Exploration of Cosmetic Haircare Practices among Indigenous Women of Nandurbar District

Haircare is a fundamental aspect of personal grooming and hygiene, deeply rooted in cultural and traditional practices. This study explores indigenous haircare knowledge among tribal women in Nandurbar District, Maharashtra, India. Through ethnobotanical field surveys and structured interviews with 58 informants (48 women and 10 men), 25 plant species belonging to 19 families were recorded. The most frequently used plant parts were fruits (48%) and leaves (40%), while infusion (60%) and paste (60%) were the predominant preparation methods. Recent research underscores the biochemical significance of traditional haircare botanicals in maintaining scalp microbiota and stimulating hair growth (Singh & Kaur, 2021; Sharma et al., 2023). The findings highlight the ecological and cultural value of indigenous cosmetic knowledge for sustainable personal care innovation (Ahmad & Alqahtani, 2022; Rahman & Alqahtani, 2023).

Ethnobotany, Haircare, Indigenous knowledge, Tribal women, Nandurbar, Maharashtra

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