How to Detox Your Hair

A reader emailed me and asked if I’d ever heard of using clay to wash or detox your hair. I hadn’t, but was intrigued, so I started researching…

Mud in Your Hair?

Turns out, clay can be very beneficial for hair in the same way it can be beneficial in the rest of the body: it removes toxins to leave hair super-clean and with a lot of shiny volume.

I still like my coconut milk shampoo, but from the comments, it definitely doesn’t work for everyone. This recipe is another great option that could be used regularly. It seems especially good for those with fine or naturally oily hair as it leaves the hair very clean, but I also found sites recommending it for those with coarse or frizzy hair for its ability to tame the hair (I can’t speak personally on this one as my hair is very fine).

If no-poo hasn’t worked for you, and homemade shampoo hasn’t worked for you, I’d encourage you to try this option. It can be customized for your hair type and lasts up to a week in the shower.

Sound strange to wash your hair with mud? Give it a try…

How to Detox Your Hair

As I mentioned in my herbal hair colors post, different herbs can have darkening or lightening effects on hair. Nettle is said to be great for hair, so I would use this on any hair color. I used chamomile flowers on my hair since it is blonde, but rosemary would be a better choice for dark hair (and it is also supposed to be a good natural remedy for dandruff).

These are the mixtures I’ve tried:

• For blonde hair: 1/4 cup chamomile flowers + 2 tablespoons nettle leaf in 2 cups boiling water
• For dark hair: 1/4 cup Rosemary leaf + 2 tablespoons nettle leaf in 2 cups of boiling water

After the mixture cools, I strained out the herbs and used 1 cup for the clay recipe and 1 cup for the final rinse with 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar added.

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Hair Detox Recipe

Use clay, herbs, and apple cider vinegar to remove toxins from your hair and leave it shiny and smooth.

Prep Time19 minutes mins

Author: Katie Wells

Materials

For Blond Hair:

• ¼ cup chamomile flowers

For Dark Hair:

• ¼ cup rosemary

Remaining Ingredients:

• 2 cups water (boiling)
• ½ cup apple cider vinegar
• ¾ cup bentonite clay (or redmond clay)
• 10 drops essential oil (optional- I used lavender and rosemary for hair growth)

Instructions

• Combine the herbs of choice with the boiling water and allow them to steep until the water cools slightly.
• Strain herbs out.
• Combine 1 cup of the herbal tea and the apple cider vinegar in a blender, food processor, or non-metal bowl.
• Add the clay 1 tablespoon at a time while blending or whisking.
• Keep adding clay until the mixture is smooth and about the consistency of yogurt.
• Add the essential oils if using and mix in.
• Store in an air-tight container in the shower for up to a week.

To Use:

• Wet hair.
• Starting at the roots, massage a handful of the clay mixture into hair and work down to the tips.
• Repeat until all hair is coated. Leave 5 minutes or up to 20 minutes (do not let dry!) and rinse out with warm water.
• Optional: I use the remaining 1 cup of herbal tea combined with 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar to rinse with.

Notes

Note: Bentonite clay is most effective if it doesn’t come in contact with metal before use. Mix with wood, plastic or glass for best results, though I haven’t found that this makes much of a difference for hair products. I use an old mini-food processor with a plastic dough blade that I found at a thrift shop.

Do you prefer a pre-made option? Morrocco Method offers an excellent hair and scalp detox product that is made from raw, wildcrafted ingredients.

Would you put mud in your hair? Why or why not?