Shampoo is considered to be an essential personal care product, so modern cosmetic manufacturers offer a wide array of shampoos for all hair types. However, many mass-market shampoos are formulated with potentially irritating synthetic ingredients which might cause hair and scalp problems. That’s why some consumers prefer dry herbal shampoos originating from India. What’s so special about these shampoos?
Shampoos are made with surfactants, chemical compounds that lower the surface tension and act as detergents and foaming agents. A surfactant-free shampoo is nonsense because without surfactants it will unable to perform its main task, that is to cleanse your hair. On the other hand, some surfactants are irritating to the hair and scalp.
Commonly used surfactants include sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). They have great detergent properties, foam well and are relatively inexpensive. That’s why they are often used to produce effective and affordable shampoos. However, SLES and especially SLS may act as irritants, so many people prefer to avoid shampoos which contain these surfactants. There are less aggressive surfactants, but people with a sensitive scalp still find them irritating, and it is very hard for them to find a suitable shampoo. Luckily, there is a way out.
In India, a variety of herbs were used as personal care products since ancient times. There’s even a special term, ubtan, that describes cosmetic powder made with dried and ground herbs, flowers, seeds, and other natural ingredients. The ubtan powder is mixed with water to form a thick paste used as a natural face mask, face scrub or shampoo. The most effective ubtans are made with Ayurvedic herbs (nativa Indian plants used in Ayurveda medicine).
Dry herbal shampoos are a type of utban. They are formulated with Indian herbs that contain saponins which are a natural surfactant. These plants include soapnuts, also known as soapberries, Indian gooseberry (amla), shikakai, and washnut (ritha). Natural surfactants are just as effective as synthetic ones, but they are much less likely to cause irritation or allergic reactions. The only difference is that dry herbal shampoos don’t foam, but this doesn’t affect their cleansing properties.
Agor is a Ukrainian beauty brand known for its dry cosmetic products inspired by Ayurvedic ubtan powders. It produces body scrubs, face masks and scrubs, facial cleansers, shampoos, and more. Agor’s Cleansing & Conditioning Shampoo Mask is a 2-in-1 hair care product: it effectively cleanses the hair and conditions it. It contains soapnut as a surfactant ingredient. Other plants contained in the shampoo include sage, lavender, barley and amla (Indian gooseberry).
Agor’s dry herbal shampoo is suitable for all hair types. It can be used as both a cleansing product and a hair conditioner. The shampoo is free of SLS, SLES and other synthetic surfactants, colourants, fragrances, preservatives, and silicones. It is a 100% natural and safe product formulated with all-natural ingredients.
If you’ve never used this kind of dry shampoo before, it might seem a little unusual to you, but it is in fact very easy to use. All you have to do is mix some herbal power with warm water and stir well to obtain a creamy paste. Then apply the paste to wet hair, massage the scalp and rinse with plenty of warm water. As the shampoo contains only natural surfactants (saponins), it doesn’t produce foam, but it still cleanses your hair and scalp excellently without stripping them of their natural protection. If you want to use the product as a conditioner, you should add less water to obtain a thicker paste and then leave it on for about half an hour.
The shampoo has a conditioning effect due to the high content of dried medicinal plants and their extracts. For example, sage extract contained in the product has an anti-inflammatory effect. It relieves itching, actively combats dandruff and deeply nourishes hair follicles, helping to strengthen your hair and stimulating its growth. Lavender extract helps to repair damaged hair structure and prevents excessive hair loss.
Barley and Indian gooseberry have a pronounced rejuvenating and toning effect. They prevent dandruff, brittle hair, split ends and premature graying, combat hair loss. Besides, these ingredients are rich in vitamins (vitamin A, vitamin E, B vitamins) and other nutrients which are necessary for healthy hair.
Agor’s dry herbal shampoo is a perfect choice for those who prefer all-natural and hypoallergenic personal care products. Our online shop Organic Store offers a wide range of herbal products by Agor including shampoos, body scrubs, algae face masks, face cleansers and cleansing masks, polysaccharide masks, and more. Check them out and see for yourself how effective they are!
