How to Make a Slimming Clay Body Wrap
If you want to slim down a bit but aren't quite ready for a full-on diet, try an at-home, slimming, clay body wrap. Spa and salon body wraps come with a hefty price tag, but you can make and apply one at home for a fraction of the cost. Clay body wraps work by absorbing the fluid-based toxins in the body that are stored between the cells. After the fluids are flushed from the body, the wrapping process helps to squeeze and compact the tissue where the fluid once rested. Clay body wraps help you lose inches rather than pounds and may help with joint and muscle pain, improve circulation and tighten and tone the skin.
Young woman measuring her waist (Image: TongRo Images/TongRo Images/Getty Images)Step 1
Fill a stainless-steel pot with 1/2 gallon of distilled water. Bring the water to a boil on the stove, then remove it from the heat.
Step 2
Add 2 cups clay to the hot water. You can use a variety of cosmetic clays. Popular choices for body wraps include sea clay, bentonite clay and white clay.
Step 3
Pour 1 cup Epsom salt or sea salt into the pot. Add 1 cup dried herbs to the water. You can use a variety of herbs, such as lavender, ginger, peppermint powder, juniper or neem powder. If using whole herbs rather than powder, pulse them in a food processor until they are in powder form.
Step 4
Add 1 cup kelp powder and two to five drops of lavender, cedarwood, juniper, patchouli, lemon, basil or rosemary essential oil. If you suffer from dry skin, add 1 to 2 tablespoons sweet almond, jojoba, coconut or sunflower oil.
Step 5
Stir all of the ingredients in the pot well with a spoon. Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
Step 6
Take a warm shower while the ingredients in the pot are sitting. Exfoliate your body with a scrub or loofah to remove dead, dry skin. Dry your body well after showering.
Step 7
Find a warm, comfortable place to apply the wrap. Keep in mind it might get messy, so choose a private place that is easy to clean. Wherever you choose to do the wrap, place a plastic sheet where you would like to lie down to help prevent the moisture from soaking through.
Step 8
Place the heavy thermal blanket, the pot and your thin towels next to your chosen spot. Sit down on the plastic sheet.
Step 9
Dip the first towel into the mixture, and lightly wring it out as you take it out of the pot. Wrap the towel lengthwise around your extended right leg, starting at the ankle. Make sure it is snug. Dip the second towel into the mixture, wring it out and wrap it snugly around your extended left leg, starting at the ankle.
Step 10
Dip, lightly wring, and snugly wrap a towel around your stomach, and then dip, lightly wring, and wrap a towel snugly around your midriff.
Step 11
Dip, lightly wring, and snugly wrap a towel around your chest, and then dip, lightly wring, and snugly wrap a towel around your shoulders. Finish up by dipping, lightly wringing, and wrapping a towel snugly around each arm, from shoulder to wrist.
Step 12
Cover your body up with the heavy thermal blanket. This will help to keep the wrap from losing heat too quickly.
Step 13
Lie flat for 60 minutes with the towels and the thermal blanket wrapped around your body. Remove the towels one at a time after 60 minutes has elapsed.
Step 14
Take a cool or lukewarm shower or bath after using the body wrap.
Things You'll Need
Stainless-steel pot
2 cups clay
1 cup Epsom or sea salt
1 cup dried herbs
Food processor
1 cup kelp powder
2 to 5 drops lavender, cedarwood, juniper, patchouli, lemon, basil or rosemary essential oil
Spoon
Exfoliating scrub or loofah
Plastic sheet
8 to 10 thin towels
Heavy thermal blanket
Tip
Bathe in hot water two days after the wrap to help flush out the accumulated toxins.
Drink plenty of water before and after using the body wrap to help flush out the toxins from your body. Keep a glass of water handy while you're using the wrap in case you need to hydrate.
Make sure the room you're in while using the wrap is warm. This will prevent the wrap from losing heat too fast, and it will help you to remain warm.
Use the wrap once a week for about six weeks, then once a month thereafter for maintenance.
You can buy wrapping cloths specifically designed for use with body wraps. These are sold at a variety of online retailers.
Wrapping your body can be tricky. If you feel comfortable, enlist the help of a friend when it's time to wrap.
Warning
Do not shave your legs, or any part of your body, before the wrap.
