This article contains sponsored links from my favorite brand Mountain Rose Herbs. I love their high quality organic/fair trade products, and am blown away by their commitment to zero waste.
I have expressed my love for rhassoul clay over and over again. It is a major component of my skin care regimen, yet today I reintroduced it to my hair care again. Rhassoul clay is the perfect shampoo substitute as it gently cleanses hair without the strong alkalinity of no ‘poo options like baking soda. I can’t believe I wasn’t doing this all along. It is such an amazing clay and it is actually nourishing because of the higher ratio of silica, magnesium, potassium, calcium, and other trace minerals compared to other clays.
I mixed 2 tbs of rhassoul clay to about 3 cups of distilled water (you can also use aloe vera instead of water with great results and the BEST pH balance for hair) into an applicator bottle which can be purchased at most beauty supply stores.
Using an applicator bottle and diluting the rhassoul clay made it much easier to apply to my hair, and concentrate on my scalp for thorough cleansing. I washed my hair in about eight loose braids to avoid tangles during the cleansing process. I gently massaged the rhassoul clay and water into my scalp then lightly squeezed the rhassoul mixture through my hair and rinsed well. I followed up with my favorite DIY Herbal Hair Rinse which always feels like a luxurious spa treatment.
Using rhassoul clay as a no ‘poo hair wash gives my hair the extra bounce I love as well as a throrough cleansing without the dry queaky clean feeling that traditional shampoos give. Even for curlies that love to only use conditioners, mixing a bit of rhassoul clay with your conditioner would add that extra cleansing for the scalp that is necessary for healthy hair.
I’m learning a lot about my hair using the no ‘poo hair method. I’m not currently using any heavy leave-in conditioners, butters, or natural gels and prefer to use only natural oils. I don’t mind my curls not clumping which I was obsessed with when I was doing the Tightly Curly Method. Fluffy braid-outs or even blow dried hair is becoming my favorite styling methods. Mainly I’ve been wearing my hair in a high or low bun.
I’m finally letting my hair just be, versus coating it with many products or a lot of conditioner to shape it.
So far I’m enjoying not using store bought products, and I expect this method to get easier and easier. I haven’t had too much of a transition using this hair care method, but it did take time to figure out what to use as a leave-in. I never thought only using a natural oil would be enough, but for me it is. Like I’ve said before, finding a more relaxed minimal way to create beauty is peace of mind and freedom. Plus it saves a ton of money!
Rhassoul clay can be purchased from Mountain Rose Herbs. Always use a plastic or wooden spoon to work with clays. Read more about rhassoul clay here.
(Image by Mountain Rose Herbs)
Lana says
have you tried detangling your hair with the clay on it? i use terressentials (clay) hair wash or a homemade rhassoul clay wash and detangling is easier with the clay. i love how my hair feels after washing with clay. peace <3
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Lana,
I haven’t tried detangling with rhassoul clay because I wash my hair in braids now. I also am using a very diluted rhassoul mixture. I noticed that the Terrasentials Hair Wash is a mixture or aloe vera juice, rhassoul clay, herbs, and essential oils. I love how pure the ingredients are although I have never tried it. How do you make your rhassoul clay hair wash when you make it? Do you use any other products or do you find it to be enough alone? Thanks for your comment!
Peace and Sunshine,
Dawn Michelle
FH says
This is interesting. I have very fine/thin hair which I stopped relaxing in September 2010. I find that any leave in conditioner, butter, oil makes my hair look even thinner and greasy, too, and what works best for me is to wash it with shampoo (just ordered the Terrasentials), then conditioner in the shower for 5-10 min, and then, leave it to air dry with a tiny bit of Aveda protein conditioner. I will try natural oils as well. I love your blog. Thank you.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi FH! Let me know what you think of the Terressentials Hair Wash. I hadn’t planned on buying any store bought products but I may give this one a try in the new year. I have more than enough rhassoul clay right now so I have no need to buy anything else yet. Terressentials is another company with pure ingredients which I love. Also I do understand the challenge with leave-ins. Have a beautiful day!
Laura says
Now that’s why I had a bit of a hard time when rinsing…. lol I was using too much clay! I will dilute it more to make my life easier. I do love clay, it really is nourishing in a different way than oils are.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Laura! Yes sometimes less is more with rhassoul clay. I’m still playing around with my no ‘poo hair regimen yet am really liking how soft rhassoul clay makes my hair feel.
Amy V. says
I’ve been wanting to try rhassoul clay for a few months now but have never gotten around to ordering it. Great post! Another push for me to try it 😉
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Amy, Rhassoul is amazing for skin and hair. I like to mix it with honey for my face and aloe vera for my hair. Let me know what you think when you try it. Peace and Sunshine!
Holly says
Dawn-
Do you think Rhassoul is safe for use as frequently as every other day?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Holly,
I do think rhassoul clay is safe to use every other day especially in a diluted form versus a hair mask so that rinsing will be very simple.
Best,
Dawn Michelle
jennifer says
hey dawn,
i just found your website and it’s wonderful! i just bought red moroccan clay to use as a shampoo. is it the same as rhassoul clay? do you think it would have the same effect on natural curly hair?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Jennifer,
Red Moroccan clay and rhassoul clay are the same. Rhassoul clay diluted in aloe vera is very effective for cleansing curly hair. I prefer using the mix diluted versus as a mask so it will be easy to rinse out. I also enjoy adding a bit of rhassoul clay to my coconut milk deep conditioning treatments. I even use rhassoul mixed with honey to cleanse my face at night or as a body scrub although a bit messy. The options are endless!
Grace says
Do you use the whole amount (2 T clay mixed with 3 cups of water) for just one wash or is this mixture for several uses?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Grace, It depends on your hair length and how much cleansing your hair needs. I usually use the entire mixture. I also use aloe vera juice. Whatever portion you do not use refrigerate. Enjoy your day!
aerith says
Hi,
I recently used Suave Ocean Breeze conditioner as a cowash. It left a weird buildup on my hair. It feels stiff and strange. Plus the chemicals made me itchy and burnt feeling. Plus the scent gave me a headache 🙁 I only have bentonite clay. Will a wash with bentonite clay remove the buildup and chemicals? How many washes are needed to fully remove them?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi aerith,
Bentonite clay will definitely remove the buildup and chemicals from your hair. You can mix bentonite clay with aloe vera or some apple cider vinegar and water. I’ve even mixed bentonite clay with coconut milk for a cleansing and moisturizing treatment. I kind of eye ball the measurements, but prefer it to be more of a liquid than a mask for easy rinsing.
Bentonite clay is very strong and has unique properties which draws out impurities rather quickly. I think it is perfect for monthly treatments to remove buildup if you use a lot of different products. As for conditioners you may find this article helpful.
Best wishes!
aerith says
Thank you very much for your reply.
Milessa says
Hi!
I finally made the siwtch a few months ago to natural conditioners and shampoos (which I rarely use now). I decided to try this shampoo. But, I’m not sure if it has something to do with where I got the clay from, but I found it very hard to get through my hair. After putting the mixture in my hair in the shower, I’ve found it difficult to detangle with my conditioner (Treseme Naturals)…which is the complete opposite to what everyone else says about the clay. 🙁
I’m wondering if it has to do more with the amount of clay to water ratio? I used the ratio that you did. My hair is fairly long. I also find that it doesn’t wash completely out of my hair.
Help!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Milessa,
What kind of clay did you buy? Also did you create a paste with the clay or dilute it heavily? I’ve noticed that when I’ve used Ayurvedic powders in my hair that were not finely grounded and as a paste it took forever to rinse it from my hair. When I’ve used finely ground clays or other herbs in my hair in a liquid like form I’ve had no problems.
When I was trying out Terresentials Hair Wash, it did not mix with any other conditioner. The ingredients in most commercial conditioners have a lot more synthetic ingredients and the clay may not be matching well with it. Even with more “natural” conditioners they don’t always match up. It just depends on the products. Also just know that rhassoul clay is amazing for skin so if you choose to not use it for hair you will still be able to enjoy the product. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Milessa says
Hi Dawn,
I bought an ounce to try from Country Soap Shack on Etsy. The first time I used it, I didn’t use as much water. The second time I used it, I used about 1 1/2 teaspoons of the Rhassoul Clay to 3 cups of water. The second time around went better. I was actually able to detangle my hair with the conditioner. But, it was still a little diffiuclt to get my fingers through.
Afterwards I still felt like the clay was didn’t wash out completely.
I’m sure you’re right, the combination of products might not be matching well, and possibly it might not be as finely milled. Maybe I should add more water to the mix that I make? I’ll mostly likely take the plunge and try the Mountain Rose Herbs clay.
I’ve been trying pretty hard with the natural skin care as well. But the honey and apple cider vinegar just seems to be making all sorts of monsters appear on my face! 🙁 LOL
Thanks for your response!
Tia says
Hi!
I also use rhassoul clay to cleanse my hair; I usually mix the clay with both water and aloe vera (my mixture is more on the thick side). I add a little grape seed oil, a small amount of pure vitamin e (only a tiny amount as this is the undiluted vitamin e oil), and then a few drops of lavender and/or tea tree oil. I’ve tried terressentials and really liked it, but the shipping costs are a tad high! So I enjoy making my own and tailoring it to my needs.
I also use Rhassoul as a facial cleanser and a body “soap” using much the same materials and usually a bit of raw honey. It’s wonderful! (although a bit messy). Rhassoul clay is a staple for me.
Cheers,
Tia 🙂
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Tia, Rhassoul clay is absolutely amazing! It is definitely one of the best clays that I have used so far. It is wonderful that you created your own body wash with it too. That’s awesome!
Alicia says
I’ve been natural for one year, it’s a battle! My scalp itches all the time and my hair is dry and brittle, just found out my hair is lw porosity and protein sensitive and that a high ph balance hair products is needed.. I’m wondering what do u use to moisturize your hair, do you use any creams..
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Alicia,
I very recently had another reader ask about low porosity hair care so I’m going to literally cut and paste the reply I gave her so that maybe it will also help you. Also I do use creams sometimes to moisturize my hair yet also use aloe vera. I wrote an article that explains my hair regimen in detail here.
Here was my reply to a previous reader:
“I hope that I can help out some with your hair care. For starters let’s try not to focus on curl definition and instead on moisture retention. Moisturized hair will in turn be happy hair since most curly coily hair is naturally dry. Also it’s no fun having oily hair from products sitting on the hair shaft so we’ll look at that too. It is important to create a simple hair regimen and take notes in a journal when you are first learning what works and what doesn’t along the way. Also I just finished this series with Part 4–Building A New Regimen.
Deep Conditioning:
You want to use heat every time you deep condition your hair. Hot oil treatments with olive oil or coconut oil or even a combination of the two may work best. Warm the oil then apply to damp hair and cover with a conditioning cap. Or you could do an oil treatment to freshly cleansed hair and sit under a hooded dryer. No matter when you decide it’s best to deep condition just make sure you use heat in some form.
Cleansing:
You may want to try using bentonite clay with apple cider vinegar for your herbal hair cleanser. You can add slippery elm powder to the mix since you have it as it will aid in the detangling process. I love using slippery elm powder. You may also want to see how the bentonite clay and slippery elm works for your hair mixed with water. Rhassoul clay may not be strong enough for your hair, yet feel free to try it again and take notes during the learning process.
Moisturizing:
If the oils and butters are sitting on your hair, begin moisturizing your hair with aloe vera juice first then allowing your hair to dry some before applying a lighter oil like jojoba oil which you already have or a bit of coconut oil. This DIY Leave-In Conditioner may be the perfect hair moisturizer for you and contains water, aloe vera, vegetable glycerin, and jojoba oil. Using humectants such as vegetable glycerin, honey, or agave nectar may work really well for maintain moisture in your hair without being greasy. Here’s a DIY serum that may help with the same ingredients that I’m already mentioning.
Wheat germ oil is one of my absolute favorite ceramide oils which makes hair strong and flexible. Definitely mix it with your favorite essential oil if you are using it as a leave-in as it has a strong scent. Just note that wheat germ oil can not be heated on the stove or in the microwave a maintain its properties so I wouldn’t use it necessarily for a hot oil treatment in that way. At the same time it may work well applying first and sitting under a hooded dryer.
I believe that stretched hair is more manageable than wash-and-go styles. I love how wash-and-go styles look, yet fell that braiding or twisting my hair makes it so much easier to handle and also helps my moisturizer and oils soak in my hair better. Try deep conditioning prior to and after cleansing hair to see what works best for you. I hope that this helps some and please keep me posted!”
I hope that this information will also be helpful to you and give you a few bits of info to get started with. Also know that when using bentonite clay as a cleanser with water the pH will be higher than when using with apple cider vinegar. You may find that using water with a higher pH may work better yet feel free to try both. Possibly an ACV rinse after wards if not using it in the mix will work wonders too.
Best wishes,
Dawn Michelle
Irina says
I just found your blog and it’s amazing!
In fact, I was searching alternatives to the BS and ACV method because its alkalinity (my scalp is irritated and my hair is a mess right now). I have red clay which I use to exfoliate my face, so I wonder if I could use red clay for shampooing my hair. Have you ever used it? I will try it! Meanwhile, I’ll be waiting for my rhassoul to come soon! 🙂
Thanks a lot for this entry, I have found the solution for my hair! ^^
P.D: Sorry if my english is not good, I’ve forgotten a lot since I left school 🙁
Dawn Michelle says
Thank you Irina! The pH levels of baking soda and apple cider vinegar can create an imbalance for healthy hair. I think it is mainly the baking soda as you mentioned it is too alkaline. I do hope that you enjoy using rhassoul clay. Also check out this article on different herbal hair washes that you can create as well. Wishing you best and your English is fantastic!
sonal gandhi says
hi dawn your blog is great…love going through the posts. I stay in dubai but do not have any idea where to get the rhassoul clay from. Can you please tell me name of the place you got it from in dubai? Thanks…and keep posting more beauty remedies. sonal
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Sonal,
Thanks for your comment! I buy rhassoul clay from Mountain Rose Herbs although they currently are only shipping to Canada and the US. I will see if I can find another source for you.
Best,
Dawn Michelle
Princess says
Hello,
I have used rhassoul clay in the past as a facial but it dried my skin out, perhaps I kept the mask on too long. So I was going to make a cleanser without the rhassoul clay for fear of over drying, but you mention clay helps if your hair has a lot of products in it. I don’t use many products, but I do give myself an overnight deep condition with coconut oil before washing at the end of the week. So should I add the rhassoul clay in this case?
Thanks!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Princess,
I’m a bit confused by your question. I do understand that you said rhassoul clay didn’t work well for your skin, yet you were interested in using it in your hair as a cleanser. You can use rhassoul clay as a shampoo, either as a hair mask or a diluted mix with water or even aloe vera juice to wash out the pre-oiling with coconut oil. I prefer to use very diluted clays in my hair so that it doesn’t take forever to rinse out. When I’ve used clays as a hair cleansing mask it is more challenging to make sure I rinsed it all out of my hair well. I’m not sure if I answered your question but hope this info helps some.
Best,
Dawn Michelle
Princess says
Hello,
Actually, any information you give is quite helpful, but I guess what I am asking is: Since I saturate my hair in coconut oil as an overnight deep-treatment before I wash it, do I need to add rhassoul clay or would the soapwort be enough? I am skeptical because it was drying to my skin in the past.
The reason I ask is because you mentioned that a clay is needed for heavily oiled hair, but I am unsure if that applies to coconut oil too or only commercial products.
Thanks again!
Princess says
Hi Dawn,
To add to that question. Better yet, can I substitute powder herbs in place of the rhassoul clay? or would the clay still be needed with powdered herbs?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Princess, What you decide to use to wash your hair depends on personal preference. In this article I share a bunch on natural hair cleansing options. Hope this helps!
Flakes says
Hi Dawn,
I first tried rhassoul clay by using Mahogany naturals. The result was a flakey scalp. I then bought clay to make me own mixture. I’ve tried various combinations and I still get flakes. I’ve always had a scalp problem but I had hoped that rhassoul clay would eliminate this. It’s frustrating. Am I doing something wrong?
Monique says
I have been following your blog for a few months now and I’ve followed your henna treatment with coconut milk and hemp oil and I love it! It makes my hair look and feel amazing! I just got out of the shower after trying rhassoul clay and aloe vera shampoo. I’m sold! My hair felt soooo soft and smooth and clean. I don’t think I will ever use regular shampoo again. The advice that you give is great I don’t know where my natural hair would be without you. Thank you so much for sharing this blog, it has been life changing.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Monique,
Thank you so much for your comment! This makes me so happy and I’m so glad that caring for your natural hair has changed in such a positive way from the info on Minimalist Beauty. Best wishes with everything!
Sarah says
It makes me so enthuastic to see people from all over the world use rhassoul clay to wash their hair ! I’ve seen my mom and my aunt do this for ages (they’re both Moroccan and so is the clay) and always wondered why it wasn’t more used, given its effectiveness and natural quality ! Thank you for this great article !
I created a small business called Alia Casafes to help people have an easy access to Moroccan natural and soft beauty products, starting with shampoo kits made out of ghassoul and black soap ! Here is the address :
Sarah, Alia Casafes co-founder
Dawn Michelle says
Thanks Sarah! I love using clays for shampoo yet have found that using even the gentlest soaps to mess with the pH of hair. Regardless the ancient beauty methods seem to be much more effective than so much of the chemical beauty on the market today. Best wishes with everything that you are doing!
poupee says
HI,
I used the rhassoul with slippery elm powder and aloe, sunflower oil. My hair is soft and the culrs are amazing. But, had a hard time to wash it out. the slippery elm stick on my hair. Maybe I used to0 much. have you tried slippery elm powder?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Poupee,
I’ve noticed that some powdered herbs sometimes vary in texture. I have used slippery elm before though. I’ve always found it easier to use a more liquid-like mixture than a thicker one. I feel it is always easier to rinse that way. I’ve also noticed that my hair gets cleaner easier since I no longer use any commercial hair products. Things like aloe vera, shea butter, and oils wash away very easily when then are not layered on top of other things.
I’m really glad that you were able to create a wonderful herbal hair cleanser and that it worked so well on your hair. What you wash you hair with is the most important thing. I’ve noticed that once I stopped stripping my hair with harsh cleansers even natural ones like vegetable soaps or shampoo bars, I no longer needed to layer conditioning products to reverse the dryness and replenish my hair. I feel herbal hair cleansers are definitely the way to go!
Have a beautiful day!
Emma says
Hi,
Thank you so much for this article you have saved my sanity (mwah). My hair is very fine & straight(basically the opposite of yours) I’m having some massive hormone changes post baby & my hair is so greasy (it looked like I’d cleaned a deep fryer with it).
I tried Rhassoul clay this week & have gone from needing to wash it every 12hrs to every 3 days in one wash. Even though hubby thinks I have gone a bit crazy I’m looking forward to experimenting with it & hoping to continue with the results.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Emma,
This is awesome news! I am so glad that this is working for you. It is true that you do have to experiment some yet it is worth it. It also gives you a bit of leverage because our skin and hair needs sometimes do change. Once you really understand it and also know more about simple DIY beauty care you can adjust much easier than trying lots of different products. Best wishes!
Kate says
I swim 3x times a week, do you think that the clay/ cooconut milk is good enough to cleanse my curly hair? I need to get rid of the chlorine/ dandruff/ itchy scalp?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Kate,
My best advice for swimming 3 times a week or even once a week in chlorine is to wear a rubber swimming cap. By wearing a swimming cap you are preventing all of your hair from soaking in very drying chlorine and you can also use this opportunity to deep condition your hair. I also suggest saturating your hair with oil before swimming to prevent your hair from absorbing any chlorine that may seep into the edges of your swimming cap. I wrote this article last year for about caring for your hair at the beach but some of the tips also apply here.
One of the best solutions for a happy and healthy scalp is to use apple cider vinegar diluted in water as a natural cleanser for hair and scalp. I like to infuse my apple cider vinegar with herbs then I add one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to 1 cup of water. I do also enjoy the bentonite clay and coconut milk mix as a simple DIY Cleansing Conditioner, yet have recently been using herbal infused apple cider vinegar and a DIY banana conditioner.
Most importantly I feel that covering your hair with a swim cap is a crucial step for protecting your hair since you do swim so often in chlorinated water. Another reader also mentioned that she uses a swim cap to cover her hair when she does her henna treatments as an eco-friendly solution to using plastic caps or grocery bags. I thought that was an incredible idea! I hope this helps some and best wishes!
GG says
Hello,
I wanted to purchase from Mountain Rose Herb, but they’re out of stock. So many choices on various sites. Can you suggest a link?
Thanks a bunch!
Have a great day:)
Dawn Michelle says
Hi GG,
I know rhassoul clay does sell out sometimes at Mountain Rose Herbs. Bentonite clay also makes a great hair cleanser. I shared this DIY Cleansing Conditioner here. This is another great hair cleansing option.
Best wishes!
GG says
Hello,
OK Thanks! I’ll try it. I can pick it up at my local wholefoods and check into hair herbs.
Have a great day!:)
Dawn Michelle says
Hi GG,
I hope that you find something that works wonders for you. Have a beautiful day as well!
Angie says
Hi Dawn – I tried the Rhassoul clay recipe using half distilled water and half aloe vera, but after reading all the posts I first did a lemon juice rinse to clean the residue from my hair. Yipee! It worked so well, I’m still amazed at how soft my hair is and how easy it was to comb it out while wet. I’ve tried many other shampoo free recipes, natural shampoos, and nothing has worked like this. Not even all the salon and over the counter shampoos and conditioners. The only thing I’ll try different is to add an essential oil for a pretty scent. Thank you!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Angie,
I’m thrilled that this worked out for you. Thanks so much for sharing this!
Sam says
Hi Dawn Michelle
I found your site this week. It was so informative that I thought I would try out the Rhassoul Clay and some of the other tips provided. Today, I tried the Rhassoul Clay hair mask I added aloe vera gel, some essential oils, water and glycerine. My hair looks and smells amazing! I have had natural hair now for 5 years and have never been able to deal properly with it. It has always grown which I think is down to my diet, I am a vegetarian and really look after my health. But my hair was always dry and unmanageable. Now, it is sooo soft, the curls are just bouncy and so soft and dark!! 🙂 Imagine I was thinking of texturizing my hair this week before finding your site – Thank God for you and for taking the time to do this!! God bless xx
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Sam,
Using clays for hair cleansing really is amazing! Thanks so much for sharing this and I’m so happy this worked well for you. I hope you are having a great weekend!
Tiffany says
I’m going to try Rhassoul clay for cleansing my hair while starting the water only washing. You mention mixing the clay with aloe vera, does it need to be the juice for or the gel? If I use the gel should I add purified water too? Would you also suggest using honey and a little wheat germ oil in the mixture too?
Also, any good suggestions for a DIY Rhassoul clay body wash?
Nicole Hunter says
Ok so I prepoo my hair wih anything from corn oil to EVCO & I wash my hair with Sodium bentonite clay (which has stronger detoxifing properties than calcium bentonite clay), AVJ, & ACV before doing my nupur henna treatment with coconut milk. Now my question is if I can do my regular deep conditioner of rhassoul clay, rose water, coconut water, coconut milk, & AVJ without stripping the henna from my hair or decreasing the hennas effect on my hair?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Nicole Hunter,
After a henna treatment I usually deep condition with ingredients that won’t cleanse in any way such as clays and use coconut milk alone. Yetyour deep conditioner does sound amazing though. Because I haven’t tried your deep conditioner mix I can’t tell you the exact results after a henna treatment. You could try it both ways (with and without clay added) and see which results you like best. Hope this helps!
Nicole Hunter says
I’m waiting more rhassoul clay fromamazon to come in the mail, but in the meantime Im coming up with a new hair regimen to try out. My oils I always combine & only use on my scalp because they will also spread out into my hair whereas if I only put products on my hair then my scalp will be dry & itch. I wanted to know what you think of my hair regimen:
Vits: Manetabolism plus, Y.S. Bee Pollen whole granules, Health from the sun black currant oil
TEA: Sip & grow hair tea
Protein: Godrej nupur mehendi+CM
CW/DC: Sodium BC,RC,AVJ,CM, rose water
LIC: Rose water
Scalp: Growdrenalin BalmXL
OILS: EDJBCO, EMU, basil, neem, stinging nettle, saw palmetto, clary sage, onion, garlic, cinnamon cassia, peppermint, wormwood, arnica montana
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Nicole Hunter,
I love simple hair regimens, yet it is all about finding what works best for your hair. You obviously know I love Godrej Nupur 9 Mehendi. The oil mix seems packed with amazing herbs too! It’s all about trial and error. Best wishes!
Nicole Hunter says
Ok so I did my henna treatment today & afterwards I did my sodium bentonite clay wash which I left in my hair for 35 minutes. The sodium bentonite clay is definitely stronger than the regular calcium bentonite clay most people use & are familiar with in terms of cleansing. The sodium bentonite clay definitely stripped aloy of the color from my henna treatment. Next week I will try leaving the clay on for 10 minutes to see if that makes a difference. Now if I dont prepoo before using the calcium type of bentonite then it will strip my hair & the sodium type is clarifying without the stripped feeling. The sodium one is the best for clarifying & the calcium is best for the cowash type of effect. Now my 3rd experiment will be combining the 2 without it stripping my color if I cam achieve this then I can combine 2 parts of my wash day into 1 then i’ll only have to deep condition & on to my leave in!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Nicole Hunter,
In general henna treatments have better results without cleansing afterwards. Although clay is not traditional shampoo, it is a natural shampoo alternative. I hope your next henna treatment provides better results.
Katherine Rose says
I’m glad I found this blog post! I noticed too that rhassoul clay works as a great shampoo substitute! My hair feels oily even just one day of not washing it, not so after the clay mask. I’m going to start using it once a week and give my hair a break from the shampoo! Also, my hair is so fine, the clay masks gives it a fun amount of volume! It’s like a totally new hair style without any styling products. Love it!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Katherine Rose,
Thanks so much for sharing your experience using rhassoul clay! Rhassoul clay and simple hair care in general is pretty amazing. Best wishes!
Margot says
What type of container do you use to dispense the clay rinse?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Margot,
I have been using the same applicator bottles from the beauty supply store for the past 3-4 years. I use these for my hair cleansers, oil mixes, apple cider vinegar rinses, etc. I hope this helps!
Carissa says
I tried using Rhassoul clay for a month and it dries my hair out plus it looks greasy on top, dry flakes also. Any advice on how to remedy this? It worked great for a few days. I use Loma Organics right now. My hair is fine, dry and curly. I also have a lot of hair. It sheds a lot too.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Carissa,
Do you mix rhassoul clay with aloe vera before using or just water. Also adding vegetable glycerin to your mix can be helpful too since it is a humectant. If you are specifically interested in using a 100% natural hair cleanser I shared more of what I’ve tried in this article. I hope that it is helpful in some way.
With hair shedding stress and diet can play a huge role. I shared more on how to become your own nutritionist as well as tips on self care which may be of interest. Lastly here are some tips for curly hair that were game changers for me. Best wishes!
Tammy says
If I am making it up in in advance, how long would it self life be? How much do you use in one go? Thanks 🙂
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Tammy,
I would use up this hair wash within a week and refrigerate it when not in use. Also it determines the length and thickness of your hair to know how much you will need. I honestly would make a batch each wash. I like to use more watery mixes of rhassoul and aloe vera so mixing was never an event.
I add aloe into an 8 oz applicator bottle then a few tablespoons of clay then shake well. It helps to put the clay in after 4 oz of aloe then add more aloe before putting the top on and shaking. I hope that makes sense and is helpful. Best wishes!