Review: Patanjali Kesh Kanti - Anti-Dandruff Hair Cleanser

Patanjali Kesh Kanti Anti Dandruff Hair Cleanser

Thick, lustrous, shiny, bouncy, long, healthy hair is every woman's dream. In fact, every little girl wishes she had her mom's beautiful long hair and often wonders and daydreams when her hair will grow that long! Some of us are blessed with beautiful hair, but only those who wish to have a beautiful head know the real hardship it takes to build and maintain that healthy mane of hair. Stress, pollution, bad eating habits, an unhealthy lifestyle have all added woes to our mission beautiful, healthy hair. It is now time to go back to the basics, and re-discover the magic of Ayurveda.

Ramdev Baba is a renowned Yoga teacher in India who has taken the art of yoga to each and every household through television and mass yoga camps. He founded Patanjali Yogapeeth (a centre for practicing Yoga) and also started producing Ayurvedic medicines under Divya Pharmacy to work hand in hand with Yoga to treat ailments better. Patanjali products have thus gained a lot of popularity thanks to their herbal composition and effectiveness.

Patanjali has a range of hair care products under the name "Kesh Kanti" which literally means Hair's Lustre in Sanskrit. The Anti-dandruff shampoo in their range is by far the best anti-dandruff shampoo I have ever come across. Not only is it 100% effective from the first wash, but it also makes the hair soft and shiny, and does not make it fall out! Plus I have discovered a lot many benefits out of using this shampoo. Read on to find out all about this Ayurvedic shampoo.

Ingredients:

The ingredients used in each ml of the shampoo (as mentioned on the bottle) and their respective uses (per my own research) are as below.

Rosemary oil .. 15 mg - Rosemary oil is extracted from the leaves of this medicinal plant. It has antioxidant, antiviral, and astringent properties which means that it protects the hair from free radicals in the environment, and viral infections which sometimes are the reason behind dandruff. Being astringent in nature in controls the excessive production of sebum or oil in the scalp. Oily scalp can attract dirt and grime resulting in oily dandruff that sticks to the scalp. Dandruff is one of the primary reasons for hairfall. Apart from that, oily scalp means clogged pores which can also lead to hair loss. Rosemary is one of the best hair remedies for balding/ thinning hair. It stimulates blood circulation to the scalp, thereby promoting healthy hair growth and nourishes the follicles with the good blood supply, making them healthier and resilient to hair fall.

Image source: amoils.com

Honey .. 10 mg - Honey as we all well know, has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic properties which makes it the most soothing (yummiest!) thing to put on cuts and burns for healing. The same properties fight off dandruff which may be a result of excessive growth of bacteria or fungus. Sometimes, extremely dry and scaly skin on the scalp can result in dry dandruff which flakes all over the hair and even falls off on ones shoulders and clothes. Honey attracts and retains moisture, thus it can repair and moisturize dry and damaged scalp and hair, acting as a natural conditioner. It can reduce the frizz in the hair making it more manageable. It also has essential vitamins and minerals packed in it to nourish the hair follicles to help hair grow. 

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Neem (Indian Lilac) .. 2 mg - The Neem tree is found widely all across India and it is worshiped as a sacred tree. The numerous benefits that it offers to us literally makes it worthy of worship! Every part of the trees is used for medicinal purposes. It has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties, so it cures and keeps the hair and scalp clean and healthy, free from all sorts of infections and it kills off lice too. Neem has high fatty acid content, so it feeds the hair follicles so that hair growth is healthy. 

Image source: flickr.com

Tea tree oil .. 2 mg - Tea tree oil, again, has all the anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory properties, assisting the previous ingredients in the mission "Healthy Scalp, Healthy Hair". It can unclog clogged pores on the scalp and thereby arrest hairfall and dandruff, and even cradle cap which is very common in small babies.

Imahe source: rivertea.com

Eucalyptus oil .. 2 mg - Eucalyptus trees are very important so that our cute Koala bears can live in them. Just kidding! The strong aroma of Eucalyptus tree notwithstanding, this amazing oil is especially famous in aiding Henna or Mehendi to impart a deeper color when applied on the hands and legs. It also relieves colds with just a few drops placed on the patient's pillow. Again with all the properties like the above mentioned ingredients, this one too helps fight lice infestation, relieves itchy scalp, and adds shine to the hair.

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Amla (Indian Gooseberry) extract .. 2 mg - If you live in India or have ever been to an Indian store, you will know the power of amla for hair as it is the most omnipresent ingredient in hair oils and also used in conjunction with various hair tonics and hair packs. It is loaded with antioxidants and a rich source of Vitamin C. It promotes hair growth and makes hair stronger, tackles dandruff, makes hair shine with health. It not only prevents graying of hair but can also darken hair to a rich, black, glossy color over extended use. 

Image source: beautyglimpse.com

Hibiscus extract .. 2 mg - This exotic flower is not just pretty but a storehouse of wonderful goodies. Hibiscus is again a great flavour for tea as it adds a tangy taste thanks to the abundant Vitamin C in it. It has good amount of Vitamin B2 as well. Both these vitamins boost a healthy growth of hair. Hibiscus leaves and flowers are commonly crushed to a paste and applied to hair in India, as this will give hair a healthy shine, and also promote hair growth. It also preserves the natural dark color of Indian hair, and feeds the follicles so well that visibly thick hair strands result out of using it in hair care regimen.

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Shikakai extract - Shikakai is an au natural hair cleanser used n its own. It not only removes all the dirt and grime in the hair, but keeps the hair fragrant and lustrous. It adds thickness and volume to the hair. It prevents graying, and maintains natural color. It brings back the bounce and life in to the hair. It makes hair smooth and silky and soft! If you want to have the healthy hair that you were born with, use Shikakai regularly to see the difference. It is a hair cleanser cum conditioner in one. 

Image source: gopal.ch

Fenugreek extract .. 1 mg - Fenugreek is a rich source of Menthol. Does it ring any bells? Of course, you may have heard it in many anti-dandruff shampoo advertisements. Menthol also cools the head. It is the secret behind that tingling cool sensation. Fenugreek not only cures dandruff, but makes the hair silky smooth and shiny. It also stops hairfall. Fenugreek's results are just addictive! Gotto love it so much.

Image source: mydhaba.in

Tulsi extract .. 1 mg - Tulsi or the Holy Basil is another plant that is worshipped by Hindus. It can cure itchy scalp, and promote glossy hair, while keeping it fragrant and protecting it from external damage.

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So, as you can see, all the ingredients are powerful anti-dandruff formulas. Not just that they also address a host of common hair issues. They are all commonly used in Indian hair rituals as well.

Review:

The packaging is simple - a broad but thin (if that makes sense) white plastic bottle with purple cap and text accents. It matches with the rosemary flowers (one of the main ingredients) that also features on the illustration on the bottle. The cap is flip open type. Opens easily, but a bit tricky to close (not difficult, slightly tricky). It has 4 grooves (for each finger, I suppose) on the side to prevent the thin bottle from slipping from the hands in a shower.

Coming to the product, it is a light greenish, shiny shampoo. The consistency is slightly creamy as well. The fragrance is very herbal. One can indeed smell the various herbs that are in it. I would recommend diluting the shampoo in some water ( ratio 1:5 ). It can be applied directly on the scalp and hair as well but diluting it is always more gentler on the hair and just as effective. I use around 10 ml ( 2 tbsp approx ) of shampoo after diluting it with about 50 ml of water for my medium-long hair. The first time wash itself leaves the hair squeaky clean and one can actually feel hair squeak, literally! Since I pre-condition my hair with a lot of oil, I go for a second rinse, this time with lesser quantity of shampoo and water, just so that no traces of oil remain in the hair. 

Result:

Dandruff gone! 100% just in the first time wash. I have never seen any other product work as effectively. Not even DIY lemon masks for the hair. Not only does it completely erase dandruff, it keeps hair dandruff free for days. I even used my other "non anti-dandruff" shampoos in between as a break. But dandruff did not return for nearly a month! Initially, I would only use this anti-dandruff shampoo every time I washed my hair, but it never dried out my hair. Hair was always silky and shiny. My hair is on the drier side, but this shampoo also conditions hair. I totally skip using a conditioner with this shampoo. See the results for yourself.