How to Apply Clay on Hair

Co-authored by Hannah Madden Reviewed by Jasmin Todd

Last Updated: September 26, 2023 References

Applying clay to your hair might sound kind of strange, but you can purchase it as a styling tool or a hydrating mask. If you have short-medium length hair, you can use hair clay to hold your style in place all day without using a ton of product. If your hair feels a little dry or damaged, you can use a clay hair mask to moisturize and refresh your locks. However you choose to use clay, you can add it to your beauty regime for great-looking hair every time.

Method 1

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1
Wash your hair with shampoo. You should always start with clean hair so the clay doesn’t have to compete with your natural oils or leftover product. Use your shampoo like you normally would, then rinse it out. ^{[1]
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- If your hair is already clean, you can get it damp again using a spray bottle.
- Hair clay works best on short-medium hair for an extra bit of hold throughout the day.
2
Towel dry your hair for about 20 seconds. You don’t want your hair to be dripping wet, but it should be damp still. Use a towel to rub your hair gently until the majority of the water is out. ^{[2]
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- If your hair is too wet, the clay won’t be able to stick as well, and it could slide right off your hair.
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3
Scoop out a dime-sized dollop of hair clay with your finger. Open up your hair clay and use your pointer finger to gently scoop just a little bit out. You don’t need a ton of hair clay to cover your whole head, so start out with less than you think you need. ^{[3]
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- Hair clay is already soft, so you shouldn’t have any trouble scooping it out.
Spend a few seconds warming the clay up to get it ready for your hair. Smooth it in between your palms to thoroughly coat your hands for an even application. ^{[4]
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5
Run your hands back and forth through your hair. Start by raking your fingers from back to front, then go side to side, and front to back. Make sure you coat all of your hair with your hair clay as thoroughly as possible. ^{[5]
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- Your hair might look a little messy at this point, but that’s okay! You’ll be able to fix it in just a moment.
6
Smooth down flyaways with your hand or a comb. Use your hands to part your hair in the direction you’d like it to sit. Then, use a fine-toothed comb or your hands to gently press down on any flyaway pieces and stick them in place. ^{[6]
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- As the clay dries, it will keep your hair in place without creating a hard shell like gel does.
- The clay will create a cast in your hair that will dry as your hair does. Heat styling tools, like hair dryers and straighteners, might make the clay feel crunchy, so stay away from them after you’ve put the clay in your hair.