What Is Sidr? The Middle Eastern Leaf Behind a Gentle Hair Wash
Long before shampoo, hair across much of the Middle East was washed with leaves. One tree mattered more than most: Sidr. Its dried, ground leaves were stirred with water into a soft green paste and worked through the hair, a custom many families still keep today. This guide explains what Sidr is, how it has been used, and the forms it takes in a modern routine.
The Sidr tree
Sidr is the common Arabic name for Ziziphus spina-christi, a hardy, thorny tree of the jujube family. It grows across the Middle East and North Africa, from the Levant and the Arabian Peninsula to the Nile valley, and it is known for thriving in heat and dry ground where little else does. Its small fruit, called nabq, is eaten fresh or dried. Its leaves are what matter for hair.
How Sidr has been used for hair
The traditional method is simple. The leaves are dried, ground into a fine powder, and mixed with water. The paste gives a gentle, low lather rather than foam. It is smoothed onto damp hair and scalp, left for a while, then rinsed away. Hair feels clean and soft afterwards, and often looks fuller.
Sidr water also has a long place in washing customs across the Islamic world, which is one reason the leaf is so familiar to many families today. For FAYNAN, that history is a source of inspiration for modern botanical beauty.
The forms Sidr takes today
The name "Sidr" can describe quite different materials. Knowing which one you have tells you how to use it.
| Form | What it is | How it is used |
|---|---|---|
| Leaf powder | Dried, finely ground Sidr leaf | Mixed with water into a paste for a gentle hair wash, or a simple face mask |
| Sidr oil | Sidr leaf steeped in a carrier oil | As one botanical within a finished oil blend |
| Heritage blends | Sidr ground together with other botanicals | As a scented paste on wash day |
Always follow the directions on the product you are using. A leaf powder, an oil blend and a heritage blend each have their own method.
Sidr at FAYNAN
- The wash: Pure Sidr Leaf Powder is a single ingredient, ground Sidr leaf with nothing added. For the full method, read How to Use Sidr Powder for Hair.
- Before the wash: Sidr is one of the signature botanicals in our Botanical Hair Ritual Oil, alongside wild pistachio and black seed. It is used on dry hair before shampooing.
- For scent: Mashat Hair Powder is a traditional blend that includes Sidr. Read What Is Mashat?
Choosing a Sidr powder
- Look for a single ingredient. A pure leaf powder should list Sidr leaf and nothing else.
- Expect green. Fresh Sidr powder is a soft olive green and finely milled.
- Keep it dry. Store the pouch sealed and away from moisture between uses.
A few things to keep in mind
- Test on a small area of skin before first use.
- Keep the paste away from the eyes; rinse with water if contact occurs.
- Rinse thoroughly, especially in thick or curly hair.
- Stop using any product if irritation occurs.
An old leaf, a quiet ritual
Sidr has lasted because it asks for so little: a bowl, some water and a few unhurried minutes. Learn more about the tree in our Sidr entry, or see how it fits into the whole of wash day in our guide to Middle Eastern hair rituals.