What Is Bentonite Clay?
Bentonite clay is a natural healing clay that is mined directly from the earth. Who Can Use It? Can be used by all hair types How Often? Can be used as required Caution It is usually safe, but conduct a patch test if required or unsure.
Also known as Aztec Indian Healing clay, bentonite clay is an absorbent aluminum phyllosilicate clay. It is formed by the weathering of volcanic ash (how cool is that?!) in the presence of water (2), (3). Bentonite clay is dried in the sun before being sold as a facial or hair mask. Bentonite clay is a pretty cool product to use on your skin as it works wonders in lifting toxins and getting rid of impurities. It has immense potential for effective hair and scalp pore cleansing and sebum regulation. Tons of women out there have seen an improvement in their oily, acne-prone skin after using a bentonite clay facial mask.
What Are The Benefits Of Bentonite Clay For Hair?
There are two main reasons why bentonite clay has a ton of benefits. First, because it is negatively charged (when combined with water or apple cider vinegar). It draws out toxins from the hair, which is positively charged. It may help in excess hair and scalp oil absorption. Second, it contains many minerals that are essential for hair growth like sodium, potassium, and calcium (4). Pretty neat, huh? It comes as no surprise that it is a holy grail product for hair and scalp nourishment. Here are all how it is beneficial for your hair: Hair loss prevention is possible with this hair and scalp detox along with an optimal hair pH balance. Nikole, a blogger, shared her experience of using bentonite clay for hair. According to her, bentonite clay makes her hair soft and shiny while enhancing her natural curl pattern. She stated, “I absolutely love Bentonite Clay treatments. I usually do them about once a month and it always leaves my hair soft, manageable, and strong! I also have better curl definition and tons of body (i)!” Thus, along with hair volume enhancement, you may also notice hair texture improvement after using bentonite clay. It provides hair and scalp irritation relief with a satisfying scalp exfoliation. Find out more beauty benefits of bentonite clay here.
Bentonite Clay For Natural Hair (Type 4 Kinky Hair)
Anyone with type 4 kinky hair knows that it is thick, coarse, extremely fragile, and always in need of moisturization. A bentonite clay hair mask works like a charm for this hair type. This clay provides the hair and scalp rejuvenation you were waiting for. It gently cleanses your scalp while deeply cleansing your hair. Efficient hair and scalp impurities removal is made possible by bentonite clay. Hair moisture retention is attained by drawing out impurities, which allows the hair to absorb better. As a result, you end up with elongated and supremely defined curls. You may see improvement in hair elasticity and in hair frizz control. We are sure you are now fully aboard this bentonite clay train. Let’s look at how you can make a hair mask with it!
How To Make A Bentonite Clay Hair Mask
½ cup bentonite clay 6 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon coconut oil ½ tablespoon castor oil ½ tablespoon almond oil Water Plastic or glass bowl Wooden spoon
How To Apply Bentonite Clay For Hair Growth
Bentonite Clay Hair Wash
If shiny hair is what you desire, that’s exactly what you’ll get with this simple bentonite clay hair wash that takes just 2 minutes to make.
2 tablespoons bentonite clay 1 cup apple cider vinegar ½ cup of water
Yes, bentonite clay is pretty amazing for your hair. But it also comes with its share of precautions that need to be taken to make sure you don’t ruin your hair or your bathroom!
Don’t use a metal bowl or spoon when making your bentonite hair mask. Bentonite clay reacts pretty quickly when it comes in contact with metal, meaning its benefits would be rendered null by the time you apply it to your hair. You will need to wash off the hair mask with warm water before it is completely dry as it can be pretty difficult to remove once it dries up. Run some hot water down the drain after washing off the bentonite hair mask so that it does not clog up your plumbing.
Now that you know everything there is to know about making and applying bentonite clay to your hair, let’s see if it has any side effects.
Side Effects Of Bentonite Clay
Concerns have been raised about the fact that bentonite clay contains aluminum and whether it’s safe to be used on our body. However, there is no need to worry about this as our bodies also contain aluminum and it’s safe to use it on our face, body, and hair. Besides, the high negative charge of bentonite clay makes it impossible to leach into your body through your skin. So, rest easy! However, accidentally ingesting or inhaling bentonite may cause health complication. Check them out in the next section.
Possible Risks Of Bentonite Clay
Bentonite clay has various benefits but also comes with potential risks.
Inhaling fine clay dust can irritate the lungs, so use a mask when handling powdered bentonite. In a study with rats, exposure to high levels of bentonite nanoparticles (BNPs) increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) indicating damage to lung tissue and inflammation (6). However, lower BNP concentrations seemed less toxic. Avoid working with bentonite when near kids or animals. One case study mentions the demise of a cat who had eaten bentonite clay which led to reduced levels of red blood cells and potassium in the body (7).
Is bentonite clay a deep conditioner? No. Bentonite clay has strong cleansing properties. Although it can cleanse your hair of product build-up and dirt, it can also draw out natural oils from your hair. Your hair may feel dry after using bentonite clay, so you will need a separate deep conditioner to balance its effects. Can you leave bentonite clay on your hair overnight? No. You can let bentonite clay sit on your hair only for 30-45 minutes. Leaving it on for longer can make your hair dry. How does bentonite clay define curls? Bentonite clay achieves hair curl definition by drawing out product build-up, dirt, and toxins that weigh curly hair down. This also lets the hair absorb more moisture and other products. Does bentonite clay expire? Yes. If the bentonite clay pack is unopened, it may last for 1-2 years. If the pack is opened, it will last for 3-6 months, after which the minerals in the clay will start breaking down, which can irritate your skin and scalp.
Illustration: Amazing Benefits Of Bentonite Clay For Hair - DIY Bentonite Clay Mask
Transform your hair with a Bentonite clay mask without using shampoo. Watch this video to learn its amazing benefits and how you can experience them too!
