{"id":6576,"date":"2023-08-16T05:38:03","date_gmt":"2023-08-15T22:38:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=6576"},"modified":"2023-08-16T05:38:03","modified_gmt":"2023-08-15T22:38:03","slug":"shaz-kiks-connects-me-to-my-south-asian-culture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=6576","title":{"rendered":"Shaz &#038; Kiks Connects Me To My South Asian Culture"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-franchise outlines-corners relative p-[20px] mt-[30px] sm:flex sm:items-start sm:flex-row\" style=\"min-height:105.83762886598px\">\n<div class=\"article-franchise__text text-default mt-[10px] text-center inline sm:inline-block sm:mt-0 sm:text-left\"> <span class=\"italic text-gray\">With the Well+Good SHOP, our editors put their years of know-how to work in order to pick products (from skin care to self care and beyond) they\u2019re betting you\u2019ll love. While our editors independently select these products, making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission. Happy shopping!<\/span><span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/shop\/\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/shop\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Explore the SHOP<\/a><\/span> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>As a queer Pakistani woman living in America, it\u2019s hard to feel fully connected to my culture. I experience it in small ways, like when I wear Desi outfits to weddings or jhumkas in my ears, but I\u2019m also incredibly independent, outspoken about money and financial freedom, and committed to building something for myself\u2014my ancestors would be surprised, but also proud. One of the main ways I\u2019ve connected to my culture is through my grandmother, who embodies unconditional love in the way that she cares for me, often cooking me my favorite Pakistani dishes like kitchari or chapli kebabs. To this day, whenever she says that she loves me, she reminds me to pass on the message to my fianc\u00e9e too.<\/p>\n<p>As a child, I remember sitting at the foot of her chair as she massaged oil into my hair\u2014an Ayurvedic practice known as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/hair-oiling\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/hair-oiling\/\">hair oiling<\/a>\u2014to help it grow longer and stronger. Although a part of me knew that the process connected me to my culture, I initially resented it because it made my hair greasy and \u201cothered\u201d me in the predominantly white schools I attended. In my initial pursuit of fitting into Eurocentric beauty standards, my South Asian traditions didn\u2019t seem to have a place.<\/p>\n<p>It was only as an adult that I found a new appreciation for my grandmother\u2019s methods and the cultural ties that came along with them. After experiencing rapid thinning as a result of stress, color damage, and too-tight ponytails, I realized it was time to give my hair some much-needed rehabilitation. I stopped highlighting my strands and started to embrace their natural darkness, and once the old dye grew out, I was left with a strong foundation that I could start tending to with masks. This was around the same time that I started planning my wedding, and found myself with a deep desire to bring South Asian customs back into my life.<\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content \" style=\"\" data-module-init=\"related-content\" data-module-immediate=\"\" v-cloak=\"\">\n<div class=\"related-content__wrapper \" v-cloak=\"\" :class=\"{'is-loaded':isLoaded}\">\n<p> <span class=\"inline pr-6 text-seafoam-dark\">Related Stories<\/span> <\/p>\n<p> <related-content class=\"related-content__links\" parent-article-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/shaz-kiks-scalp-hair-prewash\/\" current-title=\"How Reclaiming Hair Oiling Makes Me Feel More Connected to My South Asian Culture\" current-image=\"Aleenah-and-Liezel-425x285.jpg\" v-on:parsely-posts-loaded=\"onPostsLoaded\" start-date=\"2023-02-15\" tag=\"div\" inline-template=\"\" url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/shaz-kiks-scalp-hair-prewash\/\" secret=\"w5ztterVB03LGZJLfXS0hf3EvQBuFFIWew9hmVQxthU\" apikey=\"wellandgood.com\" limit=\"3\"> <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"related-content__card mb-[10px] sm:mb-[20px]\" :class=\"{'related-content__card--full':posts.length === 1}\" v-for=\"(post, key) in posts\"> <a v-on:click.prevent=\"trackLinkGA($event, key)\" :href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/shaz-kiks-scalp-hair-prewash\/post.url\" data-url-source=\"related-content\" class=\"related-content__link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content__card--image bg-tan\" :style=\"{ backgroundImage: 'url(' + post.image_url + ')' }\"> <img :src=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/shaz-kiks-scalp-hair-prewash\/post.image_url\" :alt=\"post.title\"\/> <\/div>\n<p> <\/a>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/related-content> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Enter: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shazandkiks.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener sponsored\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.shazandkiks.com\/\">Shaz &amp; Kiks<\/a>, a line of Ayurvedic hair-care products with an origin story that mimics my own beauty journey. The brand\u2019s co-founders, sisters Shaz Rajashekar Kiku Chauduri, discovered hair oiling through spending summers with their grandmother in the Himalayas. There, she would concoct a homemade hair mask with plants and herbs that were indigenous to the area, tailored to the weather and season, and made with Ayurvedic principles in mind.<\/p>\n<p>These learnings influenced the development of the <a href=\"https:\/\/clicks.trx-hub.com\/xid\/leafgroup_ca5e0_wellgood?q=https%3A%2F%2Fhowl.me%2FcknFgqO43Ac&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fshaz-kiks-scalp-hair-prewash%2F&amp;event_type=click\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener sponsored\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/howl.me\/cknFgqO43Ac\">Shaz &amp; Kiks Scalp and Hair Prewash<\/a> ($40), which uses traditional hair oiling ingredients but reimagines them in a way that doesn\u2019t leave behind a greasy residue. \u201cMost of the ingredients have roots in Ayurvedic rituals, and we give new life to them in the lab to create the final formula, all without using synthetic dyes or fragrances,\u201d says Chaudhuri. \u201cThe scent will take you back to where the ingredients come from.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"theme-main-2020\">\n<div class=\"wg-inline-shopable\">\n<div class=\"pb-[20px] sm:pb-[35px] sm:flex justify-between\">\n<div class=\"w-full\">\n<figure class=\"block w-full wg-inline-shopable__figure p-0 m-0 mb-[25px]\"> <a data-vars-event=\"product image\" data-vars-info=\"Shaz+%26+Kiks+Scalp+%26+Hair+Prewash+Mask\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" rel=\"sponsored noopener\" data-vars-click-url=\"\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/s2688588-main-zoom_falsexfalse_true_70.webp\" class=\"block w-full no-pin\" alt=\"\"\/> <\/a><figcaption class=\"text-center text-caption--article text-gray-light block mt-[10px]\"\/> <\/figure>\n<p>Shaz &amp; Kiks Scalp &amp; Hair Prewash Mask \u2014 $62.00<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Many Ayurvedic hair masks contain ingredients like <a href=\"https:\/\/clicks.trx-hub.com\/xid\/leafgroup_ca5e0_wellgood?q=https%3A%2F%2Fgo.skimresources.com%3Fid%3D104860X1561639%26xs%3D1%26xcust%3DSTMSBT-1104001%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.newdirectionsaromatics.com%252Fblog%252Fproducts%252Fmore-than-a-powdered-spice-benefits-uses-of-turmeric-oil.html&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fshaz-kiks-scalp-hair-prewash%2F&amp;event_type=click\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" rel=\"sponsored\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.newdirectionsaromatics.com\/blog\/products\/more-than-a-powdered-spice-benefits-uses-of-turmeric-oil.html\">turmeric oil<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/clicks.trx-hub.com\/xid\/leafgroup_ca5e0_wellgood?q=https%3A%2F%2Fgo.skimresources.com%3Fid%3D104860X1561639%26xs%3D1%26xcust%3DSTMSBT-1104001%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.newdirectionsaromatics.com%252Fblog%252Fproducts%252Fmore-than-a-powdered-spice-benefits-uses-of-turmeric-oil.html&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fshaz-kiks-scalp-hair-prewash%2F&amp;event_type=click\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" rel=\"sponsored\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.newdirectionsaromatics.com\/blog\/products\/more-than-a-powdered-spice-benefits-uses-of-turmeric-oil.html#:~:text=Used%20on%20the%20skin%2C%20Turmeric,generally%20support%20skin%20health\">neem oil<\/a>, and amla oil, which are designed to improve blood circulation, balance the scalp\u2019s oil production, and reduce inflammation without stripping the hair or scalp. The Shaz &amp; Kik Scalp and Hair Prewash contains all three, plus kokum butter, which allows strands to better absorb all of those much-needed nutrients.<\/p>\n<p>Just like the hair rituals I used to do with my grandmother, this mask is meant to be applied before showering so that it can absorb into the hair before being washed out. I often put it in my hair during the last meeting of the day or during an at-home workout to allow it to soak for at least 30 minutes. And every time I use it, it feels like I\u2019m bringing an old ritual into my current life. Even if I don\u2019t have time to concoct my own formula, using one from a South Asian business that\u2019s made with ingredients indigenous to South Asia has given me a stronger link to my roots.<\/p>\n<p>In Sanskrit, the word for oil\u2014<em>sneha<\/em>\u2014roughly translates to \u201clove,\u201d which feels like a nod to the level of care that goes into having a loved one massage oil into your scalp. My grandmother did it for me, and in addition to doing it for myself, I now also do it for my fianc\u00e9. It\u2019s a way for me to show my love for her while also ensuring that her hair is healthy and nourished. The ritual helps both of us relax after a long day, and is one small way that I can help her take care of herself.<\/p>\n<p>Reclaiming hair oiling has connected me with my culture more deeply, and in a way that fits into my life today. Plus, my hair is all the better for it.<\/p>\n<div class=\"disclaimers__after_content mb-[18px] mt-[16px] pt-[16px]\">\n<div class=\"outline-earmark relative mt-[8px] pt-[10px] pl-[20px]\">\n<p>\n            Our editors independently select these products. Making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission.          <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1675549\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With the Well+Good SHOP, our editors put their years of know-how to work in order to pick products (from skin care to self care and beyond) they\u2019re betting you\u2019ll love. While our editors independently select these products, making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission. Happy shopping! Explore the SHOP As a &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":6577,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6576","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6576","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6576"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6576\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6577"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6576"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6576"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6576"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}