Henna for Hair- Zizyphus spina christi

The leaves of zizyphus spina christi contain saponin glycosides, christinin A, B, C and D.  Zizyphus
spina christi leaves were used as a shampoo and body wash in the Middle
East, the Arabian Peninsula and Persia.  The saponins cleaned skin
and hair, and anti-microbials had inhibitory and bactericidal activity against Gram-positive microorganisms on skin and scalp. As a shampoo and body wash, zizyphus spina christi protects hair and
skin from dryness by depositing a thin moisture retentive layer on the
hair and skin: this helps skin and hair not dry out in dry weather and
intense sunlight. If you have dry, fragile, or thin and aging skin,
washing with zizyphus will clean your skin and leave it silky and
smooth.  Knees and elbows will be less flaky and gray.  I put
zizyphus paste on a washcloth and massage away the dirt and dead skin
cells, then rinse.

People with severe allergic reactions to latex may also be allergic to zizyphus spina christi.  Patch test before using!

Chemical and Biological Investigations on  Zizyphus spina-christi
L.  Phytotherapy Research (7) 15, 593-597 (2001) Shahat, A. A.,
Pieters, L., Apers, S., Nazeif, N. M., Abdel-Azim, N. S., Berghe, D.
V., Vlietinck, A. J.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, western popular culture was
fascinated with “exotic” ancient Egypt and Persia; passionate imagery
of pharaohs, ancient queens, Persian luxuries, and Ottoman harems.
Enthusiasm for ‘exotic’ henna was part of the imported material culture
in the European fascination with their colonies’ cultures; in
this context,  Egyptian Products Co. of Newark, New Jersey,  marketed R-Brand Egyptian
Henna Shampoo in 1929.  As best as I can determine from
the powder remaining in the packet, the shampoo was largely powdered zizyphus spina christi leaves with a small amount of henna.  The
instructions were to mix the leaf powder with hot water, work into a
paste, and shampoo the hair with the paste. Dubarry
et Cie marketed zizyphus Spina Christi leaves as an exotic fashionable
Persian import shampoo powder in the early 20th century.  “The
Wonderful New Shampoo Henna Glinta” was, of course, NOT henna. It was
zizyphus spina christi.  As a green plant powder, ‘Dubarry et Cie’
figured westerners would not know the difference, particularly as
indigo and cassia were also marketed as ‘henna’; westerners were
enamored with the exotic “new” henna at the beginning of the twentieth
century, so it seemed a good marketing strategy.  There advertising claims were fairly accurate, and consistent with
results typical of Zizyphus Spina Christi leaves; the only inaccuracy
is the claim that the powder was genuine henna leaves.

“Zizyphus Spina Christi does not dye or color the hair; it does bring out natural highlights,” as advertised. 

“Zizyphus Spina Christi shampoo did deliver “luxuriance, life, luster,
and natural beauty” to hair just as it always had done. 

“Zizyphus Spina Christi does not dry the hair, and leaves it easy to style.”

These claims are exactly what the stylists and researchers at mehandi.com
found when they home tested Ancient Sunrise® Zizyphus Spina
Christi.  The powder mixed easily into paste, was a gentle and
thorough shampoo, and left the hair feeling thicker, looking glossier,
and was easier to style.

Above is healthy, undamaged hair.  Here is what zizyphus spina
christi does:  it coats hair with a fine layer of plant wax from
the zizyphus leaves. 

This thin waxy layer is similar to the waxy surface of many desert
plants.  These plant waxes protect the leaf from losing moisture
and dying in the arid desert;  You can even feel it on a freshly
picked apple. This layer which protects zizyphus spina christi in a
harsh desert climate will protect your hair from drying out and
breaking.  It also makes your hair more glossy, and easier to
style.The plant wax has a molecular similarity to latex, and some people who
are allergic to latex will also be sensitized to zizyphus spina
christi.  If you are allergic to latex, patch test first!

Here is what Zizyphus Spina Christi is absolutely best for:

Swimming!

This is Maria’s hair before shampooing with Zizyphus Spina Christi: it has
several days worth of perspiration, sebum, and hair care products in it
which have left her hair looking dull and stringy.

Add warm or hot water to a heaping tablespoon or two of zizyphus powder.  You can use the extra paste as a body wash.

Do not
expect zizyphus to have heaps of suds and bubbles.  Detergent suds are only one way
to get hair clean: the chemical cosmetic industry would like for you to believe that soap
bubbles are crucial to cleanliness, but that is just marketing and product photography.

Stir water in gradually, and stir the paste smooth.  Let the paste sit for five minutes or so.

This is ready to start squishing into your hair. The
saponins in zizyphus paste will foam a bit, but are not going to get
bubbly and sudsy like the cosmetic advertising agencies want you to
believe is necessary, but they are going to get you clean.  

Do not expect bountiful snowy bubbles.

Start by squishing the ziziphus spina christi paste onto your scalp and into the roots of your hair.

Massage your scalp with the paste, and stroke it through  your hair. 

Massage
the zizyphus paste into your scalp, enough to gently remove sebum, dead
skin cells, perspiration, bacteria, and built-up styling
products.  Stroke the paste through your hair. 

When you
have pulled the paste through your hair, you can use extra as a body
wash.  If you tend to have dry, ashy knees and elbows, zizyphus
will protect your skin from drying and flaking.

After
shampooing with zizyphus Spina Christi, all of the perspiration, and
products have been cleaned out of Maria’s hair.  The zizyphus has
made her hair feel more full, more glossy, and is easier to
style. 

Click HERE
to purchase Zizyphus Spina Christi from http://www.mehandi.com. 
If you wash your hair once a week, 100g should last you for a month or
more.  500g should last you for a year.