Plants used for hair and skin health care by local communities of Afar, Northeastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Local communities worldwide utilize plants for various purposes, including medicinal and cosmetics application. The Afar people of Northeastern Ethiopia, in particular, use plant extracts for hair and skin care. This study documents the traditional use of plants in hair and skin care practices among the Afar people. Methods: Three districts, Chifra, Asayita, and Konaba, were selected based on their vegetation cover, traditional plant knowledge, and use of plant resources for hair and skin care. Ninety informants (60 general and 30 key informants) were selected equally across the districts using purposive and snowball sampling methods. Ethnobotanical data were gathered through free listing, semi-structured interviews, guided field walks, and simulation methods. Results: The study identified 17 plant species used for hair and skin care. The high Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) of 0.95 reflects strong agreement among informants. Five species were selected based on their Relative Frequency of Citations (RFC) and further evaluated through preference ranking analyses. Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Willd. appeared as the most preferred species, followed by Sesamum orientale L. leaves were the most frequently utilized plant part while water was the primary medium for preparations. Applications were primarily topical, serving as hair treatments or leave-in conditioner, and as cleansing agent for skin care. Conclusions: Overall, this study underscores the sociocultural significance of traditional plant knowledge, highlighting the vital role of Indigenous and Local Knowledge (ILK) in shaping healthcare and self-care practices.