I was surprised to see that bentonite clay — one of the most popular facial masks out there — also has an alternate use for natural hair!
After making sure there were no hair loss horror stories lurking in the depths of Youtube — I decided to test the clay on my curls.
According to the YouTube reviews, the mask leaves natural hair softer, stronger, and completely free of buildup.
I was also happy to read that this clay has “no fragrances – no animal testing – no animal products,” according to its label.
“Mix clay with equal parts of raw applie cidar vinegar and/or water. Use a non-metal bowl and utensil. Stir the mixture well to a smooth paste. As more Clay or liquid as needed.”
I happened to have apple cider vinegar sitting in my bathroom cabinet, so I luckily didn’t have to buy anything outside of the clay for this DIY project.
Because I have sensitive skin and this was my first time using the mask, I decided to keep it in my hair for only 15 minutes exactly.
I didn’t want to risk irritating my scalp and having an itchy night’s sleep.
The mask left my hair feeling soft and my natural dark color looked VIBRANT — which lets me know the clay really did strip my hair of all the product buildup that can give hair a grey-ish cast.
As for my curls, I was even more pleased with how lovely my kinks looked after the clay mask. I certainly saw a difference in how my curls usually look when I get out of the shower.
Full disclosure: I have 4C natural hair — a texture that usually shrinks the most, gets dry much easier, and is more susceptible to breakage and tangles.
So, “curl defining” for me will never mean I automatically have looser, silkier curls after washing. 4C curls are super small and sometimes look nearly invisible if you’re looking for looser curls, or if product weighs your hair down so much that the curls don’t pop through.
If this clay mask made my hair feel this healthy in one wash, I am excited to see how the clay mask makes my hair feel over time!
