Clay Shampoo

Clay and the No Poo Approach

Clay is a natural, absorbent detoxifier that people are now using in place of harsh chemicals in personal care items like shampoo, make-up, and body lotions. An examination of daily care products containing harmful chemicals suggests women mainly apply over 500 synthetic ingredients to her body every day. A lot of those ingredients are in a modest amount of shampoos as well. The clay family encompasses many different types of clay coming from various parts of the world.

Rhassoul Clay, a cosmetic clay dating back to the 8th century, is now applied to shampoos. The mineral-rich clay comes from mountain deposits deep in the Fort Benton Volcano. The Rhassoul compound made up of iron, silica, potassium, sodium, lithium, and magnesium, have beneficial properties for hair and skin, such as reducing oil secretion and removing dead cells.

Kaolin or Kaolinite Clay, produced in China's Jiangxi Province, contains the lowest pH of any cosmetics clay. As a layered silicate, Kaolin removes dirt and other impurities like dandruff but not the natural oils needed to keep hair healthy. This clay has also proven to maintain hair growth by stimulating the blood circulation in the scalp.

Rhassoul Clay, first found in Montana at theFort Benton Volcano, known as a therapeutic clay having a high absorbing quality due to Bentonite's robust adherence to positively charged impurities. One of the benefits of this clay is it's believed ability to detoxify and revitalize the body when taken internally.

Shampoos containing cosmetic clay is blowing up as a trend among consumers seeking a more natural, gentler way to cleanse hair and scalp. Clay can also be used as a powder on its own as a hair mask by mixing 1-2 tablespoons of clay mixed with water. A few tips to remember when using clay in this manner are using non-metallic bowls, assuring the clay mixture doesn't dry on the hair, and adding a few drops of argan oil to replenish to restore shine.

Combining these types of clay with coconut milk can be favorable for many. This can be blended with boiled water, which then becomes a paste.