Bentonite Clay

Hi Ladies-

I almost forgot how great bentonite clay can be as a clarifier for your hair. At the moment, I am only using bentonite mixed with water & acv. Can you all please share your recipes with me? I'd like to add something to my mix to make it a bit more slippery and moist. Thanks!

I mix it with plain yogurt and add a splash of acv. I might add a little water, but it's mostly yogurt. My hair loves it! It leaves my hair soft, moisturized and defined.

Is this the same bentonite clay that is used for facials? If so, I have some under the cabinet. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

how often do you use the clay as a clarifier? you don't use any other clarifier, such as dr.bronner's or baking soda?

@labon... yes, this is the same clay

@dajewel... i was using avalon organics clarifying shampoo. my hair feels so dry after using that. i sometimes add baking soda to my conditioners but i still had build-up and started to get dandruff. does dr. bonners make your hair really dry?

@moni does your hair feel clean after you use it? or is it more like a conditioner with the yogurt? thank you so much for responding ladies!!

sewdope wrote:@moni does your hair feel clean after you use it? or is it more like a conditioner with the yogurt? thank you so much for responding ladies!!

It's a bit of both. It's been so long since I did it (bad me), that I don't remember exactly, but i think I'd apply bentonite, then deep condition and detangle. I would massage the bentonite into my scalp when I applied, leave it for 5-10 minutes, then massage again when I rinsed it out, so it got my hair pretty clean. I'd also sometimes add a small amount of baking soda for extra cleansing power. My hair would feel pretty soft, but i'd still deep condition, out of habit and also because I was afraid it would get dry more quickly if i didn't.

Hi, I'm new to the site. I'm going to try a bentonite treatment this weekend using the Aztec clay, coconut milk and olive oil. Will post back with the results.

I really liked the bentontie clay! I used a mixture of the Aztec Secret, organic coconut milk, EV olive oil and honey. The application and rinsing was a bit messy for my tub but the results were very positive. I had enough mixture left over to use on my face and body too!

The coconut milk added a lot of moisture and after washing out the mask, my hair felt really soft and the curl pattern was much more defined (the clay seems to mold the hair into ringlets). Afterwards, I heat condiitoned with Jessicurl WDT (love it) and twisted my hair with a combination of my current favorite products:
QB Cocoa Detangling Ghee (leave in)
QB Honey Hydrating Balm
and a bit of KCCC.

Overall, I think I will use the bentonite clay twice a month. Here's a quick pic of my hair from the office this morning post BenC.

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I generally just mix my clay with water if I use it on my hair. I've heard of people mixing it with water and fenugreek or marshmallow root since they both provide great slip.

I have a mix of clay, yogurt, a little baking soda, acv and water on my hair now. Off to wash!

Update: my hair was soft, clean and super defined when I rinsed the clay out. Hangage like I've never seen before! I did an overnight DC, since I haven't DCed in a while, then I'll rinse that out and style later tonight. My hair and scalp felt thoroughly clean, but not stripped. I don't know if I'll go back to shampoo ever!

I love bentonite clay. I slap it all over my face and hair. I need to stop being lazy and do it more often. I use it with filtered water and ACV. Great stuff!!

where can this clay be purchased? Does it just clarify the hair? Is it similar to amla powder?

I purchased a tub of the Aztec Secret Healing Clay from my local Whole Foods. I believe it is also sold at the Vitamin Shoppe. It clarifies the hair, defines the curl pattern and moisturizes, especially if you add honey, yoghurt and coconut milk.

This forum is doing nothing for my pocket book(as my grandma calls it). I've been wanting to do a betonite clay facial but now I might as well give it a go on my hair too. I'll report back after I give this a try.

Afrikan Latina: The clay costs about 6.00 for a small tub. A can of coconut milk is about 1.99. Not to much of a splurge.

dangit yokiedokie!! Okay, I'll be giving it a try sooner than later. Where do you get your betonite clay from? I believe I've seen it at Whole Foods but its probably overpriced there.

Whole Foods

lol i went back and read...shame on me for just skimming and missing that part. thanks!

@ AfrikanLatina - I've seen it cheaper at The Vitamin Shoppe...Whole Foods is always overpriced.

I love bentonite clay for the mere fact that my hair doesn't feel devoid of moisture but still clean! I only use ACV in my mixture...Braggs is the brand I use.

sewdope wrote:@labon... yes, this is the same clay

@dajewel... i was using avalon organics clarifying shampoo. my hair feels so dry after using that. i sometimes add baking soda to my conditioners but i still had build-up and started to get dandruff. does dr. bonners make your hair really dry?

i used it concentrated, and i didn't notice dry hair.

I use it mixed with water and ACV. i never thought of using yogurt. for those of you who use yogurt, do you use water too?

I use mostly yogurt (about the amount in a single size carton of yogurt) and acv for their positive effects on my hair. I just use enough water to get it to the right consistency to spread through my hair. Some yogurts are more runny then others, so I use a lot less water with more runny yogurt.

Another suggestion that I haven't tried is to use plain kefir, which is kinda like liquid yogurt, so you get the liquid consistency and the yogurt benefits. I think I'll try this when I wash next weekend and let y'all know how it goes!

Great. thanks for the info Moni!

This clay sounds like AMLA POWDER. Clarifies and defines curls. But I would like to try this clay. Sounds like it would be great for the face too.

Can anyone give me their recipes with exact amount for the clay mixture? Especially how much acv do you put in? And what about Aloe in the mix (don't really want to use yogurt)?