I was always privy to practices of the “good old days” growing up in a Caribbean household. I remember my mom telling us about how she used clay as kid in Barbados to wash her hair and me giving her the side-eye because I thought it seemed weird. I mean, the whole process just seemed counterproductive. Why would anyone use mud—something we perceive as dirty—as a cleanser? But, my mom may have been on to something. Today, clays are growing increasingly popular within the hair care market. Natural hair gurus are touting the benefits of clays like bentonite, rhassoul and kaolin. So I decided to find out what all the hype is about.

Typically once a month I’ll detox my hair with a clarifying shampoo to get rid of any product buildup. But, instead of my normal clarifying shampoo I tried a mix of bentonite clay, apple cider vinegar, and distilled water. Now, I’ll admit that I didn’t expect to see any results. But, I was pleasantly surprised!

MY METHOD & RESULTS

For one, the mixture glided right through my strands like a detangler with loads of slip. Tangles and shed hair melted away like butter. I also noticed my curls were super defined and clumping too. After about 15 minutes, I shampooed and followed up with T-Roots Creme Brulee deep conditioning masque for hydration because Bentonite, from what I read, can be drying. Afterwards, my hair was super soft, shiny, and easier to style.

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON CLAY

So what makes clay great for hair? According to research, sediments like bentonite can bind to oils and heavy metals. Lots of studies have been conducted on the topical and oral effects clays can have on the skin and digestive tract but not enough research is available on the benefits of clay on hair. Nevertheless, lots of people are adding clay to their hair care regimen with great results. 

Here are a few bentonite clay hair recipes to try HERE, HERE and HERE.

Have you ever tried bentonite, rhassoul or kaolin clay as a clarifier? If so, tell us about your results in the comments.