If you are into down to earth, simple, and honest ingredients for your hair routine, this post is for you. Rhassoul clay hair wash works very well as a co-wash to extend the period between hair washes or a standalone zero waste shampoo.
Using clay might also be a good addition if you are transitioning from an industrially made SLS based, powerful shampoo to a less harsh shampoo or a no-poo regimen. Clay will absorb excess oil and make the transition easier.
Rhassoul clay is a traditional natural skin and hair goody, used in beauty rituals for centuries. You can also find it under names like Moroccan red clay or ghassoul clay.
It is naturally occurring in the Atlas mountains in Marrocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. The area is rich in minerals, rare animal species, and precious plants.
It is extracted in brown chunks, but after drying and refinement it has a brown-gray color and it’s a really fine powder.
Rhassoul clay is also rich in minerals, namely ghassoulite with traces of silica, iron, calcium, magnesium, dolomite, quartz, and others. There aren’t a lot of clinical trials or medical literature on clays in general, though there is some evidence showing it can restore damaged skin barriers. The natual silica works as a very gentle exfoliant and makes hair shiny without excessive drying.
The benefits rhassoul clay for hair and scalp
- it adds volume, even to thinner hair
- exfoliates scalp gently
- natural silica makes hair shine
- great for absorbing excess oils
- as a raw ingredient, it’s budget-friendly
- super easy to make
The biggest benefit of using rhassoul clay in a hair wash is that it cleanses the scalp and hair while being non-stripping and gentle to scalp and hair follicles. I have tried white illite clay hair mask and bentonite hair mask on my hair, but I found them either too gentle or too stripping.
The challenges of rhassoul clay hair wash
- naturally available only in Altas mountains
- it can get messy, like really messy
- clay can stain things if you don’t rinse it off
- for some hair, it’s hard to completely rinse off depending on your hair and water – it’s better on low porosity hair
I have naturally curly hair, medium to high porosity hair, and a sensitive scalp. So far so good. I tested hair masks and have been doing a rhassoul clay hair wash for about 1 month now.
General tips
Remember to never use metal pots or metal spoons with any sort of clay.
When making any sort of mask or shampoo with this clay, note it can absorb about 150% of its weight, the clay will expand quite a bit so get a big enough bowl.
Rhassoul clay likes to clump a bit, especially if you didn’t add enough water from the get-go. Adding a bit is OK, adding lots more water results in clumps.
For best benefits, buy pure and cosmetic grade.
Related: Lamazuna shampoo bar review
Basic rhassoul clay hair wash recipe:
- rhassoul clay
- water
How much you need depends on your hair length and hair type. A good start is about 3 tbs of clay with 6 tbs of water for shoulder length medium thick hair.
Additions and improvements for oily hair:
- add a small amount of bentonite clay
- use rose water, hamamelis water, cedar water, or black tea instead of pure water
- a couple of drops of tea tree or cedar essential oils
Additions and improvements for dry hair:
- add a small amount of your favorite carrier oil
- use nettle water instead of pure water
- add a spoon of oat flour or oat powder
Additions and improvements for sensitive scalps:
- test on a small patch for sensitivities before using, though it’s more often healing than not
- do not use essential oils to avoid irritation, or use a very small amount
- use chamomile tea or gardenia/ lavender water instead of water
- add a spoon of oat flour or oat powder
- add ayurvedic plants, like amla or brahmi
METHOD
Rhassoul clay as a hair wash is really simple.
I pre-mix the clay and water in a low glass so I know how much water I need. The consistency and texture are actually like you would melt milk chocolate and the scent is very gentle.
I apply it to wet hair in the shower. I massage my scalp well, leave it to sit for a minute or two, and rinse like normal. If I get consistency right, then it’s actually not a big mess.
You could finish with a conditioner or not, depending on your hair. I have simplified through the years and just put a bit of oil on my ends and it works for me (and that is huge for curly hair).
You can use it as a mask as well, especially if your hair is a bit oily for whatever reason. For a mask, I wet my hair a little and apply the mask starting with my scalp and roots. I keep it on for 15-20 min.
If you have tried a rhassoul clay hair wash, let me know how it went, or if you need some help, I’m here to cheer you on!
