A Hair Trial: Amla Powder Mix Part I

Getting ready for a much needed deep condition Saturday morning, I stumbled on a box of Amla powder under my sink. I mentioned a while back that I was going to try it and never got around to it. I hadn't planned on doing it today but I thought, eh what the heck!

So what is Amla?

Product Description

Hesh Amla Powder is a natural astringent and skin toner that works on both hair and skin. In botanical terms it is known as Emblic Myrobalan. The paste of this powder helps promote black and luxuriant hair. Even as it controls hair loss, it stimulates roots and promotes hair growth. This apart, it prevents scalp infection and contr

ols premature greying of hair. When used on skin, the paste of this powder brightens the complexion and removes pimples and grime. Briefly, 'Hesh Amla Powder' has the following advantages: - Promotes hair growth - Controls hair loss - Cures scalp infection - Controls greying of hair - Removes pimple and grime Ingredients: Amla Powder (Indian Gooseberry) Ayurvedic Product - Made in India

My Purpose:
I have been struggling with scalp issues as of late and decided to see what this mix could do for me. I hope it will cleanse my scalp of buildup and leave my roots feeling fresh.

What You'll Need:
1-2 100 gram boxes of Amla powder (I used Hesh brand and only 1 box because I wanted to focus on the roots/scalp area, not so much the entire length of the hair)
1 med-large mixing bowl
1 spoon or other utensil to mix paste
Water


My Mix:
Because this was the first time I have ever done Amla, I decided against adding other ingredients. As with henna, I might do different mixes over time should the desire arise. But for now, I wanted to see what results just the powder mixed with water would produce.


I did not measure, I just dumped the powder in the mixing bowl, and slowly added warm water as I mixed until I reached the desired consistency of a paste.

The Application:
I sectioned my hair (an old twist out) into 4 sections with hair bands. I applied the Amla by hand to each section, focusing on the roots and scalp area. Once I completed a section, I tied it up with a band. After completing all four section, I used the leftover Amla on my edges and the middle of my hair where I have the most buildup issues. I would say the Amla covered 4-6 inches of my hair all he way around with the primary focus of the application being the scalp and roots.

After the application, I covered my hair with two shower caps. I used two because one would not completely cover my hair they way it was sectioned. I then wrapped a towel around my head so I could do other things around the house as I waited the recommended 30 minutes.

I am assuming you could do this without covering your hair if you prefer.


First Impressions:
Amla smells very similar to henna. It looks a lot like henna when mixed with water. The consistency is also basically the same. What was surprising, however, was just how not-messy it was! Both times I tried henna, that stuff ended up EVERYWHERE! It was such a pain to apply, only because the color deposited so fast on my skin (and every other surface it touched) and I was constantly wiping as I went. Since I didn't have to worry about that with the Amla, there was no need for gloves, laying down paper, etc. And, because I was not coating the entire length of my hair, application time was cut to about 10 minutes, if that!


See part two later this week!