Clean beauty industry maven Mary Futher founded kaia naturals® after spending 20 years working for global beauty companies. Mary now shares her weekly content series, delivering a quick fix, home remedy, or clean beauty product suggestion for a variety of human discomforts that some may find too embarrassing to discuss.
Making the switch from antiperspirant to natural deodorant is never easy, especially if you have been using antiperspirant for years. Many people say that the moment you decide to make the switch to natural deodorant, is the moment you start to stink. Of course, that excess odor you experience isn’t permanent, it’s simply a transitional phase that your body goes through while you’re detoxing from your conventional aluminum-based products and today I’m going to tell you the truth about armpit detoxing and how to manage it.
Yes, the armpit detox is real, and I personally like to call this transitional period, the stages of detox as it tends to happen in four stages that can take around four weeks. I’ll be sharing the right way to detox and the right time to detox, that will make your transition much more comfortable.
There’s a common misconception that the reason you start to smell more when using natural deodorant is because natural deodorant does not prevent you from sweating. The reality is that yes, you will still sweat but your sweat doesn’t have a scent… it’s your bacteria that smells.
Odor in the underarm area occurs as a result of moisture in the underarm area that turns into bacteria. When bacteria interact with sweat from our armpits it creates thioalcohols molecules that evaporate and release that stinky body odor. So, underarm bacteria are what causes the stench, not sweat and you can have underarm bacteria for a multitude of reasons like your diet, hormones, product buildup or even tight clothing.
When you stop using your conventional antiperspirant and start using natural deodorant, you are removing aluminum from the ingredients list. Aluminum is the main chemical in antiperspirant that clogs your pores and stops you from producing sweat.
So, when you make the switch, you start to release a buildup of sweat and bacteria and the smelly problem occurs as your body goes into overdrive detoxing.
Just as with any kind of detox, there is a right way to detox, and a wrong way to detox. With an armpit detox there is also the right time to detox as well. That doesn’t mean you can’t make the switch to natural deodorant at any point during the year, you can choose to start your detox journey whenever you’d like.
However, there are certain periods throughout the year that make detoxing more comfortable and much less smelly. Many may believe this perfect time is during the summer but, it’s actually ideal to detox during the cooler months of the year.
An armpit detox in the cooler months makes the process almost painless for one simple reason – the weather is colder, and you’re sweating a whole lot less. So, even though your armpits will still release excess bacteria throughout the stages of detox, that bacteria will be exposed to less sweat. And because there’s less sweat, you won’t struggle with as much odor as you would during the summer months.
Though an armpit detox during the cooler months of the year can make for a less painful journey, there are still unwanted side-effects that won’t completely disappear. As I mentioned earlier, these unwanted side-effects last around four weeks so I put together a thirty-day detox survival kit called the Better Together Collection to help you control odor during your armpit detox.
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the underarm bar
the underarm bar is an anti-bacterial charcoal bar soap that uses the power of apple cider vinegar for body odor. It is formulated with activated charcoal to leave a protective barrier in the underarm area, ensuring any natural deodorant works. It allows for more hours of odor-free assurance even on the hottest of days.
The underarm bar works to:
Target odor-causing bacteria
Create a protective barrier in the underarm area
Enhance the power and protection of your natural deodorant
the takesumi detox charcoal deodorant:
I developed this aluminum-free deodorant for sensitive skin. The formula contains no irritating baking soda, that is seen in most natural deodorants for body odor control, synthetic fragrance or alcohol that can lead to armpit rashes and itchy armpits.
My natural deodorants are made with activated charcoal as it helps pull toxins from pores. This natural deodorant also contains a probiotic to help control odor-causing bacteria and is lightly scented with a certified natural essential oil blend.
Step 1:
In the shower use Mary’s Underarm Double Cleanse Method:
If you don’t feel the “squeak”, there may still be dirt, bacteria or product buildup that needs to be washed off.
Step 2:
Once you are out of the shower, pat yourself dry and apply the takesumi detox charcoal deodorant. Ensure the product covers the entire underarm area.
For the next thirty days, use the underarm bar every shower prior to shaving, in the underarm area. Use the underarm double cleanse method and once you’re dry, apply the takesumi detox charcoal deodorant in the underarm area.
Once you’ve completed four successful weeks of detoxing, you will notice a large decline in body odor and you can continue to use the underarm bar as an anti-bacterial soap for extra sweat protection and the takesumi detox charcoal deodorant to keep your underarms fresh!
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I encourage you to start your armpit detox today and share your progress with us either on Instagram or TikTok. Use #thetakesumidetox to let us know how it’s going and sign up for weekly wisdom on all types of human discomforts.
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