Mythbusters: Is Gugo Good For Hair?
In a world that is constantly bombarded with chemicals and artificial products, natural treatments are becoming all the rage.
The hair industry is no different – always looking for a way to treat hair naturally for the most gorgeous look.
In today's ZALA mythbusters, we ask: is gugo good for hair?
What is gugo?
Gugo or gogois a woody plant native to the wild forests of Asia, specifically Vietnam, southern China, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
While the actual plant (scientific name: entada phaseoloides) is known to be poisonous when raw, almost every part of it can be used as native medicine in villages and towns. The bark, however, is popular for one main thing: its ability to be used as a hair shampoo.
In the Philippines, gugo was touted as the reason for why native women in the past had luscious, beautiful hair. These women took care of their long, thick, black, and shiny crowning glories through regular gugo washes, using either gugo extracts or even the raw bark of gugo plants.
Gugo benefits for hair
Gugo was originally used as a hair shampoo due to its ability to lather very well. This is because the bark is rich in saponin, a natural compound that has deep-cleaning properties.
Aside from that, gugo is beneficial for many other reasons:
- promotes thicker hair growth
- softens hair strands
- prevents hair fall and hair breakages
- treats dandruff or itchy scalp
- improves hair shine
- has anti-inflammatory properties
How to use gugo for hair
Back in the old days, people prepared gugo shampoo by soaking gugo bark in the water until it gets soft, and then rubbing the bark fibers together until it lathers. They then use this lather to clean and soften their hair effectively.
If you have access to raw gugo bark, this is actually still the best way to use this natural hair remedy.
Ingredients:
- gugo bark
- basin of water
Steps:
- Soak the gugo bark in the basin of water for at least an hour, until it softens and the fibers start spreading.
- Rub the fibers together so that they lather.
- You can use the suds as shampoo for your hair, or you can leave it a bit longer so that your strands absorb it better.
- After use, keep the gugo bark for later use by drying it and then putting it into the fridge. Gugo bark can be used for up to 4-5 times, as long as it still lathers.
You can also add other natural ingredients to the mix, in case you want to create a DIY hair mask. This is also very helpful to reduce or revert the damages caused to dry or dehydrated hair.
For more hair tips and tricks, check out our ZALA blog!
