Clay hair masks: benefits, types, recipes

Fine-grained pulverized rock, which acquires plasticity when moistened, is called clay. It contains minerals of kaolinite, aluminosilicates, particles of carbonate, sand and other sedimentary rocks. Such a description is suitable for defining a building material, but not a beauty product. However, clay is successfully used just for cosmetic purposes, including the restoration and strengthening of hair.

The benefits of clay for hair

What is the secret of the clay composition, if it is able to have a beneficial effect not only on the skin, but also on the hair? One of the main effects of mineral pulverized rock is adsorption capacity dirt accumulated on the hair as a result of exposure to the external environment and the natural secretion of the sebaceous glands of the head. At the same time, unlike artificial cosmetic formulations, clay does not clog the spaces between keratin scales, so that the hair structure retains the ability to “breathe”. Clay also contributes to the rapid regeneration of damaged hair structure due to the presence of silicon in its composition.

Other benefits of clay include:

• Elimination of increased sebum secretion, a beneficial effect on skin damaged by yeast fungicides of the Pityrosporum ovale species, which provoke the appearance of seborrhea;
• Natural adsorption of toxins by clay;
• Clay acceleration of the growth phase of hair follicles;
• Moisturizing the scalp.

Cosmetic clay for the preparation of masks can be bought at any pharmacy. In order to achieve the desired result, it is recommended to use such compositions with clay no more than twice a week. However, it is important to choose the right type of clay for you and your hair type.

Kinds

There are about a dozen types of cosmetic clay, depending on the color, indicating its geological origin. For cosmetic purposes, the following are suitable types of clay:

• green clay – the most popular means for making masks applied to the scalp. It is used for hair prone to rapid pollution and to eliminate oily seborrhea. Green clay is used to cleanse and relieve itching, as well as protect hair from aggressive environmental influences. The composition of the substance contains rare useful trace elements, such as silver, magnesium and zinc. Green clay actively strengthens the hair structure and reduces the intensity of sebum production by the sebaceous glands;
• Blue clay – suitable for masks designed to activate hair growth. It stimulates the hair follicles to exit the resting phase, due to which the hair grows at a faster rate. Also, blue clay is used to treat and / or prevent alopecia, restore the natural shine of hair and eliminate increased brittleness. The chemical structure of the clay contains aluminum, silicon and iron, which help to strengthen the hair and improve their health;
• gray clay – suitable only for hair prone to dryness, as well as in the presence of split ends. It is not suitable for oily hair. The advantages of gray clay include a regenerative effect and a moisturizing effect;
• red clay – has a beneficial effect on thin, depleted hair, supplying them with the elements necessary for natural restoration. Red clay is good there, that it can be used even with high sensitivity of the skin of the scalp;
• White clay – regenerates damaged hair structure and restores shine and silkiness to the hair. White clay is considered one of the most potent remedies among analogues. Masks based on it are designed to give volume to the hair, moisturize curls, prevent hair loss and brittleness;
• pink clay – is a mixture of white and red clay, combining the best characteristics of both types. It is added to the composition of masks intended for damaged hair and scalp after intensive dyeing, the use of low-quality hair dye, and aggressive perms. The use of pink clay helps to normalize the acid-base balance of the scalp and activates its blood circulation;
• yellow clay – effective for suppressing the excessive work of the sebaceous glands of the scalp, which is the cause of the rapid pollution of the hair. Also helps to eliminate dandruff;
• black clay – reduces hair fragility, helps to “seal” the layered keratin scales that cause split ends. It is composed of nitrogen, potassium, calcium, phosphate, silica, magnesium, strontium, iron, quartz and radium. Such a powerful composition has an instant tonic effect on the hair and eliminates the effects of even the most severe damage.

If you decide to try clay hair masks, you should not change the type of product every time you try to decide on your preferences. Such an experiment can adversely affect the condition of the hair, and the recovery will be delayed. We advise you to change the composition of the mask no more than 2 times a month.

Application features

Before applying a clay mask, calculate exactly how much crushed rock you will need for your hair length and volume. It is logical to assume that curls below the shoulder blades will require more composition than shorter hair.

There are several unspoken rules on how to use clay to prepare a nourishing mask:

• It is not worth applying dry clay to the hair. In order to make a clay mask, you should dilute a small amount of powder in a liquid (water or other component). The consistency of the composition with clay should resemble thick sour cream and stay on a spoon, and not flow down. If you are kneading a mask with clay on water, it is better to take mineral water without gas, settled water or melted snow;
• Some traditional healers recommend use for kneading clay burdock or castor oil. However, the most useful option would be a herbal decoction of nettle, burdock roots, chamomile, mint or calamus. To make the clay mask have a pleasant aroma, you can add a couple of drops of essential oil to it;
• The clay mask should be stirred in a ceramic, glass or wooden bowl. Plastic and metal are not suitable for this purpose;
• When preparing a clay mask, do not get carried away by adding additional ingredients. You should not show imagination and violate the recipe of the remedy, otherwise you can achieve an unpredictable result;
• Clay mask before applying to curls heated 3 – 5 minutes in a water bath. Do not overcook it on fire so that the mixture does not bubble up. If you still overheated the composition with clay, wait until it cools to an acceptable temperature, and only then distribute it over the strands;
• Total mask exposure time…