Using mud to wash your hair? Is that an actual thing? Why yes, yes it is. Detox hair treatments get rid of any build-up on the hair shaft that can result from too much product usage.
If you’re new to using a homemade natural shampoo, here are a few key things to be aware of:
- The shampoos you usually buy from the store will often have a pH level of around five to six, which is similar to that of your hair’s natural pH. While this is a good thing, it’s often achieved using toxic surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate.
- Most natural homemade shampoos tend to be soap-based rather than surfactant-based. Soap has a much higher pH level, which can leave hair looking dull and even oily. Thankfully, it’s easy to restore your hair’s natural pH (along with its shine and smoothness) after washing. All you need to do is apply a Shine-Boosting Rinse (see below).
- Silicon, found in many store-bought shampoos, coats the hair in a similar way to that of plastic to give it its shine. Because of this, hair may take some time to adjust from commercial shampoos to more natural, homemade formulas.
Hair detoxing can help with this process by removing excess oils, dandruff, and even chemical build-up.
It may take up to a few weeks, depending on the types of products that were previously used, to completely adjust to using a natural shampoo, and during the process, hair may feel dry and tangle easy.
But, as hair follicles shed their coating, they’ll be able to take in more moisture, restoring hair health.
Before we get started in learning how to make this homemade detox shampoo hair treatment – if you like what you’re seeing, subscribe to my email newsletter at the bottom of the page to keep up to date on the latest recipes, DIYs, gardening and health tips I share!!
Put Mud in Your Hair
As it turns out, bentonite clay can be used for hair, helping to remove toxins and leaving hair looking clean and shiny.
If homemade shampoo or no-poo hasn’t worked for you, give this method a go.
Some of the benefits of hair detoxing include:
- Promoting healthy hair growth
- Clearing away odour-causing bacteria
- Oxidative stress prevention and enhanced scalp health
- Removing build-up that causes dull hair and restoring shine
- Soothing scalp irritation and redness
How to Detox Your Hair
We’ll be using a herbal tea brew in this detoxifying solution, so it’s important to note which herb to use for your specific hair colour. Different herbs provide different darkening or lightening effects:
- For brown hair: Nettle leaf, rosemary leaf or sage leaf all help to gradually darken hair that is light brown or darker (it will even darken blonde tones as well). The more they’re used, the darker the results.
- For light hair (blonde): Pure, strong chamomile tea or lemon juice (along with sitting in the sun) will lighten hair and produce natural highlights. The more these ingredients are used, the lighter hair will become.
- For red hair: Calendula flowers, fresh marigold petals, hibiscus petals, and henna will create a red strawberry blonde tint in lighter hair and auburn tones in darker hair.
- For black hair (or dark brown): Black walnut powder (this will give hair a VERY DARK colour) or strongly brewed black tea will darken any hair colour.
The mixture recommendations suggested by Katie Wells, founder of the popular health and wellness website, Wellness Mama, include a quarter of a cup of rosemary leaf and two tablespoons of nettle leaf in two cups of boiling water for dark hair types, and a quarter of a cup of chamomile flowers and two tablespoons of nettle leaf in two cups of boiling water for those with blonde hair.
Once the mixture cools, strain out the herbs and reserve one cup of tea for the hair detox recipe, and one cup of tea for the Shine-Boosting Rinse at the end.
Homemade Detox Shampoo Hair Treatment
Please ensure that no metal equipment is used when making this recipe, as bentonite clay can react with the metal properties. Instead, use wood, plastic, or glass for the best results.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup bentonite clay
- 2 cups brewed herbal tea or water (see above for herbal tea suggestions)
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 10 drops essential oil (I use lavender, rosemary or peppermint).
To make:
- In a blender, add the tea and apple cider vinegar, then slowly add in the clay, one tablespoon at a time, while blending to combine. The mixture should look something like yoghurt.
- Add in the essential oils and mix together.
- Store the clay shampoo in an airtight container in the shower for up to one week.
To use:
- Wet the hair, then massage a handful of the clay mix into your hair, starting at the roots and working down your hair. Repeat until all your hair is coated in the shampoo.
- Leave the shampoo mix in for five to twenty minutes (but do not let it dry) then rinse it out with warm water until the water runs clear.
- To make the Shine-Boosting Rinse, begin by mixing one cup of herbal tea with one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar together in a spray bottle, then spray the solution all over the hair until saturated. Allow the rinse to sit on the hair for two to three minutes, then rinse it off with cool water (which is best because it helps the hair follicle to close).
As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor before trying or using any new products. I am not a doctor. All opinions expressed are my own personal thoughts and feelings of the products mentioned. Check with your doctor or health practitioner if you are uncertain about trying out any of the products, recipes or tips mentioned in this post.
Have you done a hair detox before? How was it? Share in the comments below.
Lots of love,
🖤 Vanessa
Sources:
Wells, Katie. (September 18, 2018). How to Detox Your Hair. Wellness Mama. Retrieved from https://wellnessmama.com/9321/detox-your-hair/
Dessinger, Heather. How To Detox Your Hair. mommypotamus. Retrieved from https://www.mommypotamus.com/hair-detox/
McDow, Candis. (Updated: April 24, 2019). How to Detox Your Hair of Oils, Dandruff, and Chemical Buildup. Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/hair-detox
Gotter, Ana. (Updated: May 3, 2017). 7 Natural Hair Dyes: How to Color Your Hair at Home. Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/natural-hair-dye
Annmarie Skin Care. (Updated: July 28, 2021). 7 Natural Ways to Dye & Color Your Hair without Chemicals. Annmarie. Retrieved from https://www.annmariegianni.com/ditch-the-chemicals-7-ways-to-color-your-hair-naturally/
Wells, Katie. (Updated: May 28, 2020). Natural Hair Dye Recipes (for Any Hair Color). Wellness Mama. Retrieved from https://wellnessmama.com/5112/natural-hair-dye/
6 Signs You Need A Scalp Detox. Organic Beauty. Retrieved from https://www.simplyorganicbeauty.com/why-scalp-detox-treatment/
Fink, Hillary. (October 2, 2019). This DIY Hair Build-Up Detox Restores Shine Better Than Any Clarifying Shampoo. Peaceful Dumpling. Retrieved from https://www.peacefuldumpling.com/hair-build-up
How to Detox Your Hair. (December 18, 2012). Coconut Mama. Retrieved from https://thecoconutmama.com/how-to-detox-your-hair/
