It might be time to learn how to detox your hair if you’ve recently started using shampoo bars.
How to detox your hair
If your hair just seems dull and limp, it might be detox time. A DIY hair mask is a wonderful way to remove buildup and get your hair soft and shiny again.
And, if you’ve been using commercial hair care products, and want to switch to using shampoo bars, you’ll experience something called a hair detox crisis. As you begin using shampoo bars, theses silicones and polymers gradually start to come off of the hair shafts.
During this time, hair can definitely appear limp and even oily. It’s not a fun thing.
Thankfully, there is a way to speed up the hair detox process and get rid of the buildup all at once. That way, you can immediately get your hair back to square one, and have it soft, clean, and beautiful.
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What is a hair detox?
A hair detox is something that you can make in your kitchen and apply to your hair for healthy, fresh locks. This is my favorite recipe to make and is safe enough for the entire family.
Keep reading to learn more about why you should detox your hair…
Why should you detoxify your hair?
We already know why it’s so important to gently detox our bodies on a regular basis.
But does hair accumulate toxins? It sure can! How does this happen? Well, that depends on your hair care routine.
Commercial hair care products often contain things like silicones and polymers. These ingredients are added to give hair slip and shine. That sounds nice, right? In reality, the situation is not so pretty.
Silicones and polymers coat the hair, which prevents the hair shaft from truly being able to absorb any real moisture. Over time, hair becomes dry and brittle.
It is also worth mentioning that silicones and polymers are types of plastic. Plastic can contain a lot of nasty chemicals, and is definitely something I try to avoid as much as possible in my home. I definitely don’t want plastics in my hair care products!
Ready to cleanse your hair of all those nasty chemicals? Keep reading to learn my favorite bentonite clay hair detox…
Hair Mask DIY
If you’ve been wondering how to detox your hair, you’ll be glad to know that it’s really easy to whip up a homemade hair mask. You just need a few ingredients that you probably already have on hand. Let’s go over the ingredients and see how they benefit hair.
What is bentonite clay?
Bentonite clay is one of the most powerful detox agents when it comes to different clay varieties. In this hair mask, bentonite clay works to thoroughly cleanse the buildup from the hair shaft.
Its powerful drawing action detoxes hair very effectively. Once you try it you will never go back – trust me!
Bentonite clay is, without the star of this hair mask recipe. It wouldn’t be complete, however, without the other two ingredients: apple cider vinegar and aloe vera gel.
These two ingredients are powerhouses for making your hair as healthy as ever. Keep reading to learn how they work…
Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe vera gel is soothing and moisturizing, and helps to condition hair. It also aids in being the liquid portion of the mask.
Apple Cider Vinegar
This helps to balance the ph of the hair, making it smooth, soft, and shiny. It also has wonderful scalp properties, and acts as the rest of the liquid portion to make the mask easily workable. I recommend using raw, live apple cider vinegar for best results.
How to Detox Your Hair with a Hair Mask DIY Directions
Ready to cleanse your hair of all those nasty chemicals? Keep reading to learn my favorite bentonite clay hair detox…
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup bentonite clay
- 1/2 cup aloe vera gel
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
Instructions:
- Add all ingredients to a mixing container and stir to combine thoroughly. Note: Use a plastic or wooden utensil instead of a metal one whenever working with bentonite clay.
- Work the mask into your hair, covering all your hair. Work it into your scalp and coat your hair to the ends.
- Put on a shower cap, and let mask sit for 15 – 20 minutes. Don’t let the mask dry on your hair!
- Wash the mask out of your hair with warm water.
- Once mask is completely washed out, rinse hair with 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar in 2 cups of water.
- Rinse again with water.
- Wash hair with a natural method, such as an organic shampoo bar followed by a diluted vinegar rinse.
- Rinse well, and enjoy your soft, clean hair.
How often should you detox your hair?
How often you use the bentonite clay hair mask is up to you. If you use clean, natural hair products without silicones, you may not need to do it anymore after your hair has initially transitioned to your new routine.
Another time you may want to use it is whenever you’ve used a less natural hair product, such as a special occasion or after a visit to a hair salon.
If you tend to have scalp issues and dull hair, you may want to do this hair mask on a more regular basis, such as once a month.
Benefits for detoxifying your hair
Earlier in the article, it was mentioned the amount of chemical buildup that most of our hairs have. Whether we realize it or not, the amount of silicones in the average hair product can cause a lot of harm to our flowing locks.
A bentonite clay mask like the one mentioned in this article will help keep your hair healthy and full of shine.
How to Detox Your Hair with a Hair Mask DIY Video
More natural hair care recipes
Have you ever detoxed your hair?
Have you made any homemade hair treatments? Tell me about it in the comments!
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Hair Detox Mask
It might be time to learn how to detox your hair if you've recently started using shampoo bars.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup bentonite clay
- 1/2 cup aloe vera gel
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, raw is best
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a mixing container and stir to combine thoroughly. Note: Use a plastic or wooden utensil instead of a metal one whenever working with bentonite clay.
- Work the mask into your hair, covering all your hair. Work it into your scalp and coat your hair to the ends.
- Put on a shower cap, and let mask sit for 15 - 20 minutes. Don't let the mask dry on your hair!
- Wash the mask out of your hair with warm water.
- Once mask is completely washed out, rinse hair with 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar in 2 cups of water.
- Rinse again with water.
- Wash hair with a natural method, such as an organic shampoo bar.
- Rinse well, and enjoy your soft, clean hair.
A few others have also asked, should this be applied to wet or dry hair? Thanks!
The clay link goes to a diamacious earth powder. Also is this to be used on wet or dry hair?
Do I apply the mask on wet or dry hair?
I love this but if I want to make a larger batch how much preservative would u recommend added?
The link to the bentonite clay is no longer valid on Amazon. Is all bentonite clay created equal, or is there anything I need to steer clear of?
I will go fix that!
If I want to add a preservative, how much do I use? Thanks!
Do you apply this mask to wet or dry hair? Thank you!
Thank you for sharing this! I have dark brown color treated hair and this worked beautifully well. Followed the exact steps and my hair feels so much better. Thanks again!
Any substitutes for aloe Vera gel? I have the other 2 ingredients and plenty of different oils and fats.
Is the clay safe to wash down the shower drain or should it be done outside so it won’t clog the drains? Thanks so much!!
Can this be used on colored hair?
I’m not sure!
Is the detox supposed to be on the thin side? I made a ½ recipe.
I haven’t tried halving the recipe, but it should be somewhat thick, like a face mask consistency. You can always add a little more clay if yours is too wet. Hope that helps!
I was wondering what is the expiration on the detox mask? how long does it last? Thank you Tori
I usually use the whole recipe at once, and don’t keep it leftover. I’m not sure about the shelf life, but I’m guessing you could keep it in the fridge for a few weeks 🙂
I’m going to try this & shampoo bars. I have fine hair & have to wash daily due to oil. How often should I use mask when transitioning & then going forward. We have soft water at our home.
Great question! I would try the mask once, and wash normally after that, and see how your hair is. Most people only need to do the mask once, and that is enough to reset their hair. You can do it a second time if you feel like it would help and it won’t hurt. Hope that helps!
Do you have to worry about mold; especially when using tallow? What is the shelf life of tallow products?
Great question. Tallow is a very shelf stable fat, and on its own it doesn’t readily mold. In my experience tallow skincare products without water last around 6 months to a year. In recipes that contain water I recommend a preservative. Hope that helps!