Bentonite clay. I’m sure you’ve heard of it. It’s known to be a “natural remedy” that a lot of people use and have good results with.
Bentonite clay is a clay that is mined from the earth, and it’s formed after volcanic ash has weathered and aged in the presence of water. It has a strong negative electromagnetic charge, and when activated by water, it acts like a magnet in and on our bodies, pulling metals and toxins to it. It also has an effect on the body’s pH and provides the body with some vital minerals at the same time.
Today, I’ll be sharing three bentonite clay recipes for you to create from the comfort of your home.
How To Use The Powerful Bentonite Clay Effectively
BENTONITE CLAY HAIR DETOX RECIPE
Mud in Your Hair?
Turns out, clay can be very beneficial for hair in the same way it can be beneficial in the rest of the body: it removes toxins to leave hair super-clean and with a lot of shiny volume.
How to Detox Your Hair
Different herbs can have darkening or lightening effects on hair. Nettle is said to be great for hair, so I would use this on any hair color. Chamomile flowers are great for blonde hair, but rosemary would be a better choice for dark hair (and it is also supposed to be a good natural remedy for dandruff).
Tea mixtures:
For blonde hair: 1/4 cup chamomile flowers + 2 tablespoons nettle leaf in 2 cups boiling water
For dark hair: 1/4 cup Rosemary leaf + 2 tablespoons nettle leaf in 2 cups of boiling water
After the mixture cools, strain out the herbs and used 1 cup for the clay recipe and 1 cup for the final rinse with 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar added.
Not only does stinging nettle help in combating hair loss, but it also helps in hair re-growth. Nettle leaves are rich in silica and sulfur. This helps in making hair shinier and healthier. Rinsing hair with nettle extracts and water results in re-growth of lost hair and also helps in restoring the original hair color.
Chamomile is another natural hair lightener, said to be more gradual than lemon juice and therefore better for brunettes. Just brew a batch of chamomile tea, let it cool, and then rinse your hair with the tea following your shampoo and conditioner in the shower.
Recipe from Detox Your Hair – Wellness Mama
Hair Detox Ingredients
1 cup brewed herbal tea or water (see left side column herb suggestions for your hair type)
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
approximately 3/4 cup bentonite clay
10 drops of essential oil of choice (optional- I used Lavender and Rosemary for hair growth)
Hair Detox Instructions
Note: Bentonite clay is most effective if it doesn’t come in contact with metal before use. Mix with wood, plastic or glass for best results, though I haven’t found that this makes much of a difference for hair products. I use an old mini-food processor with a plastic dough blade that I found at a thrift shop.
Brew the herbal tea and let cool slightly, make sure all herbs are strained out.
Pour tea and apple cider vinegar in a blender, food processor or non-metal bowl.
Start adding clay a tablespoon at a time while blending or whisking to incorporate it.
Keep adding clay until mixture is smooth and about the consistency of yogurt.
Add essential oils if using and mix in.
Store in an air-tight container in the shower for up to a week.
To Use: Wet hair. Starting at roots, massage a handful of the clay mixture into hair and work down to the roots. Repeat until all hair is coated. Leave 5 minutes or up to 20 minutes (do not let dry!) and rinse out with warm water.
optional: Rinse with a cup of herbal tea with 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar added.
BENTONITE CLAY FACIAL MASK RECIPE
Many use the mask just a few times a week or once a week and have great results. But, if it’s your first time applying a bentonite clay mask, I would start out with doing it once a week and see how your skin responds, as it is quite powerful and this way you can work your way up to using it daily!
Benefits of a Bentonite Clay Mask:
There are so many benefits of using bentonite clay, but I just wanted to focus on the amazing benefits you’ll get by applying this mask!
Heals and regenerates skin tissue
Draws out toxins
Treats acne (prevents breakouts and helps clear up acne)
Unclogs and shrinks pores
Prevents blackheads
Reduces appearance of scars
Excellent natural exfoliator
Evens out skin tone
Leaves skin feeling softer
Leaves your face glowing!
Recipe via Bentonite Clay Face Mask – Health Extremist
Clay Mask Ingredients
1 teaspoon bentonite clay
1 teaspoon water or apple cider vinegar
Optional: a cup or bowl and a spoon to mix them
*If you use a spoon to mix them, make sure it isn’t metal because this causes metals to leach from the spoon into the clay, making the clay not as effective.
Directions:
1. Take about 1 teaspoon of the bentonite clay powder and about 1 teaspoon of water or apple cider vinegar (ACV) and put it in a bowl or cup. Since, I do this mask daily and want to do it as quickly as possible, I usually just put the teaspoon of powder in my hand and then hold my hand under the faucet to add the water to the clay and mix it with my fingers.
Note: You can use water or ACV as a liquid for the mask. The ACV tends to make the mask a little more powerful/harsh on your skin, so if you have sensitive skin you may want to use water.
2. Mix the two ingredients well, until it forms a paste consistency. You can add a little more water or a little more powder, if the consistency doesn’t seem like it will easily spread on your face.
3. Apply the bentonite clay mask to your face. Some people also spread it down their neck and upper chest, too. I use my fingers, but a cotton ball or cosmetic sponge also works great.
4. Leave the mask on for about 20 to 30 minutes. I apply it fairly thick and it does take about 15 minutes to just dry. As the mask dries, your face will start to feel tight.
BENTONITE DEODORANT FOR SENSITIVE SKIN
Potential Dangers of Commercial Deodorants
While the news and Internet are full of pieces decrying deodorant's health risks, there are very few definitive answers about deodorant's safety. Here are some of the knowns and unknowns about common commercial deodorant ingredients.
Aluminum salts are one of the most prevalent active ingredients in antiperspirant deodorants because they effectively block perspiration. Aluminum salts are not usually found in non-antiperspirant deodorants.
Parabans, which mimic estrogens, may increase a woman's breast cancer risk. A study of breast cancer biopsies was conducted in 2004 and found measurable quantities of 6 different parabans widely used in cosmetics and deodorants. While this may suggest a correlation between cosmetic and deodorant parabans and breast cancer, it cannot be definitively proven the parabans discovered came from deodorants.
Deodorant Ingredients
5 Tablespoons coconut oil
1 Tablespoon Baking soda
6 Tablespoons Arrowroot powder
2 Tablespoons Bentonite Clay
5 to 10 drops of the essential oil of your choice (I used Lavender and Frankincense)
Instructions
Mix all of your ingredients together and store in a small jar in your medicine cabinet!
Your deodorant will be like a paste, so just scoop some out with your finger to apply.
Recipe via Homemade Deodorant – Oh Lardy
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