Cassia powder for hair is the ground leaf of cassia obovata, the plant sold as neutral henna, and it is used as a conditioning hair pack that adds shine and body without colouring dark hair. It is not the same as the cassia powder sold in the spice aisle, which is ground cassia cinnamon bark, and mixing the two up is one of the most common mistakes new buyers make.
Two very different cassia powders
| Cassia hair powder | Cassia spice powder | |
|---|---|---|
| Made from | Leaves of cassia obovata | Bark of the cassia cinnamon tree |
| Colour | Pale yellow green | Reddish brown |
| Smell | Grassy, like hay | Warm and sweet, like cinnamon |
| Used for | Hair packs, conditioning | Cooking and baking |
| Sold as | Neutral henna, cassia leaf powder | Cinnamon, cassia cinnamon |
The two share a word and nothing else. If a recipe calls for cassia powder for hair, it means the green leaf powder. If a label says cassia powder and smells of cinnamon, it is a spice and belongs in the kitchen rather than on the scalp.
What cassia powder does for hair
Mixed with warm water and left on the hair, cassia leaf powder coats each strand, and once it is rinsed out the hair feels thicker and looks glossier. On dark hair there is no visible colour, which is why it is sold as neutral henna. On blonde, white or grey hair it can leave a soft golden tint, and that is the effect people are usually after when they search for cassia powder for hair dye. It warms light hair gently, but it is not a dye in the way henna or indigo is.
People also ask about cassia powder for hair growth. The honest answer is that there is no good evidence it makes hair grow. What it does, reliably, is make the hair you have look fuller and shinier for a week or two after each use, and a brand selling it should promise that and nothing more.
How to use cassia powder on hair
- Mix about 100 g for short hair, 200 g for medium and 300 g for long hair with warm water to a thick paste.
- Apply to clean, damp hair from root to tip and cover with a cap.
- Leave it on for 30 minutes to two hours, longer for more gloss and, on light hair, more gold.
- Rinse well with water, and repeat every two to four weeks.
If hair feels dry afterwards, a spoon of oil or yoghurt in the paste usually solves it. On bleached or very light hair, test a strand first, because the golden tint can be stronger than expected.
Side effects and who should take care
Cassia leaf powder is gentle, and problems are uncommon, but a few points are worth knowing. Anyone with a sensitive scalp should do a patch test behind the ear a day before the first use. Very light or bleached hair can turn more yellow than expected. And the powder should never be eaten or confused with the spice, because the two are not interchangeable in either direction.
Buying cassia powder for hair in bulk
We mill cassia obovata leaf powder in Sojat, Rajasthan, and sell it as neutral henna to hair care brands, salons and traders in India and abroad. Powder ships in bags up to 50 kg or in your own private label packs from 10 g, and whole leaves ship in bales of 25 to 100 kg. The minimum order is 25 kg. Our guide to neutral henna for hair covers results on each hair type, and a free sample from the lot you would buy goes out before your first order.
Frequently asked questions
Is cassia powder the same as cinnamon?
Cassia spice powder is a type of cinnamon. Cassia powder for hair is a different product made from the leaves of cassia obovata. They should never be swapped.
Does cassia powder dye hair?
Not dark hair. On blonde, white or grey hair it can leave a soft golden tint. It conditions and adds shine on all hair types.
Does cassia powder help hair growth?
There is no good evidence that it makes hair grow. It makes existing hair look thicker and shinier for a week or two.
Is cassia powder the same as neutral henna?
Yes, when it is cassia obovata leaf powder. Neutral henna, colourless henna and cassia leaf powder are trade names for the same leaf.
What is the minimum order for cassia powder?
25 kg, with private label packs from 10 g. A free sample goes out first.
Specs change with the crop, the season and the grade. Ask our export desk for a current lab report, the minimum order and a price to your port, and we will come back within 24 hours.