How to Transition to Natural Deodorant: The Best Detox Tips

Quick view: How long to transition to natural deodorants

2-4 Weeks It can take up to 30 days for your body to detox from aluminum found in most store-bought antiperspirants. Antiperspirants are made to block sweat glands. Sweat glands under our arms are our body’s biggest lymphatic drainage points. When switching to natural deodorants there is a transition period.

Researchers are studying the link between cancer with chemical ingredients in deodorants and antiperspirants.

Besides the transition period of around 2-4 weeks, our body also needs to detox from store-bought deodorants and antiperspirants during this time as well. I will share more natural detox tips later in the post.

Quick Review: Here is what we will be covering in this post. 

• What happens when you switch to natural deodorant
• What causes rashes from natural deodorant
• How long does it take to adjust to natural deodorant
• Do you need to detox your armpits before using natural deodorant

What happens when you switch to natural deodorant

Weeks 1-2: If you are like most of us you have been using antiperspirants since you were a teenager. During your first week possibly even two weeks, you may not notice any difference when making the switch to natural deodorants. This is because the gel-like plug formed from the aluminium compounds in anti-perspirant that are made to plug-up the pores.

Weeks 2-3: In weeks 2-3 you will begin to notice and increase in odor-causing bacteria, aka you will start to smell that your pores are becoming unclogged. Many people also notice wetness or moister at this stage as well. This is totally normal and our bodies natural way of releasing and flushing out toxins. 

It is important to note that this odor causing bacteria release will not last forever. It is simply part of the detox process. 

Weeks 4-5: By weeks 4-5 your body should have fully adjusted to natural deodorants by now and there will be noticeably less odor, though a small amount of sweating may still be normal. Again, this is our bodies natural way to release toxins. 

Using good soap and washing twice a day is key. I linked three of my favorite soaps below. The liquid castle soap makes a great DIY hand and body wash that I also use for shaving.

Sweat + Bacteria = Odor

Here is the honest truth about sweating. It is the number one way to naturally release toxins that may eventually lead to cancer and other nasty diseases if otherwise not released by the body. There is no way around it.

Your body needs to sweat. 

Choosing darker colored shirts such as black durning the transition period will help. 

Foods you eat also play a major role in the amount of odor and sweat your body will release. More on this in a bit.

What foods cause odor and sweating

Dr. Mark Hyman, one of my meteors and favorite functional medicine doctors says this about food.

 “Food is either medicine or poison, it is either nurishing and healing your body or slowly killing it.”

Foods that cause disease, wreck our hormones, and cause odor and sweating e of the need to detox from them are fairly obvious once we truly consider it.

Junk foods, highly processed foods I call Frankin Foods cooked up in a lab somewhere using little if any actual real foods in the ingredients. Foods like gluten, dairy, soy, and sugar that are highly inflammatory and addictive are all foods that will cause MAJOR odor and sweating. 

The quickest and easiest way to ensure the best transitional detox when switching to natural deodorant is to eliminate these foods.

The best eating style I have found that elements most of the inflammatory and addictive foods all in one fell swoop is Clean Keto or dairy-free keto where you avoid processed foods. In order to ensure the best results without hours upon hours of research and planning I recommend giving the Custom Keto Meal Planner a go.

It is under $40 per month, with less than one dinner and drinks out with friends. PS alcohol is a big toxic contributor to sweat and odor release and is especially bad for your liver and kidneys.

They give you a quick quiz to see what your food preferences are and if losing weight is a goal it will take that into account as well by planning meals according to your weight loss goals.

Eliminating foods that are causing loads of issues, odor, and sweating being one of them will make your transition to natural deodorant so much easier trust me!!

What causes rashes from natural deodorant

One of the most frusterating parts of ditching store-bought toxic deodorants and antipersperants to natural non-toxic deodorants is finding the right one and avoiding the gnarly and painful under arm rashes that natural deodorants can cause. The most common ingredient causing the rash and itchiness is baking soda. The more sensitive your skin the faster the rash will appear. 

My husband, who does not have sensitive skin at all, would develop the dreaded underarm rash and irritation to any natural deodorants using baking soda as a base ingredient.

It normally took him 3-4 weeks longer for the rash to appear than it did for me, but it always came eventually. 

Baking Soda in natural deodorants is used in attempts to minimize the odor and sweating that occurs in our bodies naturally. As stated above your odor and sweating will be far worse if you are eating a dirty diet. 

How long does it take to adjust to natural deodorant

Generally speaking it takes most people 3-4 weeks to fully detox from chemically loaded store-bought deodorants and antipersperants to natural deodorants. Through lots of trial and error I have found there are ways to minamize the detox processes using the right natural deodorants and eliminating foods that cause odor and sweating.

A rule of thumb is the longer you have used antiperspirants the longer it takes your body to detox and become unclogged. The more junk foods, fast foods, highly processed foods, sodas, and alcohol the longer, and smellier the detox will be. 

Do you need to detox your armpits before using natural deodorant

No. Your body will handle the detox phase on its own. However, there are some things you can do to speed up the detox phase. One of my favorites is using a mixture of bentonite clay and activated charcoal (see the recipe below). Bentonite clay and activated charcoal are both powerful natural ingredients that pull out toxins. 

Here is what I use: 

Armpit Detox Mask Recipe

In a glass bowl with a wooden mixing spoon or utensil mix

• 1 Tbsp Bentonite Clay
• 1 Tbsp Activated Charcoal
• 1 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
• 2 Tbsp Filtered Water
• (optional) add a 1-2 drops of lemongrass, grapefruit, lemon, or rosemary essential oils for a boost in detox power.

Apply the mask to the underarms for 20-30 minutes. I recommend hopping in a hot bath with 1 cup of Epsom salt and 1 cup of baking soda which is also a detox for the body, and feels amazing! Note this can be used on the face or anywhere else you may be experiencing skin issues or breakouts. I use any extra on the face every time I do the detox mask.

Why not do a little self-care in the process?

You can repeat this process 1-2 times per week during your detox phase, then on an as-needed base.

Tested and Approved Natural Deodorants

Our family has been using natural deodorants for the last 6-plus years! We have tried and tested just about every natural deodorant we could find. Only a few have worked and do not cause armpit rashes and irritations.

Here are natural deodorants we have tried, use (or used) and recommend:

My Number One Recommendation Natural Deodorant is a Toothpaste

Allow me to explain the Young Living Thieves AromaBright Toothpaste as a deodorant for a moment. Several years ago I was on Instagram watching one of my favorite clean nontoxic mommas and she said that she had tried the YL Thieves Toothpaste as a deodorant based on a recommendation of a friend.

After 30-days she was shocked to share that it had been the BEST neutral deodorant she had used since starting her clean nontoxic journey (5 years prior).

So naturally, I had to try it, and OMG if it is not THE BEST NATURAL DEODORANT WE HAVE EVER USED since starting our nontoxic journey 6+ years ago!

NO joke it really works.

My husband, 14-year-old son, and I have all gone through two hot southern summers in the US, we walk on average 4 miles outside in the heat, workout daily, and none of us have any odor all day long!!

Quick note, I said it above and will say it again your body WILL SWEAT! It needs to release toxins and sweating is how it does it. Clogging your pores in order to not have underarm sweat will cause your body to keep those nasty toxins inside and it will eventually lead to major health issues.

For goodness’ sake, buy some black shirts to wear in the summer and move on!

Conclusion

Transitioning to natural deodorants can take your body around 2-4 Weeks. Depending on how long you have used antiperspirants can take 30-45 days for your body to detox from aluminum found in most store-bought antiperspirants.

Antiperspirants are made to block sweat glands. Sweat glands under our arms are our body’s biggest lymphatic drainage points but you now have my natural DIY Armpit Detox Mask recipe to help speed up the process that you can use 1-2 times per week. You also now have my top 3 tried and true natural deodorants that do not cause rashes to start your transition to natural deodorants off right.

Comment below before you go with any natural deodorants you have tried and love, or any tips to transitioning to natural deodorants I may not have mentioned that helped you along your journey to clean living.

XOXO – K’Lee

Be sure to check out two of my most popular posts about transitioning to clean nontoxic living next: How to Transition to Natural Shampoos & Why You Should & How to Find Hidden Toxins in Everyday Products