INTRODUCTION:

The Greek word kosmetics, which implies cosmesis or beautifying ingredient, is where the word "cosmetic" originates. Substances called cosmetics are used to improve how the human body looks. Both developing and developed nations have high demand for cosmetics, which include skin care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays, gels, deodorants, baby products, bath oils, bubble baths, bath salts, various types of butter, and many other products.¹ Herbal cosmetics are a priceless gift from nature and are in high demand on the global market. Your beauty regimen can be satisfied with a variety of herbal cosmetics items, and using herbal cosmetics is quite safe for your skin and hair.²

One of the visible indicators of interior bodily disorders is hair. It is a vital component of the human anatomy. Numerous artificial substances, chemicals, colors, and their byproducts have been shown to have negative consequences. These days, people are conscious of how they affect their eyes, complexion, and hair. These factors, along with their low cost and little adverse effects, are drawing the society to herbal products. Synthetic agents have become more and more common over time, but people are now becoming more conscious of their negative effects on skin, eyes, and hair. The choice of active ingredients for hair care powders is determined by the ingredient's capacity to both prevent skin damage and enhance skin quality by protecting, nourishing, and cleansing the skin. The creation and assessment of herbal shampoo powders are documented in this study. Creating a herbal shampoo powder that removes sebum, debris, and dandruff while encouraging hair growth, strengthening, and darkening hair is the aim of the current research project. Additionally, it has conditioning properties. All of these functions of this herbal shampoo powder are carried out without harming or destroying hair.^3-4 Herbal shampoos are concerned with stability standards; they can be simple or plain shampoos, antibacterial or antidandruff shampoos, or nutritional shampoos that contain hydrolyzed proteins, vitamins, and amino acids, depending on the type of components. The active components in hair care powders are chosen based on their capacity to both prevent skin damage and enhance skin quality through skin protection, nourishing, and washing. In terms of herbal shampoos, instability factors are relevant. Detergents (surfactants), conditioning and active ingredients for hair growth, additives that alter the surfactant effect (viscosity control agents, foam stabilizers, and viscosity modifiers), preservatives that prolong the product's shelf life, and fragrances and essence that enhance its appearance are the main components of shampoos.⁵

Anatomy of Hair:

An essential component of the human body is hair. Hair loss, unmanageable hair, low hair volume, conditioning, premature graying, dandruff, hair thinning, dullness, and other issues are linked to it. Hair can differ in texture, color, diameter, length, and form. Every animal has hair. Its primary function is to control body temperature. It also seeks to serve as a way organ, reduce friction, and protect against sunlight. A person's hair is their greatest asset and plays a significant part in their lives. In ancient times, hairs served as a protective covering for the scalp. Regardless of a person's gender, hair also helps to boost their self-esteem and confidence. Having black, healthy, glossy, and high-quality hair has always been a person's goal. Regardless of their length, maintaining and preserving them is a top responsibility for everyone.^6-7

Hair Structure: Hair consist of two parts:

1. Follicle: The skin's club-shaped structure is called the follicle. A network of blood arteries that supply nutrients to the hair and aid in its growth may be found near the top of the follicle. We refer to this as the papilla. The contact between the dermis and epidermis gives rise to each follicle. The follicle is separated into three parts:

A. The infundibulum extends from the follicle's surface opening to the sebaceous gland's entrance.

B. Isthmus: Stretches from the infundibulum to the point where the arrector pilli muscle inserts.

C. Inferior segment: The dermal papilla, a tuff of vascularized loose connective tissue, invaginates the base of the bulb. Numerous blood vessels may be seen in the hair's papilla, which also supplies nutrients for hair development.^8-10

2. Shaft: Three layers make up the hair shaft:

A. Medulla: The hair's center. It will be continuous or duplicated, segmented or fractured.

B. Cortex: The greatest portion of the hair shaft, the cortex contains the melanin (hair pigment) that. that gives hair its color.

C. Cuticle: The hair shaft's translucent outer coat may be the cuticle. It is composed of overlapping scales that shield the hair's inner layers. The scales extend from the hair's distal end to its proximal end, which is closest to the scalp.^7-9

Hair Problems:

1. Hair Loss: A number of things, including stress, hormone imbalances, and improper product use, can cause hair loss. Protein-rich foods, mild shampoos, hot oil massages, drinking plenty of water, and regular exercise can all help prevent this condition.¹¹

2. Dry Hair: Dry hair is caused by a protein shortage, but it can also be brought on by other underlying conditions like menopause, the birth control pill, pregnancy, hormonal imbalance, anemia, and hyperthyroidism. Foods high in omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids can restore the luster of hair.¹¹

3. Oily Scalp: Over washing is the main cause of an oily scalp, while there are other causes as well, such as bad diet, genetics, or hormonal fluctuations. Lactic acid is one ingredient that aids in controlling the production of oil.¹¹

4. Dandruff: Dandruff is the term for the scaly particles that stick to the hair's root and can be brought on by an unhealthy diet, a dry scalp, an infection, too much sebum, or sensitivity to specific products. It is a benign, non-inflammatory skin disorder that can cause hair loss that affects the scalp.¹¹

5. Hair Color Damage: Frequent coloring treatments may eventually harm the hair. Additionally, the dye's ingredients may result in split ends, dandruff, dryness, and breakage. therapeutic shampoos. The hair can be treated with further care, conditioning, and nourishment.¹¹

Causes of Hair Problem:

Fig No. 1: Causes of hair problem

Treatment: While individual differences in hair problems are undoubtedly there, these common difficulties can be readily resolved by following these easy measures. Before you know it, you will have a fantastic head of hair and your hair issues will be a thing of the past.

A shampoo powder is considered perfect if it can:¹² effectively and completely remove dust particles and excess sebum from the scalp and hair;¹³remove easily when rinsed with water;¹⁴ leave the hair soft, manageable, and non-dry;¹⁵ give the hair a pleasant fragrance; and¹⁶ cause no irritation or side effects to the skin or hairs. Natural products are currently more popular than synthetic ones. This is one factor contributing to the popularity of herbal goods among buyers.

Shampoo: An alternative definition of shampoo would be a product that has surface active ingredients that eliminate oil, grime, and debris from the hair, scalp, and other body areas without compromising the hair's inherent sheen. Shampoo is defined as a cosmetic product packaged for easy use that is intended for hair and scalp cleansing. Shampoo is a liquid or cream-based solution made from soap or detergent that is used to wash the scalp and hair. Shampoo can create medications, lubricants, and conditioning products, among other things.^6,17,18

Ideal Characteristics of Shampoo:^19-21

· The dirt and excessive accumulation between hair and sebum should be thoroughly and successfully removed.

· A significant amount of foam should be added.

· Should enhance the shine and softness while maintaining good manageability.

· Rinsing with water should make removal simple.

· Should give the hair a pleasing scent.

· The hand shouldn't get rough and chapped.

Importance of Shampoo:²²

· It does all of the following without harming or damaging hair.

· It removes oil, grime, and dandruff.

· It strengthens and encourages hair development.

· It darkens hair and also serves as a conditioning agent.

Types of Shampoo:²²

· Powder shampoo

· Liquid shampoo

· Lotion Shampoo

· Cream Shampoo

MATERIAL AND METHOD:

Herbs Used in Herbal Shampoo:

1. Shikakai - Family – (Mimosaceae)

· Biological source – Dried pods of Acacia concinna.

· Uses - Foam base and anti-dandruff.

2. Amla: Family – (Euphorbiacea)

· Biological source – Dried ripe fruits of Emblica officinalis.

· Uses - Darkening of hairs and hair growth promoter.

3. Fenugreek: Family – (Leguminosae)

· Biological source – Dried leaves of Trigonella foenum-graecum.

· Uses – Conditioning and nourishment of hair.

4. Hibiscus: Family – (Malvaceae)

· Biological source – Dried leaves of Hibiscus rosea.

· Uses – Prevents hair loss and growth promoter.

5. Neem: Family – (Miliaceae)

· Biological source – Dried leaves Azadirachta indica.

· Uses – Prevents the dryness of hairs and flaking of hairs.

6. Brahmi: Family – (Apiaceae)

· Biological source – Dried roots of Centella asiatica.

· Uses – Support to growth of hairs.

7. Ginger: Family – (Zingiberaceae)

· Biological source – The rhizome of the plant Zingiber officinale.

· Uses – Prevent dandruff, itchy scalp, and promote hair growth.

8. Onion: Family – (Amaryllideace)

· Biological source – The bulb of the plant Allium cepa

· Uses – Promote hair growth and reduce hair fall

METHOD OF PREPARATION:

Drying: Each and every plant item was dried and ground.

Weighing: Weighed separately were all of the necessary herbal powders for making shampoo.

Size reduction: A hand-driven mixer was used to minimize the size of each of the raw materials once they were gathered.

Mixing: Using a mixer, all of these fine materials were combined to create a uniformly fine powder.

Sieving: The appropriate amount of fine powder was then obtained by passing this fine powder through sieve number 80.^23,24

Table 1: Formula for polyherbal dry powder shampoo

Sr. No.	Ingredients	Quantity for F1	Quantity for F2	Quantity for F3
1.	Shikakai	10gm	10gm	10gm
2.	Amla	10gm	8gm	8gm
3.	Fenugreek	8gm	8gm	10gm
4.	Hibiscus	8gm	10gm	8gm
5.	Neem	7gm	7gm	7gm
6.	Brahmi	6gm	6gm	6gm
7.	Ginger	6gm	6gm	6gm
8.	Onion	5gm	5gm	5gm

Evaluations of Polyherbal Powder Shampoo:

Organoleptic Evaluation: Color, odor, taste, and texture were among the organoleptic criteria that were assessed for the herbal powder shampoo. Color and texture were assessed using visual aids approach and tactile perception, respectively. Five taste and odor sensitive individuals were chosen to form the team for the evaluation of taste and odor.²⁵

General Powder Characteristics: General powder features involve assessing the variables that will impact the preparation's exterior qualities (flow characteristics, appearance, packaging requirements, etc.). This section evaluates the following characteristics: bulk density, tapped density, angle of repose, and particle size. The two shampoo powders were taken for the evaluation at two separate levels, i.e., the top and bottom level.^25,26

Angle of Repose: The greatest angle that can exist between the powder pile's surface and the horizontal flow is its definition. We used the falling funnel method to find the angle of repose. The necessary amount of dried powder was placed in a funnel six centimeters above a horizontal base. On the horizontal plane, the paper was covered with a mass of powder that had been allowed to flow. It was noted and recorded how high (h) and how round (r) the powder was.

Using the formula, one can determine the angle of repose (θ). Tan-1(h/r) (1) = θ

Physicochemical Evaluation:

PH: At room temperature (25°C), the pH of a 10% shampoo solution in distilled water was measured. A digital pH meter (Mettler Toledo, India) was used to measure the pH.²⁷

Washability: After applying formulations to the skin, the degree and ease of water washing were physically assessed.²⁷

Skin/ Eye irritation test: The results of the tests for skin irritation and eye irritation showed that the herbal shampoo powder had no negative effects on either. The lack of artificial are surfactant cause of this. The majority of synthetic surfactants cause corneal irritation and eyelid inflammation. However, all of the constituents in this herbal shampoo powder composition have natural purposes. Therefore, it has no negative effects on the skin or eyes.²⁸

Dirt Dispersion: In a big test tube, two droplets of 1% shampoo powder each were introduced. The test tube was filled with roughly 10 milliliters of pure water. After adding around one drop of India ink, the test tube was sealed and shaken ten times. None, Light, Moderate, or Heavy were the estimated amounts of ink in the foam.²⁸

Moisture Content Determination: Ten grams of each herbal shampoo powder were measured out in a tare evaporating dish and stored at 105 degrees Celsius in a Remi RDHO-50 hot air oven in Mumbai. The drying procedure was continued until, after a 30-minute break, a consistent weight reduction was noted Each sample’s moisture content (MC) was determined using the following formula. MC (%) = [(Wf-Wi)/Wi]×100 …..(7), where Wi and Wf represent the power's initial and final weights prior to and following weighing.²⁹

Foaming Ability Index: After precisely weighing 1g of the powder, it was added to a 250ml conical flask with 100 ml of boiling water. After 30 minutes of gentle warming, it is chilled and filtered. In a typical volumetric flask, the capacity was adjusted to 100ml. Ten test tubes containing consecutive portions of 1, 2, 3,. and 10ml of this extract were used, with the remaining volume being filled up with water up to 10ml. After that, the test tubes were shaken for 15 seconds at a speed of two frequencies per second in a longwise motion. After that, the tubes were let to stand for fifteen minutes. The foaming index (FI) was used to measure the height of the foam (a) FI = 1000/a (8).

Cleansing Action: About 16.5g of wool yarn were immersed in grease, after that it was poured in 200ml of water containing 1g of each poly herbal shampoo powder in a flask. The water's temperature was kept at 35°C. For four minutes, the flask was shaken fifty times each minute. After removing the solution, the sample was extracted, dried, and weighed. The following formula was used to determine how much grease had been removed.

(9) DP = 100(1-T/C) where C and T are the grease weights in grams for the control and test samples, and DP is the percentage of detergency power.²⁹

Wetting Time: The canvas was divided into discs with a diameter of one inch and an average weight of 0.44 grams. The stopwatch began when the disk floated on the top of a 1% w/v shampoo solution. The amount of time needed for the disc to start sinking was precisely monitored and recorded as the "wetting time."³⁰

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

Formulation of herbal shampoo powder/ Mixing the ingredients: All the size reduced plant materials were sieved using sieve number 100 so that the fine powder was produced. Then all the required ingredients were formulated.

· Formulation 1 Fenugreek Herbal Shampoo Powder.

· Formulation 2 Hibiscus Herbal Shampoo Powder.

· Formulation 3 Amla Herbal Shampoo Powder.

Table No. 2: Organoleptic evaluation of F1-F3:

Sr No.	Organoleptic characters	F1	F2	F3
1	Colour	Pale yellow	Peanut in brown	Gingerb read
2	Odour	Pungent	Strong aroma	Aroma
3	Texture	Gritty texture	Fine & smooth	Fine & smooth

Table No. 3: Angle of repose of F1-F3:

Formulation No.	Method	Height of cone (cm)	Radius of cone (cm)	Tanϴ=h/r	ϴ=tan 1(h/r)	Flow property
F1	Funnel	4	3	1.33	53	Poor
F2	Funnel	2.5	3.5	0.714	35	Good
F3	Funnel	2	3.4	0.571	29	Excellent

Table No. 4: Physicochemical evaluation of F1-F3:

Formulation No.	pH	Washability	Eye/skin irritation test	Dirt dispersion
F1	4.9	Easy	No irritation	Slightly moderate
F2	5	Easy	No irritation	Moderate
F3	5.1	Easy	No irritation	Moderate

Table No. 5: Moisture content of F1-F3:

Formulation No.	Initial Weight	After 30 min	After 60 min	After 90 min	After 120 min
F1	10gm	8.92	7.56	7.49	7.49
F2	10gm	8.92	7.55	7.46	7.45
F3	10gm	8.91	7.50	7.44	7.44

Table No. 6: Foaming capacity of F1-F3:

Formulation No.	Wetting time	Foaming capacity
F1	3 sec	Moderate foaming
F2	4 sec	Good foaming
F3	2 sec	Good foaming

CONCLUSION:

Medicinal plants used in the formulation of herbal shampoo were found as rich source of novel drugs. These plants are Onion Powder, Hibiscus powder, Shikakai powder, Ginger powder, amla powder, neem powder, fenugreek powder, brahmai powder has been reported for hair growth and conditioning. The various quality control parameters were checked. All parameter gives favorable result. The result to obtained on present study shows that the active ingredients of these drugs when incorporated in shampoo gives more stable products with good aesthetic appeal. The pH of the shampoo has been shown to be important for improving and enhancing the qualities of hair, minimizing the irritations the eyes and stabilizing the ecological balance of the scalp. The current trend to promote shampoos of lower pH is one of the minimizing damages to the hair. Such results are estimated out of a formulation to establish strong results for the usage and good results of the product. Thought he product is in dry form inspite has wonderful wetting capacity and being dry is very good for the storage. The evaluation parameters like Organoleptic evaluation, General powder Characters, Physicochemical Evaluation, Cleaning action, foaming, wetting agent, Nature of hair after wash was carried out and was found to be within the standard range.

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Received on 22.06.2025 Revised on 02.08.2025

Accepted on 08.09.2025 Published on 15.10.2025

Available online from October 30, 2025

Research J. Science and Tech. 2025; 17(4):265-271.

DOI: 10.52711/2349-2988.2025.00037

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Creative Commons License.