Aritha

Aritha is soapnut: the dried fruit of the Sapindus mukorossi tree, milled into a fine powder that you mix with warm water to wash your hair and scalp. Its natural saponins lift oil and residue so they rinse away, which is why it has been used as a hair wash in South Asia for generations. Spierb Aritha Powder is one ingredient, the dried fruit, finely ground and triple sifted, with nothing added.

What is Aritha, and is it the same as Reetha?

Yes, Aritha and Reetha are two names for the same fruit. You'll also see Ritha, Areetha, Arita and Retha, and older Ayurvedic texts call it Arishtaka. In English it's soapnut. "Soapberry" is used too, but it can mean other Sapindus species, so Sapindus mukorossi on the label is the surer check. Spierb's Aritha comes from India. Ayurveda traditionally classes it as heating (ushna), a traditional label rather than something it does to your scalp.

How is Aritha powder made, and can I make it at home?

The fruit is dried, finely ground and triple sifted, so the powder mixes into a smooth wash and rinses out easily. You can grind dried soapnuts at home, but a kitchen grinder rarely makes a fine, even powder, so the wash is usually grittier and harder to rinse out.

How does Aritha clean hair?

Saponins have one end drawn to water and one drawn to oil. In water, they gather around oil and residue on your scalp and help lift them off, so the rinse carries them away. The powder doesn't dissolve: it spreads through the water as a fine, tan-brown wash, and a little sediment in the bowl is normal. It works best on the scalp and roots, where oil and styling product build up.

Why doesn't Aritha lather like shampoo?

It does foam, because saponins are natural surfactants, but the amount varies. A thin mix, heavily oiled hair, hard water or little massaging all mean less foam. Less foam doesn't mean less cleaning, so judge the wash by whether your roots rinse clean, not by the bubbles.

Is Aritha powder good for hair, and what are its benefits?

Yes, as a cleanser. Its benefits are practical ones: a well-diluted Aritha wash removes excess oil and everyday product residue and usually leaves your roots feeling lighter and fresher, with more lift in fine hair. The skill is getting the strength right for your hair.

What are the uses of Aritha powder?

• A hair wash on its own: about 10 g for short hair up to about 40 g for long or thick hair, mixed with warm water into a thin, pourable wash. How to wash hair with Aritha powder has every step.
• Oily roots and product: it washes out light styling product and the oil you put on before washing; a second short wash works better than leaving the first one on longer. For heavier build-up, see clearing oil and product build-up with Aritha.
• Aritha water: the same wash strained through muslin, for less grit.
• With other powders: 1 tablespoon each of Aritha and Shikakai for a gentler wash, or with Amla in the three- and four-powder hair wash. Use these blends up to twice a week too.

Spierb Aritha Powder has no added fragrance, colour or preservative.

What to expect, and what it won't do

After a good wash, your roots usually feel clean and light. If your hair feels squeaky, rough or tangled, the wash was stronger than it needed: use more water and less powder, keep it to your scalp and condition your lengths. Dry, curly, porous or bleached hair usually does best with a thin wash, or with Shikakai taking a bigger share of a blend.

Aritha is a cleanser. It doesn't make hair grow, regrow or thicken, it isn't a treatment for hair loss or dandruff, and it isn't a hair dye. A harsh wash can leave hair tangled enough to snap when you comb it, and hairs that had already shed show up on wash day; Reetha side effects explains the difference.

Before you use it: patch test, eyes and who should wait

Patch test 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. A patch test can't rule out a reaction later. Wait until a broken, sore or irritated scalp has settled, and if your scalp burns, swells, itches or comes up in a rash while the wash is on, rinse it out and stop using it.

Aritha stings the eyes strongly. Keep the wash and rinse water away from your face and tilt your head back to rinse. If any gets in your eyes, rinse them straight away with plenty of clean water and don't rub them. 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.

It's for external use on hair and scalp only: don't eat or drink it, and keep it out of reach of children. For a face mask, Fuller's Earth (Multani Mitti), Orange Peel, Aloe Vera Powder and Neem Powder are made for skin.