NEW BEGINNINGS: Ways to Clarify Your Hair and Scalp
Last updated on August 5th, 2024 at 08:15 pm
When embarking on any new hair journey, it’s a great idea to start by clarifying your hair and scalp.
Benefits of Clarifying Your Hair
Clarifying your hair removes product build up from the hair shaft. When your hair shaft is clear of residual hair products, not only do your hair styles look better, your hair is able to more fully receive moisture and other nutrients from the hair products you use.
If you use styling products that are waxy or contain silicones, you’ll need to clarify regularly to keep your hair in good condition.
Benefits of Clarifying Your Scalp
When your scalp is clogged due to excess sebum, oils or hair products, your rate of hair growth can be slowed. Residue clogs the hair follicles and pores in the scalp.
Clarifying the hair and scalp can also detoxify them. This is especially true depending on how you clarify.
Let’s take a look at some methods you can employ to clarify your hair and your scalp.
Use a Clarifying Shampoo
Shampoos designed to clarify your hair will effectively remove product build up from your hair and scalp. The down side is these types of shampoos can strip away all of your natural oils, leaving your hair with a squeaky clean feeling that actually makes your hair strands a little weaker. Often times, the cuticle is lifted at this point.
Using a Clarifying Rinse
Unlike clarifying shampoos, clarifying rinses can do the job of removing product build up from your hair and scalp without the stripping effect.
Not to recommend a specific product, but here’s an example of such a product available on the market: Creme of Nature ACV Clarifying Rinse
Using Clays (Bentonite, Rhassoul & Kaolin)
Each of the clays: Bentonite, Rhassoul and Kaolin have properties that will help to clarify your hair:
Bentonite clay – This type of clay contains levels of either mostly sodium, calcium, potassium or magnesium. It has a negative anionic exchange so it helps to remove toxins that have a positive charge at a high rate of absorption.
Rhassoul clay – Also known as Ghassoul or Moroccan clay like bentonite, removes toxins that have a positive charge with a wide range of minerals at a moderate rate of absorption.
Kaolin Clay – This clay type removes toxins that have a negative charge with a low rate of absorption and not much mineral content.
You can create the most complete clay hair wash by using all three of these clays. Below is an easy recipe. Mix the following ingredients in a glass bowl using a plastic or wooden utensil:
- 1/2 cup rhassoul clay
- 1/3 cup bentonite clay
- 1/4 cup kaolin clay
- 1 cup of room temperature distilled water
- 3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
- 5 drops of peppermint, lavender or any essential oil you choose
Green Beauty on YouTube does an excellent job of explaining how clays can be used to clarify your hair. The recipe above is one that she recommends.
Related article from Wellness Mama: How to Detox Your Hair with Healing Clays & Mud
There’s multiple ways to mix up clays for a clarifying cleanser for your hair. Using the 3 above is just one way. You can also add herbs like Aritha to the mix. You can also mix in aloe vera juice in addition to/or in place of apple cider vinegar.
Using Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar (also called ACV) is an acidic substance with an alkalizing affect on the body. When used to clarify your hair, you can create a hair rinse with the apple cider vinegar:
- 2 tablespoons of ACV
- 8 ounces of water
If your hair is oily, use a little more apple cider vinegar. Something like:
- 1 part ACV
- 2 parts ACV
After cleansing your hair, use the ACV mixture as a final rinse. Thoroughly saturate your hair, waiting a few minutes before rinsing it out.
Apple cider vinegar not only clarifies the hair and scalp, it also smooths the hair shaft and helps to decrease dandruff.
There’s a number of ways to clarify your hair and scalp. You can opt to use one of the natural methods mentioned above or choose to purchase a product that’s formulated to get it done.
The method you use to clarify is up to you but always keep your hair goals in mind.
This post is a part of the New Beginnings Hair Series
