White clay is often called kaolin because it is composed of the clay mineral kaolinite, which is formed through the natural weathering processes of certain rocks.
Kaolin got its name from the Chinese province where it was first discovered.
The healing properties of kaolin were discovered several thousand years ago. They have been successfully used for general strengthening of the body, as well as to preserve the beauty of curls and youthful skin. Nowadays, kaolin is again used in medicine and cosmetology.
What are the benefits of masks?
Kaolin therapy is one of the oldest branches of traditional medicine. Since time immemorial, preparations from it have been used to heal skin ailments, treat patients with diarthrosis and the consequences of intoxication. With its help, doctors of that time tried to resist even epidemic diseases.
The effect of white clay is beneficial for hair follicles, nutrition and strengthening of their roots. Thanks to kaolin masks, the functioning of the sebaceous glands is normalized, curls gain volume, and stop falling out and breaking.
All these valuable qualities are due to the peculiarities of the chemical composition of white clay. The presence of silicon (almost half of any clay consists of it) contributes to:
- Normalization of sebum production.
- Deep cleansing of hair and skin from all types of impurities.
- The production of your own collagen in the body's cells.
- Strengthening strands and stimulating their growth.
The aluminum content is responsible for the drying properties of kaolin, and zinc provides its antibacterial properties.
Useful properties of kaolin
Already in ancient times it was noticed that bacteria cannot live and multiply in white clay. Moreover: healers widely used its ability to destroy pathogenic microflora and neutralize the effects of toxic substances.
- Kaolin is an excellent absorbent: once it enters the large intestine (if taken orally), it absorbs toxic secretions of pathogenic microflora. This is how it exhibits its antibacterial and cleansing effects.
- The antiseptic qualities of white clay allow it to be used to cleanse the skin and prevent dandruff. Regular use of kaolin-based cosmetic masks and baths significantly improves the appearance and condition of the skin.
- The presence of a number of minerals and trace elements in kaolin is beneficial both for preserving beauty and promoting health.
- Kaolin has a whitening effect and is often used to improve complexion.
- The antibacterial properties of white clay are actively used to eliminate inflammatory processes and destroy pustules and pimples.
- Kaolin improves skin turgor, smoothing out wrinkles and making them less noticeable. For the same reason, swelling under the eyes disappears without a trace.
- White clay helps to cope with heaviness in the legs and excessive sweating.
You can buy this miraculous remedy in pharmacies and cosmetic stores: it is sold both in pure form and as part of a variety of cosmetics.
Peelings
Only a few people use white clay as a hair exfoliant. But curls also need periodic deep cleansing. This is especially true for those who systematically use hair styling and fixation products. Their residues are constantly present on the hair and scalp.
If they are not removed from time to time, they can cause irritation, dandruff, itching and even cause alopecia.
A light peeling effect can be achieved by simply adding a small amount of clay to your regular shampoo. Don't pour it directly into the bottle. It is better to pour into a separate container the volume required for one-time shampooing and pour in enough clay so that the liquid consistency of the shampoo is preserved, but it is well whitened.
Then distribute it evenly over wet hair, lather and rinse thoroughly.
For deep peeling, the clay must be diluted with water or herbal decoction (chamomile, St. John's wort, sage, calendula, green tea) to the consistency of liquid sour cream.
Peeling is done on clean, damp hair. The mixture should be applied to the scalp and gently massaged, then combed down along the length with a thick comb and left for 5-10 minutes. Rinse well (without shampoo!), allow the hair to dry naturally and apply a moisturizer.
Application for hair
Kaolin is a truly irreplaceable substance that helps cleanse and nourish the skin of the face, as well as improve the condition and accelerate the growth of curls. There are a huge number of recipes for cosmetic masks designed for different types of hair.
How to deal with split ends of hair? Sectioned areas become dull and unusually brittle. Trimming the affected ends does not give the desired effect, since soon the process is repeated, and cutting becomes inevitable. To make your hair healthy by strengthening and restoring its structure, you need to regularly use hair masks against split ends.
Aromatic and healthy orange oil not only gives pleasure, but also has many beneficial properties. Just a few drops of this ether will provide beautiful and strong hair without dandruff. Reviews and recommendations for use in this article.
Video review of Garnier hair oil and user reviews about it
For fatty people
- Three dessert (heaped) spoons of white clay are diluted with warm boiled water or nettle infusion until a creamy mass is obtained. Adding twelve drops of essential oil will improve the effect of the composition. The product is initially applied to the roots of the strands, and then evenly distributed along their entire length. Putting on an oilcloth cap, wait half an hour, then wash off the mask with plenty of warm water. The use of shampoo is not recommended, since clay will perfectly cleanse hair of all types of impurities. But a balm after a clay mask will come in very handy, especially for curls that are prone to tangling.
- For oily seborrhea, the following composition is very effective. Two full dessert spoons of white clay are dissolved in a warm infusion of oak bark or St. John's wort, ten drops of any essential oil are added. Having evenly distributed the composition on the hair, put on a rubber cap and insulate the hair with a scarf or soft cloth. After half an hour, rinse off the product very thoroughly with warm water, apply a balm and rinse just as thoroughly, since clay remaining on the head can only aggravate the situation.
Good reviews about the hair mask with dimexide and vitamins. This miracle mask helps restore hair structure in the shortest possible time, so take the recipe into account.
Reviews
Svetlana: I regularly make masks from white clay with rice extract
bran This product has a greasy texture and a very pleasant smell. It applies easily, rinses off perfectly, and does not weigh down the hair.
After this mask, my curls become soft, smooth and shiny. They also comb perfectly and fall out much less often.
Carolina: when I first used a mask for oily hair, using the manufacturer’s recommendations (applying it to freshly washed strands), I ended up with a mop of extremely dry and dehydrated curls. Having tried it on dirty hair, I got the desired effect: the mask perfectly absorbed oil, gave the hair additional volume, cleanliness and freshness. Now I only use my own method: apply it to greasy strands, let it sit for a couple of minutes and rinse with warm water without subsequent use of shampoo. I am very pleased with the result.
One of the effective ways to get rid of dandruff is shampoos. You can buy cosmetic shampoo, but you should know that it only washes away dandruff. But if a person stops using it, the problem arises again. A more acceptable method is medicated anti-dandruff shampoos in the pharmacy, names and reviews in our article.
For dry
Here is a proven recipe for a mask used to nourish dry curls. The method of application and rinsing is traditional.
- Grind a pod of medium-sized bell pepper in a blender, add to it a full dessert spoon of kaolin and a couple of the same spoons of full-fat kefir. Apply to the roots and entire length of the hair.
For growth
Composition prepared from white clay (two full dessert spoons) and mineral water (still)
promotes accelerated growth of strands.
By mixing clay with water, a creamy composition is obtained. After applying it to damp strands, wrap your head in cellophane film and a bath towel. After twenty minutes, remove with warm water.
Reviews Viola: I always dreamed of having long, silky hair, but my strands grew too slowly, and when they reached my shoulders, they began to split. I had to go to the hairdresser to remove their split ends. This continued until I heard about a white clay mask with mineral water. Using it four times a week, I was surprised to notice that my strands began to actively grow and acquired a healthy shine. I forgot about the problem of split ends. Now my hair is the source of my pride.
Ekaterina: I recommend a kaolin mask with non-carbonated mineral water to all girls whose hair grows too slowly. It makes your hair grow by leaps and bounds, but you should remember that after three months of using this mask you should take a three-month break. Only after the curls have rested and fully recovered, is it permissible to again turn to the help of white clay.
Flaxseed oil is a product that has amazing properties. But the beneficial properties of flaxseed oil are also known for the regeneration of damaged hair. Its use allows you to forget about dandruff and restore your hair’s natural radiance and beauty. Learn how to use flaxseed oil for hair.
Types of clay
Most often, the following clay is used to prepare cosmetics:
White clay
Kaolin is ideal for dry, damaged and weakened strands.
It contains nitrogen, calcium, magnesium and other useful trace elements.
The product has a cleansing effect; it deeply cleanses the pores of the skin, as a result of which the epidermis receives more oxygen and nutrients.
Another positive property is strengthening the structure of curls.
Since the product has a drying effect, it can be used when caring for oily scalp. Kaolin penetrates deeply into the pores, cleanses them of sebum, and eliminates excess oil.
The product also gives your curls extra volume and keeps them clean longer.
Blue clay
This clay powder is universal and can be used for any hair type.
The product can be used for the following purposes:
- For deep cleansing of the scalp and hair. The product absorbs fat, regulates the activity of the sebaceous glands, and cleanses pores.
- To prevent hair loss. The product contains a large number of useful microelements that have a beneficial effect on the hair roots, strengthening them.
- To stimulate growth, add volume, shine and eliminate fragility.
Homemade mask recipes
Kaolin masks can be performed independently, observing a number of prerequisites:
- The liquid for diluting the components (water, herbal infusion, kefir or green tea) must be warm, since boiling water can deprive them of a significant part of their beneficial properties, and they simply will not dissolve in cold water.
- The composition should be prepared only before application. When frozen, it will lose its beneficial qualities.
- After completing the application of the mask, be sure to warm your head.
With clay and burdock oil
This version of the mask strengthens the hair roots.
Beat the yolk into the mass obtained from three dessert spoons of white clay and water and pour in a dessert spoon of burdock oil.
Leave on hair for at least twenty minutes.
With egg A mask prepared according to this recipe promotes accelerated hair growth and thickness. First, prepare the liquid base by thoroughly whisking sea buckthorn oil (a dessert spoon), a small spoon of honey and chicken yolk. Pour two dessert spoons of white clay into this mass. The exposure time on the hair is thirty minutes. It is recommended to wash off with shampoo.
With egg and sour cream This recipe is good for strengthening the hair structure. A creamy mass is prepared from water and three tablespoons of kaolin. Add sour cream and natural honey (a teaspoon each), and the yolk of a chicken egg. After application, leave the mask on for at least twenty minutes.
With honey To strengthen the curls and give them shine, combine white clay, butter, honey, lemon juice, taking a teaspoon each. After adding the yolk of a chicken egg, the composition is stirred well and distributed throughout the entire mass of wet hair. After a quarter of an hour, remove with warm water and a small amount of shampoo.
With kefir This mask will strengthen your hair roots well. Two dessert spoons (with a heap) of kaolin are diluted with kefir until a liquid, creamy mass is formed. Distribute evenly throughout the head. Remove after half an hour.
With oils
- A mask with olive oil helps strengthen hair. Having prepared a sour cream-like mass from two tablespoons of kaolin and warm water, pour a dessert spoon of olive oil into it. After mixing, distribute throughout the hair and leave on the hair for at least a quarter of an hour.
- Masks with the addition of essential oils are prepared in a similar way. After diluting the clay with water, add ten drops of some essential oil to the mass (tea tree or rose oil is best). The mask exposure time is from 15 to 20 minutes.
Pepper tincture has a stimulating effect, as a result of which hair growth increases, it becomes thick, and it is possible to get rid of bald spots and split ends. Add recipes for hair masks with pepper tincture to your home storage box.
Watch the video: how to make a clay mask for oily and normal hair
How to apply it correctly?
When chosen correctly, hair clay will help make your curls more beautiful and your hairstyle brighter and more impressive. Before applying, be sure to wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner. Dry your hair completely or leave it slightly damp. Apply a small amount of product on your palms and warm it up slightly, then slowly apply the warm clay onto your hair with gentle movements, modeling the styling. You need to distribute it evenly and in a thin layer so as not to weigh down your hair.
To give a healthy look to the ends of the strands, the clay should be applied directly to this part. A significant advantage of using this product is that it is absolutely invisible on the hair. Clay has its own prohibitions. Do not use it on heavy or too dense hair; no fixing product can handle it. If you have never used clay, you should not take risks and style your hair yourself; the result may not be what you expected.
Do not use the product too often so as not to harm the structure and appearance of the hair.
Thanks to simple manipulations, stable styling is obtained, and at the same time, the hair is provided with beneficial vitamins and minerals. The strands will be voluminous, although they will look absolutely natural.
It happens that you forgot to close a jar of clay and it dried out. The question immediately arises whether it can be used and how to do it. This happens due to the evaporation of moisture from the surface, especially in winter. If the clay has hardened, you can carefully remove the top dried layer and continue to use it; it has not lost its qualities. The required amount should be warmed well with your hands before application.
How to apply matte clay is described in the following video:
Reviews
Love: white clay masks are my favorite way to nourish curls. Using them for three months, I get beautiful and shiny hair.
Maria: after treatment with kaolin masks, my hair stopped falling out, and my hair pleases with the shine of luxurious strands.
Ease of use, low cost and high efficiency - these are the three main advantages of white clay masks.
To guarantee the absolute safety of their effect on hair, kaolin should be purchased only from a network of trusted pharmacies, and in order not to dry out the scalp, causing brittle hair and dandruff, the procedure should be carried out no more than once a week. Read reviews about men's hair dye in this article. Reviews of the use of camphor oil for hair are here.
