We are used to buying expensive hair and skin care products or making complex homemade masks and creams, but even the most humble ingredients you already have in your home can make a real difference in the way you look and feel. Here are the best uses of charcoal for your skin and hair.
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1. Charcoal uses for skin
Charcoal is widely regarded for its cleansing abilities, but the truth is that it can do much more than that for your skin. Here are the things you can do with activated charcoal for your skin:
- Face and body scrub
Activated charcoal is unbeatable when it comes to purifying the face. It’s the ingredient of many scrubs and masks sold in stores, but you can easily make a DIY charcoal scrub at home. Simply crush some activated charcoal tablets into powder and add enough water to make a thick paste. Then gently massage onto your face and body skin before rinsing it off with lukewarm water.
Read more: Homemade Body Scrub Recipes: Top 9 Secrets For Your Total Awesomeness!
- Pore shrinking mask
Large pores can be very frustrating, especially if the rest of your skin is pretty much flawless. This is another instance where charcoal can help you. To visibly shrink your pores, prepare a thick mix of charcoal powder and water. Apply the paste to your T-zone and leave until the mixture dries naturally. Wash it off with lukewarm water and apply your favourite moisturizer to prevent your skin from drying out.
- Oil control mask
Excessive oil production is one of the reasons for acne and other uncomfortable skin problems. This problem can be solved with activated charcoal. Prepare a dense mixture of charcoal powder and water, and add a couple of drops of tea tree oil. Apply to the T-zone or the oiliest parts of your face and leave for 10-15 minutes before rinsing off.
- Glowing skin mask
The natural exfoliation abilities of our skin are usually not enough to properly remove the dead skin cells to reveal your glowing skin. With activated charcoal, you can cleanse out your pores and make your skin glow at the same time. Just throw a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to the mixture of charcoal and water and apply to your face for up to 15 minutes, then rinse off with lukewarm water.
Read more: 11 Benefits Of Apple Cider Vinegar
2. Charcoal uses for hair
Charcoal has some amazing effects on your skin, but it can also be used for a wide variety of hair purposes. Here are the uses of activated charcoal for your hair:
- Purifying shampoo
If you often use hair styling products or have an oily scalp, it can be very difficult to properly cleanse your hair and scalp. This is where activated charcoal can help you. Simply add a tablespoon of charcoal powder to your regular shampoo portion and thoroughly massage your scalp. Rinse off with water of comfortable temperature.
- Hair growth mask
Charcoal has proven to be very effective to stimulate hair growth by increasing the blood flow in your scalp. To experience some of that activated charcoal magic, mix a tablespoon of charcoal powder with water and apply to your freshly washed hair roots and scalp. Keep the mask for up to 10 minutes and rinse off until the water is clear.
Read more: Natural Hair Treatments For Hair Growth
- Dry shampoo
Dry shampoo can be a real lifesaver when you don’t have the time to wash your hair, but most dry shampoos available today leave a white residue on dark hair. To make dry shampoo that won’t be visible on your black hair, simply mix equal parts of cornstarch with charcoal powder. Mix and apply with a hairbrush or your fingers. Don’t forget to brush your hair well to remove the remnants of the shampoo from your hair!
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