Clay is known for a great number of benefits thanks to all the uses that can be made of it. In the form of poultice, face mask or even orally, clay helps on all fronts. Thus, it has several strings to its bow and hair care is one of them.
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Why is a clay mask beneficial for the hair?
Clay is a mineral material with exceptional properties. It is highly appreciated in cosmetics (skin and hair) partly for its absorbency. Indeed, this quality allows clay to absorb impurities and toxins that tend to cling to the skin and hair.
Clay is therefore used as a hair mask to clean and purify the scalp in depth. Dust, sand, pollution, excess sebum... clay absorbs everything and leaves the scalp clean of all impurities.
Types of clay for your hair
There are many kinds of clay in cosmetics: pink, blue, green, white, yellow or red but not all of them are important for hair care. Indeed, some of them are more appreciated in the making of face masks. Only four kinds of clays are really useful for hair care.
White clay to moisturize and revitalize dry hair.
Green clay to regulate the production of sebum in the hair.
Pink clay to take care of coloured and damaged hair.
Yellow clay to invigorate and purify natural hair.
Clay-based hair care products to take care of the hair
To keep hair healthy, clay is very suitable as it has purifying, remineralising and rebalancing virtues.
As explained above, the different varieties of clay each have specific characteristics and it is by mixing clay with water that it will release its properties for the hair. Sometimes it is also interesting to complete this mixture by adding other components that will reinforce these virtues. When you don't know which type of clay to use, green clay or rhassoul are well suited to all hair types.
Hair loss ? the clay mask won't let you down
Hair loss is an intergenerational problem. Whether we are young or not so young with fine or thick hair, there are times when we lose hair.
To limit this you can mix a glass of clay with demineralised water to obtain a thick paste. Then you simply spread the paste on your scalp by massaging it with your fingertips for a long time.
For maximum effectiveness, it is recommended to leave it on for 15 minutes before rinsing with warm water. After this, wash your hair with your usual shampoo to remove any clay residue.
Clay strengthens dry hair.
A mixture of white clay and thyme essential oil is excellent for toning and fortifying dry hair.
To carry out this preparation it is enough to :
Mix a handful of clay with warm water to obtain a thick paste and then add 5 drops of thyme essential oil.
Apply the mask to your washed and towel-dried hair for 20 minutes and then rinse and shampoo again.
For oily hair, green clay works wonders.
Clay is mainly known for taking care of oily hair. Indeed, it regulates the sebum rate as much in case of excess as in case of lack. Thus, it absorbs the excess of sebum present on the scalp.
Here is a recipe for a clay hair mask to be made at home:
Prepare an infusion based on dried thyme and leave it to cool slightly.
Slowly add it to green clay until it forms a compact paste.
Apply the resulting mask to your damp scalp.
After a few minutes, rinse the clay with lukewarm (or cold) water and wash your hair with your usual shampoo.
Tips for using clay as a hair care product
Do not heat clay in the fire or microwave and prefer a bain-marie or heating water beforehand.
Favour the use of demineralised water rather than tap water.
Clay should not be brought into contact with metal (spoon, bowl or saucepan) as this depolarises it and causes it to lose its properties.
Do not reuse clay that has already been mixed with water.