Are you tired of using commercial hair styling products that contain harmful chemicals? Don’t worry; a natural and straightforward alternative is DIY hair clay. Making your hair clay is easy, and you can customize it according to your needs and preferences.
DIY hair styling clay will make it easy to sport any hairstyle without damaging your hair. Want t to learn how to make your DIY hair styling clay? Read on and learn how to make your hair clay today!
Ingredients
Clay – 4 Tsp.
Shea Butter – 1 gram
Argan Oil – 1 Tsp.
Coconut Oil – ½ Oz.
Peppermint Essential Oil – 1 Drop
Rosemary Essential Oil – 7 Drops
Instructions
Melt Shea butter and coconut oil in your double boiler.
Once melted, remove from heat and set aside.
Stir in argan oil, essential oils chosen, and clay and whisk to combine.
Once you have a homogenous mixture, transfer it to a sterilized mason jar and let it cool down completely.
Done!
How To Use
Take a small dollop in your palms and rub the clay on your fingertips.
Gently apply using your fingertips – sparingly but evenly.
Once applied, style, and you’re ready to roll.
Which Clay to Use?
Now, off to the clay part of this recipe. The best clays for hair care are bentonite clay, moroccan red clay, volcanic black clay, kaolin clay, etc. Most agree unless you are very sensitive, the clay color doesn’t affect you, and you can choose what clay you like. Or, if you’re more comfortable, go with a clay closer to your hair color, or combine multiple clays for their shade and benefits.
For example, you can combine black and red clay for a brown-dark brown shade, and lighter hair colors can do well with kaolin clay or bentonite clay, black clay works for brown or black shades, red clay can work well for brunette and ginger heads, etc.
Alternatively, you can choose based on their benefits. Clays are negatively charged, making them powerful detoxifiers, as they can attract positively charged ions and scalp build-up.
They also promote healthy hair growth. Clay can draw out excess oil and impurities or dirt from your hair and skin when combined with water. It can also unclog pores and combat dandruff. It combats hair loss and makes your hair softer, enhances curls, and whatnot!
Bentonite clay
It helps detox and clarifies your scalp. Gray or ash-colored bentonite clay is the best quality compared to chalky clay. Bentonite clay hair mask is common for nourishing and restoring hair and scalp health.
Cleansing and clarifying, or even as a hair wash. If you’re looking to stimulate hair growth, curb hair loss, graying, and hair breakage, improve hair volume, or combat dandruff, all you need is Bentonite clay!
Moroccan red clay
It is a gentle cleanser and doesn’t strip your hair or scalp of its natural oils. It is also a conditioner and leaves your hair soft and moisturized.
Rich in antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, it soothes your scalp, combats inflammation, flaking, and dryness, and is often used to treat scalp psoriasis. It unclogs pores and promotes hair growth. Rich in minerals, it conditions hair and softens your locks.
Kaolin clay
Kaolin clay’s pH level is the lowest and considered gentle, but it effectively removes dead skin cells. It is the best choice when you have sensitive skin and scalp.
Also, if your scalp is irritated or inflamed, choose this mild clay to soothe and cleanse. Fun fact – you get this clay in different shades thanks to the mineral content!
French Green Clay
It is predominantly found in France, though it’s also found in China, Europe, Wyoming, etc. It’s also called Sea clay, and the light green shade is due to decomposed plant deposits and iron oxide.
It is rich in magnesium, potassium, and calcium, making it great hair food. It’s great for oily hair and scalp.
Volcanic clay
It is good for detoxing and adding minerals to your hair and scalp. Fuller’s earth is a volcanic ash clay known for its ability to combat excess sebum levels.
Oily hair or scalp? This is another clay you can consider. It’s a great cleanser, combats dandruff hair fall, and exfoliates scalp to eliminate dandruff.
Rich source of silica, Australian pink clay can be ideal if you’re fighting hair damage. It makes your hair soft and improves hair texture. It gets rid of impurities that cause hair damage and strengthens hair follicles.
Notes
You can use Jojoba oil instead of coconut oil as it suits all hair types, unlike coconut oil, which could leave certain hair types dry and parched.
Use organic and cold-pressed coconut oil for best results – this solidifies at room temperature and should be melted unless it is processed or fractionated, when it might not solidify.
You can use olive or even sweet almond oil instead of coconut oil, not just Jojoba oil. Unlike jojoba oil, that’s a liquid wax, these oils might need slightly more Shea butter for the right consistency in hair wax.
As mentioned earlier, coconut oil solidifies, so we’ve chosen coconut oil here. So, Jojoba oil is a closer match, but when you swap it for other oils, slightly alter the ratio to get the right consistency and results.
Add a little clay to get the right consistency if your clay turns runny. You can also add a little wax and clay to set it.
You can use cocoa butter instead of shea butter. You can use 3/4th or less of what you would use when using shea butter in the recipe.
The essential oil chosen is not a hard and fast rule. Choose the essential oils you have or prefer instead.
Shelf Life
The ideal shelf life is about a couple of months. Though it lasts longer than that, the texture can sometimes change slightly to a lighter consistency. Of course, you can add body, whisk, and use or prepare a fresh batch. You don’t have to refrigerate your hair clay.
Why Use this Clay?
It’s made using natural ingredients that are usually available for the most part.
Easy to prepare and costs a fraction when compared to store-bought hair waxes.
Beneficial to hair health, not just a styling aid – thanks to the nourishing formulation.
Free from preservatives and harmful chemicals.
Nourishes your hair roots and strengthens hair instead of damaging it like store-bought hair clays.
Clay is a natural conditioner and a great addition to your hair care regimen.
Clay Vs. Wax – What to Use?
Let’s take a look at the key differences and what’s what, so you can choose what works best for you.
Wax is usually oil-based. Clay can be oil-based, but it’s not predominantly oil. The texture of the clay is pliable and dry, whereas wax is oily or dense and hard.
Clay is more suited for all hair types. It boosts volume for thin and limp hair and adds definition to thicker locks. Wax needs to be layered for even distribution in thicker hair, and for thinner hair, you might need to use something to spruce up your volume so the wax doesn’t make your hair look more thinner and show the scalp everywhere by weighing it down.
Clay is easier to scoop and apply to your hair. It also allows for restyling. Wax can be hard to remove and must be warmed between your hands to make applying it a little easier.
Want to add texture or body? Styling clay is your best bet! Also, clay has a more subtle matte finish and is ideal for casual looks. Wax adds definition and makes your hair look neat and sleek. Waxes usually have a glossy finish and are suitable for formal events or night outs.
Comparatively, clay is easier to wash off than styling wax. Unlike clays that can wash off fairly better with normal shampoo, washing off oil-based products will need cleansing and clarifying.
Here we have only covered clay and wax as their similar choices. DO try it out and see what works out for you best.
Conclusion
DIY hair clay is a natural, healthy, and effective alternative to commercial hair styling products. You can make your own hair clay at home with just a few ingredients.
DIY hair styling clay is easy to make and customize according to your hair type and preferences. Following these simple steps, you can make your own DIY hair clay and flaunt healthy, natural, and lustrous locks.
Say goodbye to harsh chemicals and hello to healthy hair with DIY recipes for life!
Don’t have time for DIY recipes? No worries, we’ve got you back with a range of vegan hair cosmetics from Vitamins Revive. Do check out their online store and let us know how you like their products. As always, please write to us with any questions or concerns. We love hearing from you all.
