Does Bentonite Clay Remove Hair Color?

There’s no doubt that bentonite clay is a fantastic way to purify and detoxify the skin. Its insane growth in popularity in the skincare realm is a testament to that. But have you ever thought about using it on your hair? I first heard of this clay when I had freshly-dyed hair. I remember wondering: does bentonite clay remove hair color?

A local hairdresser had told me about the benefits of using this clay on hair.

So what exactly did I find out that day?

Ok, here’s the thing: Your hair has lots of excess oils and sebum, especially with all those creams and serums you use to style it.

There’s bound to be a build-up of gunk and grime in your locks.

These are the same things you aim to eliminate when you apply a clay mask to your face.

And as we know, clean, detoxified hair is the foundation for healthy hair.

We all want tresses that look shiny, styled easily, and absorb moisture efficiently.

Although it may be new to many, bentonite clay has been used on hair for centuries because of its amazing benefits.

Check out some of them here and see if it’s the holy grail hair ingredient you’ve been looking for.

What Is Bentonite Clay?

There have been so many bentonite clay mask trends online in recent years, especially in the skincare realm.

Some masks claim to eliminate blackheads.

There’s one that prides itself on making your face pulsate because of its intense purifying properties.

It’s undoubtedly grown in popularity in the beauty community.

But what even is bentonite clay, and why do its loyalists swear by it?

Bentonite clay, also commonly known as Aztec healing clay, is a mud that comes from the ash of volcanic rocks.

This mud is left under the sun to dry up and then sold usually in a powder format to beauty lovers worldwide.

Although bentonite clay is somewhat of a trendy beauty ingredient nowadays, it’s been around since ancient times.

It’s been used for centuries as a wound remedy, beauty secret, and even a therapeutic supplement taken orally.

This clay is highly absorbent, a lot like activated charcoal.

When activated, its negatively charged ions draw out toxins and impurities from the body, which are positively charged.

For this reason, bentonite clay is often used in the beauty world as a detoxifying agent to draw out oil and gunk from the skin and hair.

It’s a favorite among those with oily skin since it sucks out all the excess sebum that can cause breakouts on the face.

Bentonite clay also contains minerals beneficial to the body’s overall health, like potassium, sodium, and calcium.

The fact that these minerals are super helpful for hair growth is a lucky coincidence.

 

What Are The Benefits Of Bentonite Clay On Hair?

If you’re a personal care junkie, you’ll already know the wonderful purifying benefits of bentonite clay on your skin.

But what if I told you it provides even more benefits when used on your hair?

Here are some key benefits bentonite clay has to offer to bring your tresses back to life when they’re looking dull:

 

Removing dirt and impurities

Bentonite clay is constantly raved about by skincare enthusiasts because it draws out excess sebum and dirt clogging the skin.

Well, it does the same exact thing on your hair.

Its negative ions serve as a magnet that absorbs oils, minerals, heavy metals, and product build-up on the surface of your hair.

And once you rinse it off with water, all those nasty deposits are washed away too, leaving your hair clean and detoxified.

Because of this, bentonite clay can be a gentler alternative to clarifying shampoo, which can strip moisture out of already dry hair.

So if you feel like you’ve gone overboard with your styling products, you can always turn to this clay for a nice refresh.

It also adds a bit of volume to your hair after cleansing your locks.

This is because it eliminates all the gunk and grime weighing it down for so long.

It’s a fantastic way to purify your tresses while simultaneously adding body and bounce back.

 

Moisturizes your hair

This miracle clay also provides deep moisture to your hair, contrary to the easy assumption that ash can dry it out.

So if you suffer from a dry, flaky scalp or hair that looks dull, bentonite clay can help you out.

Because it softens, conditions, and adds more moisture to your locks, you’ll end up with smoother, more manageable hair.

That makes the job of styling it afterward a lot easier since you won’t have to battle against frizz and tangles.

 

Prevents and eliminates dandruff

Many people don’t know that dandruff is often a result of seborrheic dermatitis, a condition caused by a fungus overgrowth due to a super oily scalp.

Since bentonite clay absorbs excess sebum on your scalp, it protects your head from housing this fungus, thus reducing your chances of seeing those pesky white flakes on your shoulder.

Its deeply cleansing properties also help buff away dead skin cells and dandruff stuck on your scalp as it is.

It also has antimicrobial properties to protect you from fungal infections that can lead to a dry, itchy scalp with uncontrollable flaking.

 

Adds a natural shine to your locks

Because it gets rid of all of the gunk and oils in your hair, bentonite clay zaps away dullness in your locks and leaves it super clean.

And we all know that clean hair brings out its natural shine and luminosity.

Doing a bentonite clay treatment on your hair is a sure-shot way to get that healthy, glossy sheen back in your tresses without subjecting it to the greasiness and heaviness of oils and serums.

 

Makes your curls uber-defined

When activated with water or apple cider vinegar, bentonite clay mask will be smooth and paste-like.

When applied to curly hair, it helps form clumps, which is the secret to enhancing and defining your natural curl pattern.

This is also a benefit of cleansing the hair deeply.

Since no leftover deposits and nasty sebum weigh your hair down, nothing hampers your natural texture from letting loose.

Bentonite clay helps you achieve perfect, bouncy ringlets.

 

Promotes healthy hair growth

If you’ve been meaning to grow out your hair to make it strong and long, bentonite clay can also help.

It contains minerals like calcium, sodium, and potassium – all known to encourage the growth of strong locks.

And since the clay helps slough off dead skin cells clogging your hair follicles in the scalp, it creates the optimal environment for healthy hair growth.

 

How To Do A DIY Bentonite Hair Mask

Doing a hair mask is the most popular way of incorporating bentonite clay into your hair care routine.

And when it comes to concocting your mask, you can be as creative as you want!

 

Ingredients

If your goal is to simply cleanse your hair and get some shine back, you can stick with the classic clay, apple cider vinegar, and water combo.

Water helps activate the clay, while ACV adds some acidity for a glossy shine.

 

Method

Combine one part clay with one part water and ½ part ACV in a plastic bowl and mix it together.

You’ll want to avoid metal bowls because bentonite clay reacts quickly when in contact with metal, and you may lose out on all of its tremendous benefits.

If you’re looking for extra moisture, you can add a teaspoon or two of olive oil, coconut oil, or honey – whichever your hair responds to the best.

This adds a conditioning factor to your mask, which helps soften and smoothen it.

Your DIY mask should be thick and rich like yogurt, but still easy enough to apply on your hair with your fingers.

If your mixture is too dense, add more water.

Ensure that there are no lumps and random chunks of clay in it.

 

Application

Rinse your hair with warm water to help open up your hair cuticles.

Make sure your locks are damp, not sopping wet when you apply the mixture.

Apply it in sections to be sure you’re saturating every single strand of hair.

It may feel uncomfortable at first, especially when the clay starts to dry.

Just remember that the drying is external and only on the surface level – the clay is still working its magic to cleanse and moisturize your hair.

Just make sure to dampen your hair with water when it feels too dry.

Put your hair in a plastic cap and let it sit for 20-30 minutes before rinsing everything out in the shower.

Be very thorough with this – you don’t want a powdery, dull finish because some of the clay gets stuck in your hair.

You don’t need to shampoo your hair because it will already be squeaky clean by the time you rinse all the clay out.

But if your locks need extra hydration, follow up with a deep conditioner.

You can treat your hair to this mask every other week or so.

It’s a great way to detoxify and revitalize your hair, leaving it clean and lustrous.

 

Who Should And Shouldn’t Use Bentonite Clay On Their Hair?

Naturally curly hair will love bentonite clay for its ability to aid in curl definition.

Super coily curls are usually dehydrated, so the moisturization it provides is very beneficial.

The result is curls that are bouncy, defined, and shiny.

Bentonite clay is also perfect for ladies who have a jam-packed styling regimen.

Using creams, serums, and gels regularly can cause product build-up, even if you’re washing your hair every other day.

To give your hair a deeper cleanse and get rid of all those nasty deposits, bentonite clay is your best friend.

People who opt not to use shampoo and conditioner can also benefit immensely from bentonite clay.

It cleanses the scalp and hair while conditioning your locks to add shine and softness too.

It’s pretty much a two-in-one product for those with a more natural, no-shampoo lifestyle.

But if you have chemically processed hair, you might want to steer clear of bentonite clay.

Its negative ions draw synthetic chemicals like fillers out of your hair, effectively undoing your chemical treatments.

Trust me; you’ll be better off with your well-loved deep conditioners and protein treatments.

 

Does Bentonite Clay Remove Hair Color?

Yes, bentonite clay does help fade hair color faster.

While it won’t do anything to your natural hair color, it can strip dye from your locks.

We’ve already established that one of bentonite clay’s most definitive attributes is its ability to get rid of toxins and synthetics deep in your hair shaft, thanks to its negative ions.

And since the artificial dye is a foreign substance in your hair, it absorbs and sucks that out too.

So if you want to maintain your new hair color’s vibrancy, you’d do well to stay far away from bentonite clay masks.

It will wash out your color slowly but surely, or at the very least fade it so that it doesn’t look as bright and vivid as it once was.

If you purposefully want to remove your hair color with bentonite clay, you can do so with the classic mixture of apple cider vinegar.

But instead of keeping the mask in your locks for just half an hour, you need to extend it to a couple of hours before rinsing it out.

Granted, bentonite clay won’t get rid of all your color after just one attempt.

It strips some of it off to reveal your natural pigment laying underneath, but you may have leftover color after your first go.

You may have to do it repetitively across several weeks to get rid of all your color gradually.

Related Post: How To Fix Patchy Hair Dye

 

Conclusion

The next time you feel like your hair is weighed down and your curls aren’t, defined grab a tub of bentonite clay in your local drugstore.

You may also want to use this clay if there’s a stubborn greasiness in your locks you just can’t seem to get rid of,

It’s a fabulous detox for natural hair with lots of nasty build-up or curly hair that needs to be brought back to life.

I’ve also answered the question: “Does bentonite clay remove hair color?”

Ladies, if you have relaxed or colored hair, it would be best to sit this one out.

Get on the bandwagon and experience the benefits of bentonite clay for yourself!

I have a feeling this versatile clay is going to be your favorite miracle ingredient for restoring shine, bounce, and even a boost of volume.

With one masking session, you can feel the wonders of bentonite clay that have been celebrated for centuries.

You’ll end up with uber-clean, shiny hair that is happy and healthy in every way possible.