Dry shampoo, silicone conditioners, styling products and hard water all leave something behind. Over weeks it builds into a film on the scalp that traps oil, feeds flakes and leaves hair flat no matter how often you wash it. Long before clarifying shampoos existed, people across Arabia and Africa had an answer that grew on a tree.
What sidr is
Sidr is the lote tree, Ziziphus spina-christi, mentioned in the Qur'an and used in the Sunnah for washing. Its dried leaves are milled into a fine green powder. Mixed with water, it turns into a soft paste that cleanses without stripping. It is a remedy that has been passed down from mother to daughter for centuries.
Why it lifts build-up
Sidr leaves are rich in saponins, natural plant compounds that foam and lift oil and dirt, as well as flavonoids and tannins (Phytochemistry and pharmacologic properties of Ziziphus spina-christi). Unlike the harsh detergents in many shampoos, saponins cleanse gently, which is why sidr can draw out build-up while leaving the scalp's natural oils in place.
What the dandruff research found
In 2021, researchers in Yemen made a shampoo from sidr leaf extract and tested it on 80 volunteers with dandruff for four weeks. 86% of them saw their dandruff substantially improve (Alzomor et al., Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2021).
Dandruff is closely linked to Malassezia, a yeast that lives on the scalp. Laboratory research has found that sidr leaf extract is active against Malassezia species (Journal of Nanostructures, 2026), which may help explain those results.
How to do a sidr scalp cleanse
- Mix 1 to 2 tablespoons of organic sidr powder with warm water or rose water into a loose paste.
- For dandruff, add a few drops of tea tree oil to the paste. It will do wonders for flakes and itch.
- Massage it into your scalp only, working it in section by section.
- Leave it for 20 to 30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Use once or twice a week.
See our organic sidr powder · See our pure Australian tea tree oil
Want to go further? Read how to pair sidr with amla for thicker, stronger hair.
This article is for education only and is not medical advice. Patch test first if you have sensitive skin.
Keep reading: Tea Tree Oil for the Hair and Scalp