Bentonite Clay for Hair *Update*

 So, I finally did the bentonite clay hair mask/ shampoo trial. And...I loved it! I chose to do the second recipe from my previous article about bentonite clay. Well, sort of.  I thought maybe the apple cider vinegar might be too drying for my sensitive scalp. Also, I wanted to try coconut milk instead of yogurt.

That being said, I found the mixture pretty easy to apply and rinse out. Although, I have to admit that I spent a long time in the shower rinsing my hair. This wasn't because it was difficult to rinse out. Rather, it was because my hair felt so soft that I could not believe that it was "just my hair" that I was feeling! Also, I purposely did not detangle my hair before applying the mixture to my wet hair. I wanted to see if it really did loosen tangles as well as I'd read. Unbelievably, it did!

I applied a conditioner after completely rinsing the clay out and applied an oil to seal in moisture. That's it! I did my regular two strand twists with ease and ended up with soft, shiny, well defined curls. Awesome product!

I believe I will be making this a part of my regular routine for hair washing! I have found a winner!

I applied the clay in sections, combed through and twisted

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The next day, fully dried. No products added, beyond what I did after washing. Loved the definition

Bentonite Clay for Hair

 

About  three weeks ago, I had a blast when two of my closest friends came over to visit. One was visiting from Honduras, (Hey Anika!) and the other from around the corner in Raleigh. (Hey Genelle!) All three of us, along with our husbands, laughing, talking and eating...a lot. Among many things, one of the subjects that we bonded over was hair. Genelle, who is my hair inspiration from that wedding that I mentioned in my hair story, has been natural for more than 10 years.  Anika, who lives in La Ceiba, Honduras, went natural about 2 years ago. 

One of the things that came up was bentonite clay. I have heard of it for years, but never thought of trying it. Anika was raving about it. But, mud in my hair?!? Well, it turns out that bentonite clay is great as a shampoo and conditioning mask. Plus, it has many other health benefits. And, it's cheap! I checked Vitacost.com and iherb.com. Both sold a very moderate amount for under ten dollars.

What is bentonite clay?

Bentonite clay is a literal clay that can be found all over the world,  but the largest deposits lie in North America and the Italian mountains. The clay has a negative ionic charge which makes it attractive like a magnet to things that have a positive charge, like heavy metals, toxins, harmful bacterias and pathogens. This amazing substance has been used for years. It contains important minerals including magnesium, calcium, potassium, etc, which are important for hair growth and skin rejuvenation. Because of it's porous nature, when added to liquids such as apple cider vinegar or aloe vera juice, and then applied to the skin or hair it draws out the impurities and any build up. It works just like a sponge.

How do you use Bentonite clay for a hair mask?

  

Here are a couple of recipes via revitaliseyourhealth.com. These can be adjusted according to your hair length.

Also, here is a link Naptural85's video tutorial for using a Bentonite clay hair wash. She uses Terressentials Hair Wash. I bought my clay before I watched her video. But, I'm sure the application is the same.

Conditioning Treatment #1 

• 6 tablespoons Bentonite clay
• 1 cup + 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 

Mix Bentonite and 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar together until you reach a smooth creamy consistency, similar to yogurt. Add more vinegar if needed to achieve required consistency. Apply to scalp and hair ensuring to coat thoroughly. Leave treatment in for around 30 minutes. Do not allow the clay to set.

Rinse out thoroughly using cold water. Rinse hair again using 1 cup of apple cider vinegar. Apply leave-in conditioner and style. 

*You can replace apple cider vinegar with alternative liquid ingredients such as coconut milk or any herbal concoction of your choice 

Conditioning Treatment #2 • 1 part Bentonite clay

• 2 parts water
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons yogurt 

Firstly, mix together Bentonite and water until you achieve a creamy consistency. Apply thoroughly to either wet or dry hair, whatever your preference. Cover with plastic wrap or a shower cap and leave in for around 20 minutes. Shower as normal, with the cap left on. Remove cap towards the end and rinse thoroughly. Apply conditioner as per normal, 2 applications are recommended. Once completed, detangle hair with a wide tooth comb and apply a leave-in conditioner.

So, I just ordered my jar this morning from Vitacost.com. I'm so excited to try it. I'll update the pictures and results! Have you ever used bentonite clay? Please let me know your experiences. Leave them in the comment box.

The Today Show...Naturally

 

 

 

I was watching The Today Show yesterday when I saw something very interesting. A segment came on that gave instructions on making homemade beauty products with ingredients that are already found in the home. The guest covered hairspray, hair gel, and a deep conditioner made with all natural ingredients like oranges and lemons! What was the most interesting to me was the homemade gel recipe. I've seen the You Tube videos for the flax seed gel, but the straining process really grosses me out. It's just looks so slimy! This one uses unflavored gelatin, is still all natural,  and there's no straining involved. Plus, you can do these recipes in minutes. Here's the link to the video.

http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/48800558

Just in case you aren't so easily grossed out, (like I am, lol) here is a video of how to make flax seed gel from Naptural85 one of my favorite You Tubers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=aWaH8GIbLrM

I know a lot of ladies have their homemade recipes for hair care. Lemme hear what you do!