This DIY clay mask for hair is made with Bentonite and will deeply cleanse and detox the hair.
There is a long historical tradition of using clay to help improve skin and hair quality for people living all over the world.
From Iran to the Himba women of Namibia, clay protects people’s hair, especially in harsh climates.
Bentonite clay is actually an absorbent fine volcanic powder found worldwide (even though its name comes from Benton, Wyoming, where there’s quite a bit of it), and has many health and industrial uses as well.
It’s also sometimes marketed as Aztec Healing Clay.
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DIY Bentonite Hair Clay Mask Recipe
A bentonite clay hair mask can take the place of your regular shampoo routine, or you can try it with just clean hair if you feel like you still have buildup issues after a shampoo.
The clay is naturally oil and grease absorbent and can help with dandruff by soaking up excess sebum.
This bentonite clay mask also helps remove dead skin cells, which clog hair follicles and can stifle hair growth, and it clears away product buildup on your scalp. It’s a great treatment to make your natural hair look and feel its best.
Utensils
- A non-metal mixing bowl and mixing utensils. Glass or plastic is fine, but metal will react with the clay and vinegar mixture you’re about to make and oxidize any metal.
- An old t-shirt that you don’t mind being covered in clay
- Spray bottle with water in it, and/or already damp hair
- Hair clips to section your hair
- A conditioning cap (if you wish)
- Gloves (only if you don’t want to get your hands messy, but it’s good for your skin too, so you may just want to go for it bare-handed!)
- Deep Conditioning Treatment of your choice
Ingredients
Please note: Depending on the length and thickness of your hair, you may need to adjust the amounts listed, and feel free to experiment a bit with the powder and liquid amounts until you get the consistency that you like.
- 4 tbsp Bentonite Clay Powder
- 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar – ACV is naturally antimicrobial, preventing bacterial growth, and helps your hair shine as well!
- 1 or 2 tbsp water
- 2 tbsp oil (your choice- you can use coconut, grapeseed, olive, castor, jojoba, sweet almond, or a mix of these if you like multiple ones. (If you have dandruff issues, you can try using a few drops of tea tree oil).
*If your hair is long, increase the amounts used proportionally.
Directions
Pour the clay powder into your bowl, and make a little well in the middle.
Add the apple cider vinegar into the well and mix the two together.
Add the oil and mix thoroughly.
Lastly, add the water and mix again thoroughly.
If the consistency is too thin for your liking, add a little more clay powder; if it’s too thick, add a little more water, ACV, or a drizzle of your favorite oil.
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How To Use It
- Section your hair with the clips, then spray each section with water to dampen it before applying your mask.
- Apply the mask mixture thoroughly from roots to tips in sections, making sure it gets into your scalp and covers every hair.
- Repeat on each section until the mask covers all of your hair.
- If you wish, you can cover your hair with a conditioning cap, or just let it hang out uncovered.
- Let the mask mixture sit on your hair for 20 minutes.
- Rinse really thoroughly. Depending on the length of your hair and how thick you like the mask, it may take a few rinses, but remember that you’re trying to get all the built-up dead skin cells and sebum off of your scalp as well as the clay, so make sure your hair is rinsed really well. You can also add a little oil or co-wash conditioner if you like.
- Condition the hair with your favorite deep conditioning treatment.
- After conditioning and letting your hair dry, it will be soft, springy, and happy!
Other DIY hair articles you might like
- how to fix split ends with natural solutions
- homemade flaxseed gel serum for hair and skin
- tips to make your hair smell great
DIY Clay Mask For Hair: A Few Notes
Just a couple notes of caution for sensitive folks: while bentonite clay is an all-natural product, it can contain trace amounts of lead which can be absorbed into the skin (about the same amount that naturally occurs in carrots or sweet potatoes), which shouldn’t be a problem unless you already have lead toxicity issues.
If you have concerns about a particular bentonite clay product, you can look it up on the FDA website to check it out.
Also, as is the case with any new product you’re using on your skin or hair, if you have sensitive skin issues, you may also want to do a patch test of your final mixture before applying it just to make sure your skin will be non-reactive.
