It's no secret that I have far more face masks sitting on my skincare shelf than any one person really needs, but it's one area where I think an abundance of choices is, if not totally justified, then at least acceptable. Plus, the plethora was the inspiration for this fantastic hair trick that I've been loving for the past four or five months.
You may have seen clay-based shampoos or scalp masks floating around, but what I love about this method is that it combines two components most of us already have lying around and rejigs them together for a brand new use. It's super simple, gives great results, and only takes a minute or two longer than an ordinary wash!
Why put clay in your hair?
Much the same way as it does for your face and body, clay applied to your scalp will pull out any oils, dirt, debris, and toxins that have accumulated in the pores and hair follicles. Not only is this clarifying, it also encourages hair growth since blocked hair follicles have been linked to hair loss and thinning hair. Clay also offers soothing properties and a boost of minerals that can help combat an itchy scalp or dandruff.
Applied through the actual lengths of the hair, the clay helps to strip away any accumulated hair products or buildup. It doesn't dry out the hair, and it also lends an extra oomph of volume, both at the roots and throughout.
The Simplest Recipe Ever
You'll Need:
Clay or Clay-Based Face Mask (hydrated)
Shampoo
Method:
Combine one part clay to two parts shampoo in the palm of your hand. Stir together, then lather through scalp and hair as usual. Make sure to really work the mixture into the scalp, then let sit for 1-2 minutes. Rinse out and follow with conditioner, as needed.
The Bottom Line
I've used various clarifying shampoos and homemade apple cider vinegar rinses over the years, but nothing has worked as well as this simple trick! I use this method every third or fourth wash and my hair is healthier and bouncier than it's been in a long time.
I don't suggest using a pricey $100 mask in your hair -- save those for your face!! -- but it's a great use for plain clay or simple blends. Different kinds of clay will give slightly different results, so it's definitely worth experimenting with more than one. For ease of use, my favorites have been already hydrated tubes of clay like the ones from Redmond or Chorus Supernatural (they're basically squeeze and go!) but dry clays absolutely work too. For powders, you'll need to wet a small amount before you hop in the shower and then proceed as above.
Have you used clay in your hair before?
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Face masks were the product that first sparked my love of skincare and they're still one of my favorite skincare items to experiment with. Most recently, I've been trying out the Rejuvenate and Detox Masques* from Argillaceous Naturals, a family-run skincare and cosmetics company that sells on Amazon.
Both masks are powder products that you activate with water. You get a TON of product, and there's no need for preservatives since the masks are kept dry until each individual use. This also helps the ingredients stay extra fresh and potent, and gives the masks a longer shelf life than most pre-mixed products.
Rejuvenate Facial Masque
The Rejuvenate Masque is a hybrid between a clay mask and a hydrating and brightening treatment. Rhassoul, one of the gentler clays, works to draw out dirt and impurities, while cucumber extract provides a dose of hydration and vitamins, and colloidal oatmeal soothes and nourishes the skin. Goat milk powder also gently exfoliates away dead skin cells and cacao and grape seed extract provide antioxidants and boost circulation.
All these great ingredients come together to create a mask that simultaneously cleans and nourishes. The Rejuvenate Masque leaves my skin looking fresh, bright and healthy. It's not intensely detoxifying, but it does keep pores clear, while simultaneously adding that je ne sais quoi glow. It also smells incredible - like chocolate pudding for your face!
Detox Facial Masque
The Detox Facial Masque improves upon the traditional pairing of bentonite clay and activated charcoal by incorporating colloidal oatmeal and citric acid. A lot of clay masks will recommend mixing with apple cider vinegar, since the acidity of the vinegar works to counterbalance the extremely alkaline clay, but Argillaceous Naturals accomplishes the same thing with citric acid, so you're fine to use just water. The citric acid also helps gently slough off dead skin and debris, while colloidal oatmeal soothes skin and gently buffers the clay - without affecting its drawing power - for a mask that effectively detoxes and pulls out impurities, but won't leave skin feeling raw, chapped, or overly dry.
Detox masks can sometimes be a bit much for my sensitive skin, but I haven't had any issues with this one. I do experience some minor tingling/stinging when I first apply the mask - likely caused by the citric acid - but the sensation dissipates within the first couple minutes and my skin is never irritated or inflamed when I remove the mask. A thoughtfully formulated mask, it's excellent for clearing blackheads and clogged pores without damaging or stripping the skin.
The Bottom Line
I'm super impressed with both masks! The Detox Masque is a champ at addressing clogged pores and more problematic skin and the Rejuvenate Masque is a wonderful gentle treatment that noticeably brightens and refreshes.
Argillaceous Naturals unfortunately only ships within the US right now, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed they'll expand shipping in the future so everyone can get their hands on these fantastic masks!
*Press sample
I was contacted a couple months ago by Chorus Supernatural, a British Columbia company making natural skincare, hair care, body care, and wellness products. Like most Canadians, I get pretty excited about Canadian companies, and with an extensive range of products and items for kids and adults alike, Chorus Supernatural is a great discovery.
The entire line is free of synthetics and made with 100% naturally-sourced ingredients. The "Supernatural" part of the company's name relates to the 4 "supernatural" ingredients that Chorus includes in every product they make. These 4 ingredients are:
Lithia Mineral Water - Chorus uses water from an untainted hot spring in the Canadian Rockies. This water is rich in naturally-occurring lithium and has been shown to offer skin revitalizing benefits beyond that of ordinary distilled water.
Moor Mud - also known as Heilmoor clay, moor is a nutrient- and mineral-rich peat formed by thousands of years of decomposition of herbs, flowers, grasses, and other plants. Chorus's moor is sourced from remote locations in B.C., far from any industrial activity, ensuring that it remains pure and unpolluted.
Giant Kelp Seaweed - hand-harvested off the northern tip of Vancouver Island, giant kelp absorbs nutrients from the ocean and is rich in potassium, iodine, and 70 other nutrients, including iron, zinc, copper, cobalt, manganese, boron, and a variety of beneficial enzymes and proteins. Chorus uses a liquid seaweed extraction that preserves the chemical composition and nutrients of the seaweed better than dehydration processes that often require a lot of denaturing heat.
Clay - also sourced from Vancouver Island, Chorus uses clay with a unique blend of minerals, vitamins and crystalline gemstone substances. It starts out a dark green clay when wet, but dries down to an aqua blue color.
Chorus kindly sent me a few items from the line to try out. Let's jump into the products themselves!
CLEANSE Cleansing Gel* ($19.90 for 4.5 oz)
Cleanse is described as a low-foaming cleansing gel for normal to oily skin, but I haven't found it to be stripping or drying, so I think it could suit most skin types. With a unique, pearly-gel consistency, it glides effortlessly across the skin and rinses away cleanly. The instructions recommend using the cleanser on a cotton ball, but I much prefer using my fingers, as you would with most cleansing gels. The cleanser does a fine job removing face makeup, but I prefer to use something else around the eyes.
POLISH Facial Scrub* ($24.90 for 4.5 oz)
Polish is an extremely gentle scrub made with jojoba beads. It has a jelly-like consistency, and while the jojoba beads are noticeable, I don't feel like they do a very thorough job exfoliating my skin. I generally prefer scrubs that are a little more abrasive, but if you're looking for something extra gentle, Polish might be just the ticket. I did enjoy the relaxing chamomile-lavender scent and the fact that it didn't irritate or dry out my skin.
MASK Facial Mask* ($22.90 for 2.9 oz)
My favorite of the bunch, Mask is a facial treatment made of just 100% pure moor mud and lithia water. I've used other moor mud masks in the past and the rich peat is excellent for gentle detoxification and cleaning out the pores. Without any additional ingredients, the mask smells quite earthy - like, well, mud - so I like mixing in a drop or two of a skin-friendly essential oil like lavender or frankincense. The mask always leaves my skin looking fresh and glowy and is more gentle and less drying than other types of clay. The tube needs a good shake before each use, as the water and mud have a tendency to separate, but they blend back together easily, so it's no big deal. Both the fact that it's ready-to-go in a tube and that it only needs between 3 and 10 minutes on the skin, make this mask a great option for pampering in a hurry!
The Bottom Line
I love Chorus's affordable price point, that they're a Canadian company, and that they make a point of sourcing healthy, natural, and local ingredients for all their products. Of the three items I tried, I'm most smitten with Mask, an excellent gentle detox mask that's especially great when you're short on time. Cleanse is a good, non-drying cleanser that I think could work for a lot of different skin types, and while I personally would have liked a little more abrasiveness in Polish, I can see it being a hit for ultra-sensitive skin.
Have you tried anything from Chorus Supernatural?
* Press sample
