Amla Powder for Hair & Skin

How Hair Feels

Used as a mask, Amla usually leaves hair feeling conditioned, smoother and easier to manage, with more shine once it's rinsed and dry. It's a loose fruit powder rather than a creamy conditioner, so the feel is natural rather than coated; keep the paste soft, rinse it out well and follow with your usual conditioner if your lengths need it.

Scalp Care

Worked over the scalp as a soft paste, it usually leaves the scalp feeling fresh and cared for once it's rinsed. If your lengths are dry, keep most of it on the scalp and roots.

On Your Skin

As a short face pack, Amla can leave skin feeling fresh, soft and smooth and looking refreshed once it's rinsed off.

Who It Suits

Anyone who likes a single-ingredient, mix-fresh routine, blending hair powders or oiling before washing. If your hair is fine, use a little less, rinse thoroughly and go easy on oil. Dry, curly, coily or porous hair is easier with a softer paste, less on the lengths and conditioner afterwards, or with the infused oil. On very light, bleached or white hair, try it on a small lock first: fine powder can stay visible until it's washed out.

Before You Start

Patch test 24–48 hours before first use (see Care & Safety). You'll need 2–3 tablespoons of powder, more for long or thick hair, warm water and a non-metallic bowl.

The Hair and Scalp Mask

1. Put 2–3 tablespoons of Amla Powder in a bowl.
2. Add warm water a little at a time, stirring, until you have a smooth, spreadable paste. Use it straight away; it doesn't need to rest.
3. Apply it evenly to clean, damp hair and scalp.
4. Leave it on for 20–30 minutes, keeping it soft; rinse before it dries hard.
5. Rinse thoroughly with warm water, handling wet hair gently, and condition if your hair needs it.
6. Use it up to twice a week.

The Face Pack

1. Mix 1 teaspoon of Amla Powder with 2 teaspoons of plain yoghurt or water to a creamy paste.
2. Spread a thin layer over freshly cleansed skin, avoiding your eyes and lips.
3. Leave it about 10 minutes (5 if your skin is very sensitive), and don't let it dry completely.
4. Soften it with a damp cloth, rinse with lukewarm water and moisturise.
5. Use it up to twice a week.

Mixes

Bhringraj or Brahmi: 1 tablespoon of each (2 of each for long or thick hair), warm water to a soft paste, rest 5–10 minutes, then about 20 minutes on damp hair. Aloe Vera Powder: 2 tablespoons of Amla with 1 tablespoon of Aloe Vera Powder, to a runny-yoghurt paste, rest about 10 minutes, then about 20 minutes on wet hair. Henna: Amla can make up 5–20% of the dry henna blend, where it can mute the brightest copper; the henna directions set the timing, and a strand test shows the shade. Never add it to an indigo-only paste. More in what to mix with henna. For a hair wash with Reetha and Shikakai, see the four-powder hair wash.

Homemade Oil

Warm about 1 tablespoon of the dry powder per 100 ml of coconut or sesame oil in a double boiler for 30–45 minutes without letting it smoke, let it cool completely, strain it through fine muslin into a clean, dry jar and use a little 30–60 minutes before washing. Keep water out of it, make small batches, and throw it away if it smells stale.

Tips

Don't leave the wet mask on overnight; longer doesn't work better. If your hair feels dry or rough afterwards, use a softer paste, put less on your lengths or follow with conditioner.

Emblica Officinalis Fruit Powder

Warnings

For external use only. Do not eat or drink. Avoid the eyes, and the lips when you use it on your face; if powder or paste gets in your eyes, rinse with plenty of clean water. Don't apply to broken or irritated skin or scalp. Keep out of reach of children. Stop using it if irritation occurs.

How to Patch Test

Patch test 24–48 hours before first use, with the mix you plan to use. Put a little on a small area of clean, unbroken skin, leave it for 24–48 hours, then rinse it off; rinse it off straight away if it burns or itches. Don't go ahead if the skin burns, swells, blisters or turns red, or if it itches and the itch doesn't settle. Test again whenever you add something new to the mix. A patch test can't rule out a reaction later.

Using It Safely

Rinse it off and stop using it if your skin or scalp burns or itches while it's on, or if you see redness, swelling, blisters or a rash. Keep the hair mask to 20–30 minutes and the face pack to about 10, and rinse before either dries hard. Anything you add, such as yoghurt, carrier oils or essential oils, brings its own risk of irritation. If your face, lips or eyes swell, or you have trouble breathing, call 911. Pour the powder gently and mix close to the bowl, so you don't breathe in the dust.

Storage

Keep the pouch sealed in a cool, dry place away from moisture, heat and direct sunlight, and use a clean, dry spoon. Don't put wet powder back in the pouch. It keeps for 2 years from the date of packaging. Throw it away if it has got damp, shows mould or smells unusual; small differences in colour and smell between batches are normal.