Gorgeous hair is our crowning glory. We leave no stone unturned to make our hair look silky, shiny, and voluminous. Several choices, like heat styling, chemical treatments, expensive hair care products, etc., help us achieve our dream tresses. But do you know that they can harm your hair more than good? You can still find it sad and lifeless if you have natural ‘untouched’ hair. Are you suffering from the same? Well, it is all because of the clogged and unhealthy scalp. So, to give your limp and dull hair a significant health boost and shine, you must clarify your scalp and hair. Many synthetic clarifying shampoos are available on the market, and some are effective. However, we will discuss some simple natural solutions that can be prepared at home easily. Let us know about three DIY recipes clarifying shampoos for natural hair and everything else about them.
What Is Natural Hair?
Natural hair is essentially the type of hair that has not undergone any artificial alterations. In other words, the hair has never been treated chemically. Such hair usually ranges from wavy to kinky-coily (straight natural hair is pretty rare), with many differences in texture and growth patterns. Natural black hair is drier and more fragile than other types of hair. It is tough to over-condition, so frequent conditioning or moisturizing can cause damage to such hair. However, natural hair is highly versatile, and various styles can be tried on it (1).
Pressed hair is considered natural even after being processed by heat as its texture automatically returns to the unaltered state right after washing.
What Is A Clarifying Shampoo?
Though clarifying the scalp is not a specialty hair treatment, it is vital to prepare your mane for something new. While traditional shampoos are good for regular scalp and hair cleansing, clarifying shampoos are essential for deeper and more effective cleansing. These heavy-duty shampoos cut through the buildups on the scalp and leave it and the hair squeaky clean. But what does contribute to their hardcore cleansing ability? Though clarifying shampoos contain 80-90% water, just like other hair cleansers, they have heavy surfactants as active ingredients that eliminate grease, impurities, and product residue. Some of the most common surfactants in commercially available clarifying shampoos include ammonium-sodium lauryl sulfate, chlorides or bromides, cetyl-fatty alcohols, etc. However, it is always good to skip such chemical formulations and prepare your own clarifying shampoo at home with natural ingredients (2).
Homemade clarifying shampoo recipes will not only make your hair free from buildups but also turn it softer, smoother, bouncier, and more voluminous.
Why Use Clarifying Shampoos On Natural Hair?
You must have wondered how clarifying shampoo is relevant to natural hair that has never gone through any heat or chemical treatment. Well-natural hair can also get affected due to poor scalp health, often resulting from buildups. Excessive production of sebum, too much use of hair styling products, frequent application of dry shampoo, and residue from your regular shampoo and conditioner can cling to your scalp and give you buildups. It has even been found that hard water, dirt, and dust can also make your freshly washed hair look heavy and limp. And all of these are damaging to the health of your tresses. Hence, breaking up with those sneaky culprits and bidding goodbye to that ickiness with a good clarifying shampoo is essential.
3 DIY Clarifying Shampoos For Natural Hair
Here is a compilation of simple and easy homemade clarifying shampoo recipes that will make your natural hair accessible from buildups and turn it softer, smoother, and bouncier. Check them out:
1. Baking Soda Clarifying Shampoo With Acid Rinse
When clarifying natural hair, nothing can beat the power of baking soda. This is the most basic recipe for a clarifying shampoo you can ever try at home, and it is as easy as 1-2-3! The recipe is divided into two parts, and we have described each part separately:
Part 1: Baking Soda Shampoo
Ingredients:
- Baking soda – 2 tablespoons
- Warm water – 2 cups (for preparing the mask and rinse)
- A mild shampoo – 1 tablespoon (for preparing the shampoo)
- Apple cider vinegar – 2 teaspoons (optional)
Instructions:
Pour the shampoo onto your palm and add baking soda to it. Mix well and apply to your scalp. Massage for a few minutes. Let it sit for ten more minutes. Then, shampoo your hair with your favorite herbal shampoo (or any other mild shampoo on your hair) and plain cold water.
Also Read – 10 Best Shampoos for Frizzy Hair – Tame Your Rebellious Hair Today!
There are also other ways to prepare and use this hair-clarifying mixture. You can use it as a mask or a rinse. Given below are the details:
- As A Mask – Pour baking soda into a mixing bowl. Add warm water and keep stirring until a smooth paste is formed. If you want to add ACV, blend well at this step. Apply the mask all over your scalp and hair. Massage the scalp gently for 5 minutes, wait for the next 10 minutes, and then wash off with plain water. Adding ACV to the mixture will generate a lather and help you get a foamy wash.
- As A Rinse – Take an empty spray/applicator bottle and spoon baking soda into it carefully. Add warm water to dissolve the baking soda entirely and ACV (if desired) to make a lather. Shake the bottle with its lid closed to mix all ingredients properly. Flip your hair, dampen it, and pour the mixture over it. Work it through your scalp as well as locks by using your fingers. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes. Then, rinse off thoroughly with tepid water followed by plain cold water.
Part 2: Acid Rinse
The bad part of a baking soda mask/rinse/shampoo is that it is alkaline. It can strip natural oils off your tresses, making them dry, dull, and frizzy. Hence, it is of utmost importance that you balance the high pH of baking soda with an acid rinse right after clarifying your hair. Here are a few choices:
1. Diluted Apple Cider Vinegar
Mix one teaspoon of raw apple cider vinegar with 2 to 3 cups of water and rinse your hair.
2. Diluted Lemon Juice
Squeeze out the juice of a large lemon into 3 cups of water and give your hair a good rinse with it. It works wonders for colored hair.
3. Aloe Vera Juice
If the smell of ACV or lemon bothers you, prepare an aloe rinse by combining two tablespoons of fresh aloe vera juice with 2 cups of water and use it as a final rinse.
4. Citric Acid
Add one tablespoon of citric acid crystals to 2 cups of boiling water and wait until they dissolve completely. Rinse your hair with this concoction.
Read Also – 8 Sure Shot Ways To Fix Greasy Hair Instantly
2. Bentonite Clay Clarifying Shampoo
A bentonite clay mask is suitable for eliminating scalp buildups, helping nourish our scalp, and improving our hair health substantially.
Ingredients:
- Bentonite clay – (1/2) cup
- Warm water – 3 to 4 tablespoons
- Apple cider vinegar – 1 tablespoon (optional)
Instructions:
Add warm water to bentonite clay and keep stirring. It should form a thick yet spreadable paste with no lumps in it. Add ACV and blend once again. Keep the paste aside and let it sit for half an hour. Then, apply it to your damp hair to cover the entire scalp and the hair strands. Prevent the mask from drying out by wearing a shower cap or wrapping a plastic wrap around your head. Rinse it off after 15-20 minutes and condition your hair as usual.
Read Also – 6 DIY Deep Conditioning Hair Masks For Dry And Damaged Hair
3. Dried Herb Clarifying Shampoo
Herbs like rosemary, thyme, etc., work as excellent natural hair clarifiers. Moreover, they strengthen the hair follicles and promote the growth of hair fibers.
Ingredients:
- Dried herb (leaves of thyme/rosemary) – 4 to 5 tablespoons
- Distilled warm – 3 cups
Instructions:
Bring 2 cups of distilled water to a boil. Add dried herb leaves to it and simmer for the next 15 minutes. Strain the concoction and cool it down. Add the remaining water to it and stir well. Rinse your hair with this mixture right after shampooing.
Side Effects Of Clarifying Shampoos
As previously noted, clarifying shampoos are more potent than regular shampoos and cleansers, effectively removing all oil and buildup from your hair strands. However, using them excessively can lead to a dry and flaky scalp, as their strong surfactants may strip away natural oils. This can leave your hair unhealthy, dull, and lifeless.
Also Read – Pick From These 16 Best Shampoos In India – Enviable Hair Is On Your Way!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Frequently Should I Use These Shampoos?
Clarifying shampoos are not an alternative to your regular hair cleansers. So, they should not be used too often. Use these shampoos occasionally, which can be once or twice every month. Otherwise, you can use them whenever your scalp needs a cleansing session.
How To Clean Natural Hair Without Shampoo?
Well, removing scalp buildup is impossible without a clarifying shampoo. However, you can give it a good cleanse by embracing the goodness of baking soda and white vinegar. Mix a tablespoon baking soda with two tablespoons of white vinegar and gently massage your scalp. Also, work it through the length of your hair, and finally, rinse it off thoroughly.
Do Clarifying Shampoos Help Hair Grow Faster?
Clarifying shampoos have no direct effect on the growth rate of our hair. However, they indirectly promote hair growth by enhancing the scalp’s health. They keep the scalp gunk-free and maintain the hair follicles in good shape, which stimulates the growth of hair strands to a great extent.
References:
- “What Is Natural Hair? A Definition And In-Depth Look“, Byrdie.com
- “What Is Clarifying Shampoo?“, Healthline.com
