Just like your body, your hair and scalp also accumulate toxins over a period of time and can use a detox from time to time.Many people detox their hair because they’ve been using conventional hair care products made with chemical toxins or low-quality ingredients. Hair detox can help you get rid of the relaxers, or chemicals and to restart.
A detox can help rebalance your scalp. It rids your hair of suffocating build-up while nourishing the scalp. It helps clear the scalp of dandruff, acne and scabbing. It also stimulates hair follicles thereby improving the quality and texture of your hair.
Here are a couple of natural ways to do a hair detox:* Hair detox maskAs with all at-home methods, patch test before use, and immediately wash off if your skin feels uncomfortable. For this cost-effective detox mask,use three simple ingredients that can be applied in five easy steps.Combine 1/2 cup each of bentonite clay powder, apple cider vinegar, and aloe vera gel.Spread generously throughout hair, applying on the scalp as well. To avoid the mixture from drying out, place a shower cap on and sit for 20 to 30 minutes. Rinse your hair with 1 cup of white vinegar and allow it to sit for at least 1 to 3 minutes, then use a clarifying shampoo.Follow with shine boost rinse or detox hair soak immediately after.
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Oil based scalp massageFor more sensitive scalps, especially people who have had their hair relaxed or treated, an oil-based scalp massage may help.Choose the oils based on your hair needs, coconut oil works best for moisturizing dry and damaged hair, for thick and processed hair you can use olive oil, for damaged hair with itchy scalp jojoba oil works best, and to boost scalp health for reduced hair loss, argan oil can be helpful. You can also use essential oils mixed with carrier oils. Massage it deeply onto your scalp for 15 minutes. You can also wrap your hair in a shower cap to let it soak. Sit in the sun to let heat open up your hair’s pores.
To really let your hair detox take effect, you’ll want to avoid:
- dyeing your hair, as bleaching and colouring can damage your strands
- heating your hair with styling irons or scorching tools
- hair products with sodium laureth sulphate and sodium lauryl sulphate
After the detox, you’ll also want to stop using chemical or heavy treatments that change the natural state of your hair. If you have damaged hair, you will need to be patient as it may take a while for your hair to recover. Continue conditioning with nutrient-rich conditioners; you can go for conditioners free from sulphates and parabens. Use oils, and hair butter to seal the moisture in. Get regular trims to keep the ends healthy.
Do deep conditioning treatments at least once to twice a week, and space out the dying processes by at least a month before dying again. If you need to heat treat your hair, use a thermal treatment with silicone ingredients.