily, do a second short wash instead.

Can we mix Amla and Shikakai powder for hair?

Yes, as a two-powder wash: 1 tablespoon of each with warm water, hydrated 10–15 minutes, massaged in for 60–90 seconds, left 3–5 minutes and rinsed. For dry hair, use less Shikakai.

How do I make hair wash powder at home?

Measure the dry powders into a bowl (1 tablespoon each for medium-length hair), add warm water when you're ready to wash, let it hydrate 10–15 minutes, then use it. Make only as much wet wash as you need: once water is added it isn't preserved, so don't keep it for later.

How do I make a 100% natural shampoo?

The simplest version is this wash: plant powders and water, mixed fresh. With no preservative, it's made for one use, not kept like a bottled shampoo. If you're switching from bottled shampoo, switching to Shikakai explains what the first washes are like.

What are the benefits of using an Amla, Aritha and Shikakai wash?

It cleans hair and scalp with plant powders you mix yourself: Aritha and Shikakai lift oil and residue, Amla adds the care side, and you control the strength each time. Condition afterwards if your lengths need it.

What is the best homemade shampoo for hair?

There's no single best one: choose by how strong a wash you need. Shikakai gives a lower-lather wash, Aritha is the stronger cleanser, and the equal-parts three- or four-powder wash is a balanced place to start.

Can I wash my hair daily with Shikakai?

Not daily; up to twice a week is the usual rhythm. How to use Shikakai powder covers Shikakai on its own.

Can I wash my hair daily with Aritha powder?

No. Aritha is the stronger cleanser and can leave hair dry, so keep it to twice a week at most. How to wash hair with Aritha powder covers using it on its own.