Radico Organic Ritha Fruit Powder 100g

Soapnut powder — washes without lathering

Radico Organic Ritha Fruit Powder is milled from certified organic Sapindus mukorossi fruit, the soapnut, and contains nothing else — no fillers, no synthetic preservatives, no fragrance, no sulphates.

Reetha (also spelt ritha) is the cleansing herb of the Ayurvedic hair trio. Its saponin content does the washing. It carries no pigment, so it will not colour hair or lift a plant colour already in place.

How to use

1. Weigh 15-20 g for short hair, around 30 g at shoulder length, or 50-60 g for long or thick hair.
2. Add warm water gradually at three to four times the powder's weight in millilitres and stir until smooth.
3. Let the paste stand five minutes, then check the consistency.
4. Work it into damp hair at the scalp, then through the lengths.
5. Leave 10-20 minutes and rinse thoroughly with warm water.

Keep it away from the eyes — saponins sting.

What's in it

100% organic reetha fruit powder (Sapindus mukorossi). Made in India. Net weight 100 g.

Patch test on the inner forearm 48 hours before a full application and stop use if irritation develops. This is a cosmetic product for external use on hair and scalp. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any condition.

Questions

Why doesn't it foam?
Saponins clean without producing lather. Foam comes from synthetic surfactants, which this powder does not contain. Cleaning and foaming are two different things.

Reetha or ritha — which is right?
Both. They are transliterations of the same word for the same fruit. Radico's NZ pack says Ritha; the US pack says Reetha.

Can I use it as my regular shampoo?
Yes, though most people alternate it with a conventional shampoo rather than switching entirely. It suits the days after a plant colour particularly well.

What's the difference between this and shikakai?
Reetha does the cleansing; shikakai softens and conditions. They are usually used together, which is what the Hair Treatment Powder blend does.