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Pros and Cons of washing hair with rhassoul clay

05/02/2015 by Ruth Holroyd 17 Comments

If you have a dry sensitive scalp, eczema, psoriasis or atopic dermatitis this simple yet effective way to wash your hair could really be a game changer. Just one simple ingredient mixed with water gets your hair really shiny and squeaky clean with the need for stripping oils from the scalp or hair.

First hand experience washing my hair with rhassoul clay

I have been washing my hair with rhassoul clay now for about a month. Not every time as it is more time consuming but it does work. To find out how to make it, read “Washing your hair with rhassoul clay”.

Making rhassoul clay shampoo
Mix two tablespoons of rhassoul clay with cold water and mix to a paste

Here are my good and bad bits from using rhassoul clay as a shampoo.

The Pros of washing hair with rhassoul clay

The positives far outweigh the negatives, as you can see…

  1. It’s all natural – Rhassoul clay makes a two ingredient shampoo. It’s just clay mixed with water. You can’t get much simpler than that.
  2. It’s versatile – Moroccans have been using rhassoul clay to wash for centuries and it’s great for both hair and body. You can also use it as a face mask and natural exfoliater. Anyone with sensitive skin or eczema, psoriasis or dry skin should try washing both their hair and body with rhassoul clay as it is just so good for the skin.
  3. Many health properties – Rhassoul clay is a natural anti-microbial as well as reducing hair loss, absorbing excess sebum and cleansing hair and body of toxins.
  4. Less drying – It won’t dry your skin like normal shampoos can. I don’t get the dry flakes and tightness I usually get after washing so my scalp is much less angry and itchy too.
  5. Less scratching – Normally when I wash my hair it itches even in the shower and I have a bit of a dig. When I’m combing it out it’s nearly always impossible to avoid the temptation to use the comb or brush to have a good scratch of my scalp. I can’t help it, the best method being a plastic comb and a see saw action across the offending itching bit. Of course this doesn’t do the scalp any good but it sure feels amazing. When I’ve washed with rhassoul clay, like this morning, I never feel the need to scratch my scalp. I only just realised this today after a rhassoul wash.
  6. Pretty good results – I don’t like washing my hair every day if I can help it, partly because it has terrible consequences for my scalp and partly because I don’t think it’s that good for my hair either. I can usually leave it for two to three days before washing. This depends on whether I’ve been for a run or how much emollients I’m using on the rest of my body as this can end up leaving my hair greasier much quicker. Of course a shower is essential after a run, so timing is important. I usually go for a run when my hair needs a wash. The rhassoul clay gives a good shine (when I rinse with cider vinegar) and lasts just as long as normal shampoo. I often have to wash every other day and the rhassoul definitely meets that target of lastability (is this a word? it is now). If I’ve timed things right I can get away with another ‘hair up’ day and wait a little longer before it needs a wash again. It certainly doesn’t dry my scalp like some shampoos can, so I feel it gives my scalp a breather in between the other shampoos I use.
  7. Price – I buy my rhassoul clay from Natural Spa supplies and it costs just £20 for 500g. This may sound like a lot but you don’t need loads for each wash and as you use it you get better at gauging how much to use each time. I have spent a fortune on expensive shampoos over the years, none of which really help so to me, this price is amazing. Why spend over £6 on a bottle of shampoo which leaves your scalp dry, tight and itchy? That is crazy. This stuff works and you can wash your body with it too, more on that later.
Rhassoul clay - Image from Natural Spa Supplies
Rhassoul clay – Image from Natural Spa Supplies

The Cons of washing hair with rhassoul clay

There a few annoying things about using this clay to wash, but with a bit planning they can easily be coped with.

  • Time consuming – It does take me ages to wash using the clay. Not only do you need to mix up some clay with water; this doesn’t take long but can be a bit messy and every second counts when you have deadlines and trains to catch. It also takes longer to wash; once the clay is massaged into the scalp and hair it needs combing through and working in. Then it needs rinsing, before then pouring over the appl cider vinegar conditioner, which also needs combing through and rinsing with cold if you can bear it. When I’m in a rush I just don’t have time for this. In between rhassoul clay washes I’ve been using Barefoot SOS or Allergenics.
  • Messy – Not just in the mixing, as mentioned above but also actually using it is tricky to get used to. You are getting gritty sloppy mud and rubbing it into your scalp and hair. It’s weird. If you have long hair like me it’s hard to get the clay through the thick layers of hair to the scalp beneath. I found that even though I was trying to spread it evenly, I ended up with areas smothered in the stuff and it’s not easy to move around and can get a bit sticky and cloggy if you put on too much. Just dip your head under the shower water for a second or two and begin massaging it in again if this happens. It’s definitely nowhere near as easy as just slapping on shampoo, lathering up and rinsing off. Lazy is my middle name. The clay can also get splashed over the shower screen and tiles and does need wiping off before it dries.
  • Not easy to find – You can buy rhassoul clay online but you won’t find it in supermarkets or chemists. You will need to order enough and avoid running out, but nothing a bit or organisation can’t achieve. Hopefully health food shops may start stocking this soon, I keep asking the outlets near me to try stocking some.
  • Stings a bit with cider vinegar – You can wash your hair without using a cider vinegar rinse but since the clay is very alkaline the ph is very different to hair and can leave it looking and feeling a bit sticky and dull. Rinsing through with a mixture of cider vinegar and water solves this problem but if you have any broken skin or eczema when you do this it can sting. The pain is gone pretty quickly though and once rinsed feels like nothing stung at all, and I think it will also help heal the scalp. Vinegar has many healing and cleaning properties.

You can buy Rhassoul clay at Natural Spa supplies

I found this blog by Mommy Pottamous really helpful when researching how to do this: “How to wash your hair with clay”.

Making that apple cider vinegar conditioner

I used a bottle, glass is best, to mix a cup of apple cider vinegar with warm water. This mixture lasts a week or two once mixed and is fine to make up a bottle and use for a few washes. You don’t need loads to get a really good conditioning effect. My advice is to just have a go, when your hair feels that silky squeaky sleekness you’ve used enough. I pour over a good glug to coat the hair. Comb through and then another glug and repeat. I know this isn’t very scientific but you get the idea.

Have you tried Rhassoul clay shampoo for your dry scalp?

Has anyone else tried this yet? Did it help your scalp and eczema too? Does it work for psoriasis? I would love to hear from anyone else who has used rhassoul clay to wash their hair.

You may also be interested in reading

  • The Shape of Skin – eczema poetry book to help you heal and love your skin
  • Shampoo for eczema and topical steroid withdrawal
  • Topical Steroid Withdrawal – Frequently Asked Questions

Related posts:

Rhassoul clay - Image from Natural Spa SuppliesRhassoul clay shampoo for dry, itchy eczema scalp Green People irritated scalp shampooTop 10 Irritant and SLS free shampoos for eczema skin – an update 8 of the best natural bath treatments for eczema

Filed Under: Eczema, Natural remedies, Skin care Tagged With: best shampoo for dry scalp, does rhassoul clay shampoo work?, dry scalp treatment, good and bad of washing hair with rhassoul clay, how do you use rhassoul clay shampoo?, natural shamoo, pros and cons of rhassoul clay shampoo, pros and cons of washing hair with rhassoul clay, rhassoul clay shampoo, rhassoul clay shampoo for eczema, testing rhassoul clay shampoo, using rhassoul clay for hair

About Ruth Holroyd

Author of 'Anaphylaxis: The Essential Guide: An Action Plan For Living With Life-Threatening Allergies' and 'The Shape of Skin, both available as paperback or Kindle on Amazon. Ruth is a Writer, Blogger and Patient Expert in allergies, asthma, anaphylaxis, eczema and topical steroid withdrawal.

Comments

  1. harriet says

    23/11/2015 at 10:11 pm

    If this method is too messy or time consuming; you should buy the bar made by Moroccan Naturals. It contains coconut, sustainable palm oil and rhassoul clay – much easier than mixing up the clay everyday 🙂

    Reply
    • Ruth says

      23/11/2015 at 10:19 pm

      Brilliant idea. I’m trying that

      Reply
  2. Darren says

    05/03/2016 at 5:00 pm

    I really like this clay mask. I used to have very dry skin but after using the clay it is becoming much better! Can be a little messy but fun!

    Reply
  3. VV says

    13/04/2016 at 11:45 am

    You can get the same quantity of rhassoul clay for about half the price or even double the quantity for about £19.50 at the soap kitchen: http://www.thesoapkitchen.co.uk/acatalog/rhassoul-clay.html

    The clay is really good quality as well and not the gritty kind that’s hard to wash out.

    Reply
  4. Anca says

    20/10/2016 at 8:11 pm

    I use it for my hair, combined with half teaspoon of baking soda and another half teaspoon of pure vitamin C powder. It works wonders for thinning hair.

    Reply
  5. Elizabeth Akinyanju says

    02/02/2018 at 2:18 pm

    I have afro 4 c type hair with high porosity and I have been using rhassoul clay to wash my hair for over a year now religiously. I mix it with green tea infused water and add peppermint, tea tree and rosemary essential oil. It’s a great cleanser and it defines my curls. I have found though that it has coloured my hair… I used to have jet black hair and now my hair is brown. I’ve been natural since 2010 and I never use heat except my steam conditions I recently started this year 2018. I am going to stop using rhassoul as a cleanser only because I want my jet black hair back. I will be switching to African black soap as my cleanser and continue with my green tea rinses.

    Reply
    • Mea says

      02/04/2018 at 12:35 am

      Hi. Did you notice a reduction in breakage or length retention? I haven’t used rhassoul in a while and just started washing without black soap.

      Reply
  6. hana says

    05/05/2019 at 1:33 pm

    I bought a natural ghassoul clay to solve my hair thining problem and it damaged my hair badly. my hair looks burned and i had to cut it to remove the damage but still i need maybe a year to remove the damage this clay caused to my hair. natural things are good but there are not enough studies on these stuff and maybe it doesnt help all types of hair, thats why im back to products of well known brands to solve my hair problem, at least they know what they are doing.

    Reply
    • LauraGayle says

      14/10/2019 at 1:37 pm

      It’s important not to let the clay dry on your hair, this might be what’s caused the breakage. If you massage the clay into your scalp, and wash the ends as you rinse, you should be left with lovely soft hair.

      Reply
  7. jessica says

    18/10/2019 at 9:23 pm

    I love this stuff as it also helps with the elasticity of my hair too. I added ACV, jojoba oil and babassu oil so there’s no need to even condition my hair after I wash it. It also helped with my daughter scalp eczema so she no longer needs to use the liquid scalp steroid anymore.

    Reply
    • Ruth Holroyd says

      19/10/2019 at 11:26 am

      Thanks so much for your comment Jessica. I love the idea of adding oils. I just try that myself. Not done this in ages either. I’m working through shampoos I’ve got and not finished so actually am looking forward to some rhassoul self care for my scalp and hair.

      Reply
      • Christie says

        14/12/2019 at 9:23 pm

        I’ve used rhassoul clay for more than a year. I’m so happy with the result of my hair. I put 25 drops of Rosemary oil into the 2 liter bottle of mixed water and clay. I found out about this natural shampoo on castorolie.dk/naturlig-shampoo and I’ll never use a regular shampoo again. This mixed clay shampoo never gets too old and I do not have to mix fresh clay shampoo everytime I need some. Thanks about your good article:-)

        Reply
        • Ruth Holroyd says

          15/12/2019 at 9:07 am

          I must try this! My scalp is struggling a bit in TSW. Also love the bottle mix idea. Thank you

          Reply
  8. avi gold says

    10/12/2023 at 8:26 pm

    god this made my hair feel like cheap yarn.never again! I have fine curly hair and this did not work for me.might work for you though.

    Reply
    • Ruth Holroyd says

      11/12/2023 at 10:08 am

      It can make your hair a bit dull, you would need to make the apple cider vinegar conditioner too. All a bit of a faff really isn’t it. Thanks for your comment. always love hearing how people get on with these things.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. What's the future of freefrom skincare? | what allergy? says:
    02/01/2017 at 11:34 am

    […] Rhassoul clay, pictured above, is a fantastic natural alternative DIY shampoo. Mix the clay to a paste with water, massage into the scalp and along the hair shaft and rince with vinegar and water conditioner. Find out more in a previous blog, Pros and Cons of rhassoul clay shampoo. […]

    Reply
  2. DIY Self-Care: Part 2 – I am Jessica says:
    25/06/2018 at 9:46 am

    […] I tried baking soda shampoo but with little success so now I am using clay as a shampoo. It is super simple as it also only has two ingredients (one of them being water). Clay is basically just mud and, consequently, completely natural! You can use it on your hair or body and is great for alleviating the symptoms of eczema, psoriasis etc. […]

    Reply

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