Your hair goes through a lot every day. When it is not being pounded by pollution, the sun, and styling, it collects build up from the serums, shampoos, and conditioners that you use to keep it healthy. Your hair starts to become dull and lifeless. It’s even worse if you have cool-toned hair, as all the build up is likely to give it an undesirable yellow tint. This is when a hair detox comes in handy.
What Is Hair Detox?
A detox is just the thing your hair needs to get a fresh start. It helps remove not only the dirt and grime from your hair but also the build up that hair care products leave behind. This layer of gunk, if not removed, can keep your hair from receiving the benefits of even a completely sound hair care routine. A detox helps cleanse your hair of the gunk and makes it more susceptible to other hair care treatments.
Why Should You Detox?
Even healthy hair is constantly collecting dirt, grime, and product residue. Regularly washing your hair is not enough to keep it clean. In fact, the shampoos and conditioners you use are bound to leave some residue of their own in your hair. Although completely detoxing your hair may take time, you can feel the difference right from the first session.
Wondering how to detox your hair? Worry not, there are many different kinds of hair detox treatments. Below, I have put together the best 10 homemade recipes that will clean your hair of toxins and build up and give you pretty, shiny hair.
Detox Recipes For Hair That Work
- Coconut Milk And Aloe Shampoo
- Bentonite Clay And Aloe
- Baking Soda
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Sea Salt Clarifying Shampoo
- Honey Shampoo
- Coconut Milk Shampoo
- Cucumber And Lemon
- Shikakai
- Cinnamon Detox Mask
1. Coconut Milk And Aloe Shampoo
You Will Need
- 1 can coconut milk
- 1 3/4 cups pure aloe vera gel
- Essential oil (optional)
Instructions
- Whisk the ingredients in a bowl until you get a smooth paste.
- Pour the mixture into an ice-cube tray and freeze.
- Pop a cube out and place it in a bowl in the refrigerator the night before you plan on using it.
- The next morning, wet your hair and then work the mixture into your scalp and hair as you would with your regular shampoo.
Benefits
This shampoo helps balance out the pH of your scalp and helps get rid of dirt, grime, and product build-up.
How Often?
Use this shampoo once a week to keep your hair clean and toxin-free.
2. Bentonite Clay And Aloe Vera
You Will Need
- 1/2 cup bentonite clay powder
- 1/2 cup pure aloe vera gel
- 4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Mix the bentonite clay, aloe gel, and 4 tbsp of ACV until you get a smooth paste.
- Apply the mixture to your scalp and hair.
- Wear a shower cap and wait for 20-30 minutes. Ensure that the mask is not drying up.
- Rinse the mixture out with a cup of vinegar.
- Wait for 2-3 minutes and then shampoo and condition.
Benefits
The clay draws out the minerals and toxins from your hair with its strong negative electromagnetic charge. The aloe gel contains nourishing properties as well as antioxidants that keep your hair healthy.
How Often?
You can use this bentonite clay recipe once in two weeks to detox your hair. If you want to do it more often, skip using the cup of vinegar to rinse your hair.
3. Baking Soda
You Will Need
- 1/2 cup baking soda
- 3 cups hot water
Instructions
- Mix the baking soda in hot water and keep it aside.
- Rinse your hair until it is completely wet.
- Pour the baking soda and water mixture through your hair.
- Work it in well and massage your scalp for a couple of minutes.
- Rinse it out and condition to seal the detox.
- Optionally, you can use raw honey to condition your hair.
Benefits
The warm water will lift your cuticles, allowing for some deep cleaning action. Baking soda removes the build-up of oils, battles dandruff, and eliminates product build-up from your hair shafts and your scalp.
How Often?
You can use this baking soda detox once a week or once every two weeks depending on how dry or oily your hair is.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar
You Will Need
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 cups water
Instructions
- Dilute the apple cider vinegar with two cups of water.
- Shampoo and condition your hair as usual.
- Pour the diluted ACV through your hair and do not rinse it further.
Benefits
Apple cider vinegar cleans your hair without stripping away its natural oils. This is one of the easiest ways to detox your hair and it works best when you use the rinse after using natural sulfate-free shampoos.
How Often?
You can rinse your hair with apple cider vinegar once a week or once in two weeks.
5. Sea Salt Clarifying Shampoo
You Will Need
- 2 parts coarse sea salt
- 1 part shampoo
Instructions
- Mix the sea salt and shampoo to create your own sea salt clarifying shampoo.
- Work it into your hair until you get a good lather.
- Rinse off with cool water.
Benefits
This exfoliating salt and shampoo mix will get rid of the dead skin cells and clean your hair of product build up.
How Often?
Use this salt detox once a month.
6. Honey Shampoo
You Will Need
- 1 tablespoon raw honey
- 3 tablespoons filtered water
- Essential oils of your choice (optional)
Instructions
- Add the honey to the water and mix until it is well-combined.
- Wet your hair and work the mixture in.
- Concentrate on your scalp and work your way down to the tips.
- Rinse off with cool/lukewarm water.
- Optionally, you can wash off the honey shampoo with an ACV rinse.
Benefits
Honey is a humectant that keeps your hair soft and moisturized. After the initial transition period from chemical shampoo to honey shampoo, you will find that your hair is in much better condition because of all the chemicals that you’re avoiding.
How Often?
You can use this honey shampoo whenever your hair feels like it needs a wash.
7. Coconut Milk Shampoo
You Will Need
- 1/4 cup coconut milk
- 1/3 cup castile soap
- 2 capsules vitamin E oil
- 15-20 drops fragrant essential oil (optional)
Instructions
- Mix the ingredients and store it in a shampoo bottle or a pump bottle.
- Wet your hair and work the mixture in as you would with your regular shampoo.
- Concentrate on the scalp and work your way down to the tips.
Benefits
This mixture contains high levels of antioxidants and protein. The castile soap is an effective cleanser that will remove product build up. Switching from your regular shampoo to this natural one will transform your hair in a matter of weeks.
How Often?
Use this natural shampoo as often as you would your regular shampoo.
8. Cucumber And Lemon
You Will Need
- 1 large lemon
- 1 medium sized cucumber
- Essential oils (optional)
Instructions
- Peel the cucumber and lemon and chop them into small pieces.
- Blend the ingredients with an essential oil of your choice.
- Use this mix as you would your regular shampoo.
Benefits
The citric acid in the lemon cleans your scalp while the cucumber soothes it. This is the perfect detox for people with oily scalps. It gets rid of build up, grease, dandruff, and promotes healthy hair growth.
How Often?
Use this cucumber and lemon mix as often as you would your regular shampoo.
9. Shikakai
You Will Need
- 2 tablespoons shikakai powder
- Water
Instructions
- Add enough water to the shikakai powder to form a paste.
- Wet your hair and work the shikakai paste through it, concentrating on your scalp.
- Massage your scalp for 2 minutes and work the paste down the length of your hair.
- Rinse with cool water.
Benefits
Shikakai contains natural saponins that help clean your hair and scalp. It also is rich in vitamins A, C, D, E, and K, making it a highly nourishing ingredient for your hair.
How Often?
Use shikakai as often as you would your regular shampoo.
10. Cinnamon Detox Mask
You Will Need
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Combine the ingredients in a bowl and mix until you get a smooth consistency.
- Massage the mixture into your scalp and work it through your hair in sections.
- Leave it in for 20 minutes and then rinse your hair.
Benefits
This mask pulls out the grime and build-up from your hair while its high antioxidant content prevents hair damage and keeps it healthy.
How Often?
Use this cinnamon detox mask once a week for best results.
Foods That Help Detox Your Hair
The two most important things you can consume to keep your hair healthy are water and protein. Keeping yourself hydrated and loading up on proteins will ensure that your hair grows out healthy, making it less susceptible to damage. Apart from this, having a balanced diet that is loaded with vitamins and minerals will ensure hair health in the long term.
Giving your hair a fresh start can go a long way in maintaining its long-term health. Whether you use a quick bentonite clay mask or make a switch to using natural shampoos, getting rid of the grime and toxins in your hair will leave it feeling amazing and looking beautiful.
Do you have any of your own natural hair detox recipes? Let us know in the comments section below.
