Bentonite clay is really popular in the natural hair community. When I first went natural and read about women buying "ancient healing clay" to clarify their hair, I was like "This is too much! I'll just buy some clarifying shampoo instead and call it a day." Then....I changed my mind actually after reading about the efficacy of this mask on skin. I hopped over to the Vitamin Shoppe and purchased some Bentonite clay. I've been hooked ever since! I do this treatment on my hair every 4-6 weeks, depending on how dirty my hair is. And I do this treatment on my skin twice a month.
Some Benefits of Bentonite Clay:
- increased curl definition for hair
- increased shine for hair
- anti-fungal, anti-microbial and anti-bacterial
- clearer skin
How to make the Bentoinite Clay Mask:
Water/Water Bottle/Hair clips/Towel/Plastic cap
Bowl + non-metal spoon
Apple Cider Vinegar
Bentonite Clay
(Optional additional ingredients include: aloe vera juice for added softness and conditioner for added moisture)
1. Pour 1 cup of Benonite Clay into a bowl
2. Add 1/2 cup of warm water to mixture
3. Add 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar
4. Mix, Mix, Mix until the mixture forms a pasty consistency
Hair Application:
1. Separate hair into 4 sections with clips
2. Spritz each section of hair with water
(Optional step: gently finger detangle with conditioner)
3. Apply Bentonite Clay paste from root to tip
*Avoid getting the paste on your scalp since it is difficult to get out. Also avoid detangling with the clay since it is drying.
4. Put on a plastic cap and leave mixture on for 15-25 minutes
5. Rinse out and proceed to washing- I follow a bentonite hair mask with a deep conditioning mask to restore the moisture, then I proceed to shampooing and conditioning.
Bentonite clay makes my hair soft, curly, and shiny. Consistent with the experience of other naturals, my hair usually shrinks up ALLOT. My almost shoulder-length curls shrink up to about chin length, but it's all good! Bentonite clay gives your hair a clean slate and a fresh start!
Facial Application:
1. Dampen face with warm water
2. Apply mixture evenly to face
3. Leave on for 5-10 minutes
4. Run hot water on a towel
5. Wipe mixture off
6. Rinse face with cool water to close your pores
6. Rinse face with cool water to close your pores
Bentonite clay makes my skin nice and smoothe. It could be a little irritating and drying for me because I have really sensitive skin, but overall the pros definitely outweigh the cons! Once I rinse the mixture off, my skin looks a little pale (see picture below) but after I add some shea butter to my skin, I'm good to go!
Before:
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| See how I don't really apply it close to my scalp? |
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| I like to create a smoother liquidy paste for when I apply Bentonite clay to my face because it makes it easier to wash off! |
After:
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| Curl definition! |
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| Curl Definition/shine/shrinkage! |
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Medical Disclaimer: Naika, the writer of this blog, is Naturopathic Doctor and Acupuncturist. Please do not take this as medical advice, without consulting your health care practitioner. Also remember, knowledge is power and your health is your wealth!
