Did you know you could detox your hair? This process removes buildup from over the counter products that damage your hair.
Did you know you could detox your hair?
I had no idea that you could detox your hair until I read the book in a DIY beauty book years ago. The book called for making a mask made with bentonite clay, apple cider vinegar, and aloe vera gel.
Out of all the recipes in the book, the one I was most interested in reading about was the homemade shampoo recipe. Why? Because I have tried to use homemade shampoo several times over the last few years. I always go back to commercial shampoo because my hair becomes a terrible rats nest of yuckyness when I try to go all natural!
What I’ve learned is that our hair needs to detox, which can take several weeks to do.
During the detox stage your hair will be very dry and tangly (or as I said above – a terrible rats nest of yuckyness!). I have always had a hard time getting past this stage! Who wants to have nasty feeling hair? Not I!
Here is some good news! You can speed up the process by applying a detox hair mask to your hair!
I’ve used this detox hair mask several times over the years and I absolutely love it! My hair feels so clean and soft when I treat my hair with this nourishing mask. Now that my hair is detoxed, I get to enjoy healthy feeling hair!
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Links in the post are Amazon affiliate links to products I use and love.
Hair Detox Recipe
Detox your hair with this bentonite clay hair mask!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Total Time: 8 minutes
- Yield: 1 cup 1x
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup bentonite clay powder
- 1/2 cup aloe vera gel
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup 1 additional cup of apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Mix bentonite clay, aloe vera, and 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar together and work into hair.
- Put on a shower cap and allow to sit for 20-30 minutes.
- Don’t let the mixture dry!
- Rinse with 1 cup of vinegar and allow to sit for 1-3 minutes, then shampoo.
Creating homemade body care products is easy and affordable. I make my own toothpaste, deodorant and skincare products. Check out more of my homemade body care recipes here!
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I wanting to find what works for my hair but Im new at all this stuff but wouldn’t everyones I don’t know but PH or something be different maken what might work great for some kinds not so great for other kinds ? An Im looking probably for A miracle on asking this hopen perhaps anyone may know what it is Im talking about that has some advice on how to deal with it either by a detox method or any thing.. lol.. people think your crazy when you say the term Morgellons but that’s what the term is used on the internet where they claim that a delouisonal thing then most ppls. have evidence of very real proof, any how its a cross between called that lyme and fungus and actually heard and saw pics of the Nano that were eating and it actually had every thing that the effects of what ever we all are suffering from . So I just looking for some help on what gets any of them possibility out of my body and hair seems to be a major place for it as it feels like my hair like bites me or burns in to me. its been a long 6 yrs. with it and the lesions as well that has made my face scared all over besides my other body limbs. My hair would be such a big help getten it out or what ever from it. hopefully someone knows what Im talking about so Im not sounding as crazy as this truly is destroying me inside an out. Any Advice is helpful. Thank you !
No your not crazy I have been dealing with it for 2 and a half years.
Not crazy…I was right where you are for many years. I am now symptom free. Here’s what I learned in 6 years. Your not so much trying to kill the critters as you need to focus on getting your body back in balance. Morg is a combination of a systemic candida infection and a bacteria teamed up on an overworked liver. To lessen the symptoms…make sure you get plenty of sleep (big deal), nothing with amph (speed) not even ADHD meds. The first thing that worked really well for my daughter and I (she was a baby…every DR said I was crazy so I was freaking out) I went to Health Foods and got wormwood andblack walnut conbo…took twice a day…and drank Diatomaceous Earth at night. After about a week or so our symptoms were cut down about 60 percent. Do a good colon cleanse, liver cleanse, and the MAIN thing it’s all in your gut. Look into helping your microbiome. Lots of probiotics and kombucha. Chlorella and Spirulina in smoothies works wonders. P as far as skin make sure you shower regularly wash your hair with good dandruff shampoo and scrub it into your scalp what I don’t know what it is about washing your feet but I assume because so many toxins are released through them if they’re not clogged up then and it helps but when I started washing my feet a couple times a day an exfoliating the bottom along with all of my skin I noticed there were no more crawly feelings on my feet. I wash all of my clothes and sheets and borax and ammonia along with detergent. Lesions can be healed bye creating a paste of borax and using it everyday on them but don’t scrub too hard. Sleep sleep sleep it is so the only time I ever have a breakout is if I skip sleeping. Tea tree oil works great along with some zit cream if it’s on your face. First rub coconut oil on your face and wipe then cleanse with a water-based cleanser then apply zit cream then tea tree oil.the most important thing I don’t know your religious beliefs but I’ll tell you what I spoke healing scriptures out of the Bible over my daughter and I and took communion to remember that I’m already healed by Jesus stripes and it’s like he just downloaded all the information I needed.I don’t know where you live but a good naturopathic doctor is well worth the money to get your body back in balance charity vitamin deficiencies and infections.it all revolves around a super bad systemic candida infection and a liver that won’t process it. Hope this helps God bless you.
Sounds great! I use first ferment water Kefir…..also works fabulous….I just pour a bottle in wet hair….massage and let sit for a few minutes….then shampoo as normal….soooooo clean….shiny….
Do you wash your hair at all during the week? Can I shampoo my hair the next day, or what?
What exactly does the ACV detox hair from?
Do you think Kaolin clay can be substituted for the bentonite? I have Kaolin on hand and not sure if it has the same effect?
Thanks.
Is there a chance ACV can make your hair greasy? I’m starting to detox my hair so it’s been greasy, and the one time I did not rinse with ACV my hair was not as greasy after it dried. I’m scared of using a whole 1/4 cup of it!
Hi Tiffany,
I was wondering if i could replace the aloe vera gel for juice from the plant?
Thanks 🙂
Yes, I think that would work just fine. 🙂
In your directions you say after to then shampoo. Follow with shine boost rinse or detox hair soak. What type of shampoo? also what are the shine boost or detox soak? What will this detox your hair from? peace-max
I tried this detox and it worked wonderfully. I can’t believe how soft my hair feels. I also tried the face mask and the bath detox and they had the same effect. Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe and all the great ideas you share with us on your journey to become more Crunchy!
I tried the vinegar & baking soda & water theory before & it completely stripped all of the color from my hair (I’m prematurely very grey, so I dye my hair bi-monthly). Doing this method, therefore makes me just as nervous, anyone know if it strips color from dyed hair?
Both trader Joe and lily brands of aloe are full of chemicals. May I suggest one might go elsewhere for aloe? After all, if you use the aloe brands mentioned above, the “detox” benefit is dubious at best.
When will i find a blogger who does their research BEFORE offering advice?
h20 – A few years ago Trader Joe’s sold 100% pure organic aloe. When the quit selling it I started buying it online here
Thanks for the comment.
Coconut Mom! I’d like to say, you answered and handled that lil prior comment VERY WELL! LOL! Bet you didn’t know you would be so openly chastised and rebuked for just sharing something you’ve enjoyed, also kindly and thoughtfully passed along for the rest of us to gratefully enjoy also! !! LOL! Thank you so much for the recipe ! My sister in law has copied many of your DIY’s , ALL VERY SUCCESSFULLY!! Regardless of any of your recipes possibly having a slight error! Who knows, maybe even a crossed i or a doted T ,LOL !, we once again were able to find the fun in all of this DIY craze! Can’t wait for more to come! ! : )!
Thank you, Dana, my sentiments exactly. Why criticize harshly when most of what a person does is awesome. Let’s grant people a little more, eh?
Is the hair detox a one-time thing or do I have to do it daily/weekly/monthly…?
You should NOT be using a metal spoon/utensil with the clay. The clay pulls out toxic metals from our bodies. That means it also pulls it from a metal spoon directly. By using a metal utensil (be it a spoon or bowl, etc) to mix your clay mask, the toxins that the clay pulls out of the metals it is coming into contact with have the potential to end up in your skin. Very much the opposite of a detox! Please be careful and please inform your readers. This is a big mistake that is often overlooked! Be safe and healthy 🙂
what is the shine boost rinse?
NEVER handle bentonite clay with metal utensils! Oh my goodness. Bentonite clay is extremely good at pulling impurities out of things (to put it as basically as possible), which is probably why you chose it as a detox, but it is especially good at pulling impurities out of metal… like that spoon in the photo. Youre basically drawing a bunch of nasty stuff out of your spoon and putting it right on your scalp….
Bentonite clay doesn’t put chemicals back into something or someone. When wet it locks onto the positive organic properties in chemicals and toxins and such and such them out it doesn’t put anything out other than minerals and oxygen and good stuff. The reason why you shouldn’t touch real salt or any other detox organic is because it may lesson the effectiveness of such.
Is Heather book in the bookstores?
No. She sells it in ebook form from her site.
Thanks for a GREAT recipe!! LOVED it!! My review is here
http://thecrunchymoose.blogspot.com/
Is there an alternative to aloe? I am allergic to it.
Should your hair be wet or dry when you apply the detox mixture?
wet- use like normal shampoo, I let mine sit in for a few minutes before I rinse it out.
Brian Corkumb+
I use your same method Shannon and I love the freedom of not having to pay for pricey hair products. I use 100% pure glossy locks to help with frizziness. I also noticed i can go 4 days now before having to even wash my hair if feels so soft and clean.
our hair is toxic?
It’s such a bummer this book is only offered as an E-book!
I switched about a month to “washing” my hair with first a baking soda/water rinse, then a vinegar/water rinse and it truly has never looked better. I have very thick, very long curly/wavy hair that is prone to frizziness and tangling. Now I have perfect curls. No more frizz. And I was shocked at how easily I could run a comb through my hair after I the vinegar rinse. I still use Morrocan Hair oil cream to tame it, but I am looking for a chemical free substitute for that.
..by any chance you aint got something to grow some hair, send me a five gallon bucket asap. It’s hair today gone tomorrow!!!
oh, this is NOT a child-friendly recipe. I’ll have to wait until the youngest is sleeping through the night to try this. Hmmm….
does anyone have any success stories with really hard water? I have this ebook and cannot use the shapoos…I have been no poo for 4 months and still have not gotten past the nasty stage…my husband isn’t too happy about my hair, but I don’t want to go back to the cancer causing, chemically nasty commercial shampoos….
Melissa, I have really hard water and I’ve had trouble too. Boiling the water before you add the BS/ACV helps. I am also looking into a water filter as I hear this makes a huge difference. Washing with a mix of 2 egg yolks and 1 teaspoon of ACV also really helped when my hair is feeling gross. Good luck!
This was a while ago, Melissa, but I went “no poo” with semi-hard water, and it worked okay. But then we moved someplace with REALLY hard water and it stopped working. No matter how little baking soda I used, my hair got flaky and scaly, and when I tried to go without for a while, it got greasy and nasty. I eventually switched to shampoo bars (bought mine at from an online company called Chagrin Valley) with a vinegar rinse. It worked okay, but I had to wash out the film with an organic shampoo once or twice a month. I’m now using Aubrey Organics Island Naturals shampoo and conditioner, and love it. Still don’t have to wash daily, by any means, but it’s gotten rid of all the gross or annoying side effects of strict “no poo”. I checked out the Aubrey shampoos on EWG Skin Deep database, and Island Naturals is the one that gets the best rating, which is why I go with it. 🙂 There are other good brands, but this one I found on Amazon and at the local health store.
Melissa, I have hard water, and have had terrible luck with natural shampoo methods as well. I would get this gunk in the back of my hair etc. I do not get this when I use bentonite and apple cider vinegar. The bentonite attracts all that gunk, metals and things that get stuck up in the hair, and the apple cider vinegar strengthens and smooths the hair. It is a lovely combination. I have never tried the addition of aloe. You do have to make sure you use enough, and get it in to all the hair for it to be effective.
Thanks for posting this! I too have tried the baking soda,vinegar ‘no poo’ method and i’m left with a nasty mop! lol I’ll have to order some clay online..this small town has none of these awesome ingredients you’ve listed for a more natural sustainable living. 😉
Please update on how this is going!
It is going good! My hair isn’t yucky feeling 🙂
What type of shampoo do you use after? Could you give a recipe? Also, how often do you do this? Is it just a one time thing? What is the shine boost rinse? Â
Cyndi,
I’ve only done this once so far. My hair felt incredible afterward! Really soft :). I only had permission to share this recipe from Heather’s book. You can find all these recipes and much more in her book DIY Organic Beauty –Â http://tinyurl.com/ab8bgdo
Cyndi, I actually use something similar to this for my shampoo all the time. I mix bentonite and apple cider vinegar and water and wash my hair with that. I am able to wash every 4-5 days doing that without my hair getting greasy. Your hair will feel amazing! Nourished too!
Where can I buy the aloe vera? I’ve been looking for it to make my own hand sanitizer, but can’t find any. Thanks.
I buy it from Trader Joes. You can find pure aloe vera on amazon too 🙂
http://www.vitacost.com/lily-of-the-desert-aloe-vera-gel-whole-leaf-32-fl-oz
Great company. I’ve used this brand for several years now. And vitacost has good prices.
TJs aloe gel has disodium EDTA in it!
what type of hair is this used on ?
All types of hair 🙂
AnnMarie – All types of hair 🙂
I would use this but I haven’t got any hair! Lol! 😉